Website Accessibility on the internet is just as important as it is in the real world. It is about supporting disabled visitors, but that is not the only reason for making a website accessible. An accessible website can be accessed by people with different web browsers, PDA's, and cell phones.
A common misconception is that by making a website accessible, it will be not as attractive as a website that is not accessible. That is not the case. Website Accessibility does not need to affect presentation at all!
Using semantic, well structured XHTML will take you a long the way towards creating an accessible website. To get an idea of how accessible a page is, try viewing it in a text-based browser like Lynx to see if the content still makes sense. This is far from the only Website Accessibility check you need to do, but it's a good start.
Just imagine having a sight or dexterity disability, and visiting a website that is not accessible. You'd be upset - and discriminated against!
Federal Agencies in the USA, as well as other countries, have strict legalities regarding Website Accessibility:
Section 508 requires that Federal agencies' electronic and information technology is accessible to people with disabilities. The Center for Information Technology Accommodation (CITA), in the U.S. General Services Administration's Office of Government wide Policy, has been charged with the task of educating Federal employees and building the infrastructure necessary to support Section 508 implementation. Using this web site, Federal employees and the public can access resources for understanding and implementing the requirements of Section 508.
Website Accessibility is something every web designer is responsible for.