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Universal Access in the Information Society
Published in: Universal Access in the Information Society 2/2018

20-05-2017 | Communication

Accessibility evaluation of top university websites: a comparative study of Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkey

Authors: Rita Ismailova, Yavuz Inal

Published in: Universal Access in the Information Society | Issue 2/2018

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Abstract

It is important that university websites and services offered through their sites are used effectively, efficiently and satisfactorily by the whole target group of the university, including disabled users. However, universities in many countries are still unable to meet the criteria for web accessibility. This study aimed to test the websites of the top universities in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkey using automated assessment tools. The results showed that university websites are more popular in Turkey, and in Turkish universities developers pay more attention to the performance of websites, followed by websites of Azerbaijani, Kyrgyz and Kazakh universities. The majority of the university websites in the study did not meet the WCAG 2.0 accessibility criteria. Only two Kyrgyz and two Kazakh university websites attained conformance level A, and only three, one Kyrgyz and two Kazakh, achieved accessibility conformance level AAA. Based on the results, it was determined that universities included in the present study need to devote more effort to making their websites more accessible for their users.
previous article Mobile device accessibility for the visually impaired: problems mapping and recommendations

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Metadata
Title
Accessibility evaluation of top university websites: a comparative study of Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkey
Authors
Rita Ismailova
Yavuz Inal
Publication date
20-05-2017
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Universal Access in the Information Society / Issue 2/2018
Print ISSN: 1615-5289
Electronic ISSN: 1615-5297
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-017-0541-0

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