Imagine what it would be like if you couldn’t just look up at the sky to see if there were any rainclouds. Weather reports are important for all of us and particularly for people with visual disabilities. Being able to check a report may make the difference between staying dry or getting soaked to the skin.

Lately, I’ve been exploring the accessibility of sites on the Web, most of which are inaccessible to people with disabilities. And it occurred to me to check The Weather Channel, which is the forecasting site I use most often. I have to admit my accessibility expectations were low, especially because images such as graphs and maps that are essential to information conveyed on such sites are notoriously challenging to code in a way that communicates clearly to everyone.

In particular, complex illustrations such as radar maps are often designed for people to interact with using mouse clicks. People with visual disabilities cannot use mice (because they can’t see where to click) and must rely on keyboard commands. Unfortunately, designers often neglect to make maps accessible to keyboard users.

At the start of this article, I asked you to imagine what it would be like if you were unable to see the sky and wanted to know what the weather was like outside. I’ve also shared my low expectations for accessibility of weather forecasting sites. Now imagine my delighted surprise when I discovered that The Weather Channel’s online radar maps are keyboard accessible! (Pretty much the entire site is accessible, actually.)

There are limitations, of course, because — as I said — these sorts of complex graphics are innately challenging for accessibility programming. Not only are there limitations, but in its accessibility statement, The Weather Channel specifies exactly what they are:

Radar page: The Weather Channel properties include a Radar page that includes a map of the area and map tiles of weather events. These images are not readable by screen readers because the map tiles are generated dynamically and convey information by showing a picture of an area and the potential weather conditions for that area. Please go to the Today, Hourly or 10 Day page for weather conditions and forecast information.

Speaking of accessibility statements, does your website have one? (Note to Self: add one to my personal webpage.) If you’re not familiar with these statements, they describe any known issues for your site along with steps you may be taking to resolve those issues. What is more, writing such a statement isn’t as onerous as you might imagine, because the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) provides information about how to develop an accessibility statement — including an automated accessibility statement generator tool.

Another pleasant surprise I discovered on The Weather Channel’s site is a free downloadable assistive technology toolbar. At first I was concerned that this might be one of those overlays that claims to resolve accessibility issues but is actually more like a band-aid applied to a gaping wound. Instead, after downloading I discovered it is a set of tools such as a hands-free mouse, voice command software and a virtual keyboard.

Another concern I had was that this might be software that could only be used on The Weather Channel’s site. Just think how cumbersome if would be to navigate the Web if you had to download different technology for interacting with each page you use. Once again I ask you to imagine my pleasant surprise in finding I could use this suite of assistive technology tools on any page I visited. (Of course the tools are most useful if the site is designed properly for accessibility.)

I do have a couple of quibbles about accessibility on The Weather Channel’s site. It would be nice if all users had a way to find the assistive technology toolbar, but you have to be a keyboard user to locate it. Also, documentation for how to use the toolbar is definitely in need of proofreading.

That said, overall I was impressed and started wondering why this site — unlike so many others — makes such a point of being a good ambassador of accessibility. Not seeing any clues on The Weather Channel, itself, I went to look at the website of its owner, which you are most likely are familiar with. It is IBM.

According to an article I found on the American Federation for the Blind’s website:

IBM has consistently been on the cutting edge of access technology, helping to formulate the guidelines for the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative.

Intrigued, I took a dive into learning more about the relationship between IBM and accessibility. First I explored the IBM Accessibility section of their website. There — among other things — I found a link to some free, open-source software that can be used to check the accessibility of entire apps or websites. An updated version was released in May of this year in recognition of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD).

Then I explored a section of the IBM site celebrating its centennial. On that page they feature what they refer to as “Icons of Progress” that they promote as:

… a remarkable collection of stories about the 100 IBM innovations that helped shape the last century.

One of those hundred is The Accessible Workforcein which they celebrate contributions that people with disabilities have made to their company and tout products such as Braille typewriters and printers, screen readers and voice-recognition software.

In other words, IBM promotes accessibility because it is good for business.

And it’s not just good for their business. Remember that suite of accessibility tools you can download for free from The Weather Channel? The source isn’t IBM but a company by the name of eSSENTIAL Accessibility. In addition to an assistive technology toolbar and testing services, on their website they also promote the idea that it’s good business for their customers to market products and services to people with disabilities:

People with disabilities are the largest minority group in North America and make up 19 percent of the U.S. population. Engage this sizable audience with an innovative marketing strategy.

What is more, eSSENTIAL Accessibility recently announced that a publicly traded global investment firm has invested $55 million in their business. That firm is KKR, whose most famous transaction — the leveraged buyout of RJR Nabisco — was featured in the best-selling book Barbarians at the Gate and a movie of the same name. Just this spring the well-known Motley Fool investment-advice company recommended purchasing stock in KKR as a hedge against market downturns.

So after all that, here’s my question for developers who continue to resist designing for accessibility: Are you going to argue with the financial success of IBM and KKR? It seems like it might be a better idea to emulate them.

And now back to my starting place on The Weather Channel’s site, where I click on their latest radar map for my local area:

Sure enough, it is raining outside. And in answer to the question I asked in the title of this article: Yes, it looks like I will need that umbrella.