Is there space in cyberspace for distance learners with special needs in Asia? A review of the level of Web accessibility of institutional and library homepages of AAOU members

SummaryThe Website is the trademark of the modern distance education (DE) system as DE is vastly dependent on the World Wide Web in delivering academic programs and student support services. DE authorities and administrators should make every effort to ensure that their Web interfaces are intuitive and easy to use for supplying “any time, any place” service. Unfortunately, we distance educators in Asia are far behind our Western counterparts in this aspect. This article explores the level of accessibility of Websites of members of the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) in order to provide the results to the Asian DE authorities. The author's primary objectives in writing this article are to highlight the importance of Web accessibility for distance education institutions and their libraries in catering to a wide range of user groups and to point out how easily barrier-free Websites can be created if the basic rules of Web accessibility are followed.