Websites

In May of 2010, Ethan Marcotte coined the term responsive web design in a seminal article published by A List Apart. At the time, websites were commonly designed for desktop monitors, sometimes with an entirely separate website for mobile devices. Indeed, Clemson University once had an m.clemson.edu website built specifically for mobile devices.

As smartphones and laptops continued to gain popularity, responsive web design became an industry standard. Websites evolved, adapting to various device widths and screen sizes. An 8.5" × 11" flyer no longer transfers to the fluidity of the web: instead, websites reflow content to fit the screen.

Responsive design is especially important for people with low vision. An accessible website will continue to function at zoom levels up to 400 percent, allowing visitors to magnify the screen without loss of information or functionality.

All accessibility criteria apply at increased zoom levels. For example, a mobile menu needs to function with the keyboard. When evaluating web accessibility, test in both a desktop view and while zoomed in.