accessibility is a general term used to describe the degree to which a system is usable by as many people as possible [Wikipedia].
don't worry, nothing is wrong with your browser...we've just turned off the window dressing (view this page 'styled'). You will notice that in either case, all the important items like navigation, titles and content are still organized and easily distinguished.
this page is similar to what screen readers and other non-browser software will see. To test how this page matches up to the U.S. 'Section 508' accessibility guidelines, submit this page for validation.
beyond simple respect to those with disabilities, accessibility compliance is increasingly important to not only government agencies but businesses and organizations as well. New laws have been passed in many countries (including the U.S.) that open the door for disabled persons and organizations to litigate against web sites that do not provide services to them.
while challenges remain in making a web site 100% accessible, even a basic effort will provide a distinctly improved experience for all your site's visitors.
the 'clean' version of our web site is simply one with JavaScript disabled and style sheets removed. This works because we follow proper XHTML standards and use accessibility-friendly design methods.