Digital technology is an everyday part of most of our lives, from school to work to connecting with friends and family. Website, apps, and digital platforms are essential tools for business, education, communication, and daily life. However, for millions of people with disabilities, accessing online platforms, websites, and electronic documents is often not an easy task and is sometimes simply impossible do to barriers to accessibility. Digital accessibility and disability inclusion aren’t just buzzwords—they are fundamental aspects of creating an equitable society where everyone can fully participate and thrive.
Understanding Digital Accessibility
Digital accessibility refers to the design and development of digital tools, websites, and technologies in a way that allows everyone, including people with disabilities, to use them effectively. According to the Department of Labor’s Partnership on Employment and Accessible Technology (PEAT), digital accessibility means that “everyone can use the exact same technology as anyone else—regardless of whether they can manipulate a mouse, how much vision they have, how many colors they can see, how much they can hear, or how they process information.”
Key Principles of Digital Accessibility
Some key principles of digital accessibility are:
- Perceivability: Information and user interface components must be presented in a way that users can perceive, whether through sight, sound, or touch. This means offering alternatives like text descriptions for images (alt text), captioning for video content, or ensuring color contrast is sufficient for those with visual impairments.
- Operability: Digital interfaces must be navigable and usable by people with varied motor abilities. This involves keyboard navigation for those who cannot use a mouse and creating easily clickable buttons and links.
- Understandability: Websites and apps should be designed so all users can easily understand the content and how to interact with it. This often involves using clear, plain language and predictable navigation patterns.
- Robustness: Content should be designed to work well with current and future assistive technologies, such as screen readers and voice recognition software.
The Importance of Disability Inclusion
Disability inclusion goes beyond making websites accessible—it involves a proactive approach to involving people with disabilities in all aspects of life, especially in the workplace and online spaces. By adopting inclusive practices, companies can foster a culture of diversity and innovation and experience the many benefits of hiring people with disabilities. When people with disabilities can access the tools they need to participate in professional and social environments, they bring unique perspectives and talents that benefit everyone.
Inclusion means:
- Actively hiring people with disabilities and providing reasonable accommodations, if requested.
- Ensuring internal systems, such as intranets, HR software, and communication tools, are fully accessible to employees with disabilities.
- Engaging with people with disabilities when designing products or services to ensure that their perspectives inform decision-making.
When digital platforms don’t meet accessibility standards, this results in digital exclusion, limiting individuals’ opportunities for equal access to education and employment opportunities, government benefits and programs, and social interaction.
The Business Case for Digital Accessibility
From a business standpoint, prioritizing digital accessibility is not just a legal requirement in many countries; it is also a smart business move. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1 billion people have some form of disability, making people with disabilities one of the largest untapped markets. Failing to take the needs and preferences of people with disabilities into consideration will undoubtedly result in lost customers and profits, while accessible design can open up new markets and opportunities.
Furthermore, organizations that invest in accessibility often see secondary benefits, such as:
- Improved SEO: Features like alt text for images improve search engine rankings, increasing site visibility.
- Enhanced usability for all: Accessibility features, such as larger buttons or voice-controlled navigation, improve usability for everyone, not just people with disabilities.
- Increased customer loyalty: When companies are inclusive and accessible, they build trust and loyalty with a broader audience.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
Governments worldwide have recognized the importance of digital accessibility, enacting laws to enforce it. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 in the United States, the European Accessibility Act (EAA), and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are examples of frameworks and regulations designed to protect the rights of people with disabilities.
Organizations that do not comply with these laws may face legal action, reputational damage, and financial penalties. But beyond legal obligations, digital accessibility is an ethical imperative. Excluding people from accessing online content or services because of a disability is a form of discrimination.
Steps Toward a More Accessible Digital Experience
While creating a fully accessible digital environment may seem daunting, organizations can take practical steps to ensure they are moving in the right direction:
- Conduct an accessibility audit: Use tools like accessibility checkers and audits to identify potential issues in your digital platforms. There are many automated tools, but involving real users with disabilities in the evaluation process offers deeper insights.
- Adopt universal design principles: Universal design focuses on creating products and services that work for as many people as possible from the outset, reducing the need for later accommodations.
- Provide training: Train your teams—especially web designers, developers, and content creators—on accessibility best practices.
- Stay update-to-date on WCAG guidelines: Regularly review and update digital content to stay updated with the latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.
- Engage with the disability community: Actively involve people with disabilities in your design and development processes to better understand their needs and ensure you’re not unintentionally excluding anyone. Follow disability advocacy organizations such as the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) on social media and sign up for their newsletters to stay updated. Visit the PEAT website and Section508.gov for the latest information on digital accessibility.
Building a More Inclusive Digital World
The journey toward digital accessibility and disability inclusion is an ongoing one, but it’s a path that every organization should walk. By prioritizing accessibility and inclusion, you can help break down barriers and build a digital world where everyone has equal opportunities to learn, work, and engage with the content they need. Digital accessibility is not just about compliance, it’s about creating a world where everyone can fully participate in the digital landscape. It is time to make inclusivity the standard, not the exception.
Need help understanding digital accessibility? Applied Development’s Section 508 compliance and digital accessibility services can help ensure your organization’s web content and digital documents are accessible for everyone. Contact us for a free comprehensive consultation!