At least 15% of the world’s population - roughly 1 billion people - experience some form of disability. That doesn’t include temporary or situational disabilities or the 33% of people who have hearing or sight impairments.
The 2020 pandemic prompted a reassessment of the need to provide online alternatives to daily tasks most people take for granted. It highlighted imbalances and brought awareness to the challenges people with disabilities face every day.
As we made our way back to “normal” the realization of the necessity of inclusion grew, giving way to a discussion on digital equality versus digital equity.
Digital equality is the idea that everyone should have access to the internet.
Digital equity is the idea that everyone should have access to tools and resources to make the digital world more user-friendly.
This conversation gave way to a new norm rooted in digital accessibility and equitable access to the digital experience.
“Digital accessibility is the ability of a website, social media, mobile application or electronic document to be easily navigated and understood by a wide range of users, including those users who have visual, auditory, motor or cognitive disabilities.”
Several US laws focus on accessibility in digital spaces; most notably the Americans Disability Act (ADA) and Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Digital accessibility matters the same way healthcare and education matter - it’s all about connections and community, safety and security. Finding innovative ways to achieve this is deeply ingrained in our approach to strategic messaging, technical development, and creative execution.
Your Checklist for Digital Accessibility
Use high-contrast colors.
Ensure that text, icons, and important elements stand out clearly against the background. High contrast makes content easier to read for people with low vision or color blindness.
Prioritize ease of use.
Choose readable fonts (Inclusive Sans by Olivia King is a great example). Use clear headings and subheadings to organize content logically. Make sure the design flows in a logical order. Ensure that interactive elements like buttons and links have visible focus states for easier keyboard navigation.
Provide alternative text.
Include descriptive alternative text (alt text) for images, graphics, and icons. Screen readers use alt text to describe visual content to users who are blind or visually impaired. This is especially important for social media!
Provide alternative text.
Include descriptive alternative text (alt text) for images, graphics, and icons. Screen readers use alt text to describe visual content to users who are blind or visually impaired. This is especially important for social media!
Include captions and transcripts.
Provide captions and transcripts for multimedia content like videos and podcasts. This benefits everyone - nearly 83% of US users watch videos on websites and social media with the sound off!
Create flexible layouts.
Ensure your designs are responsive and adapt to different screen sizes and devices.
Implement keyboard navigation. Ensure that all interactive elements can be accessed and activated using only a keyboard, catering to users who cannot use a mouse.
Leveraging new technology helps us think beyond conventional norms, tagging in team members to flex our collaborative problem-solving skills. Actual Size’s team of creative web developers partnered with Allyant and their suite of tools to audit accessibility. We work with a team of auditors with limited or impaired hearing and/or vision to identify issues that automated tools miss. A personalized report highlights areas for improvement and brings a much-needed human element to the audit process.
Our goal is to obtain a Letter of Achievement and to deliver meaningful, inspiring experiences that are universally accessible and enjoyable.
Here are a few more tools to help you embrace digital accessibility:
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 set industry standards for accessible web and social media experiences.
- Readable grades copy readability to comply with WCAG standards.
- Contrast provides quick access to WCAG color contrast ratios.
Digital accessibility isn’t just about meeting standards; it’s about recognizing that the impact of our designs transcends their actual size. By prioritizing inclusive experiences, we can reshape perspectives and empower users to navigate the digital world with ease and dignity.
Shout out to our team of creative developers and designers for making digital accessibility a top priority!
#ally #DisabilitySolidarity #Accessibility #AccessibleDesign