How can you capitalize on digital accessibility and inclusion trends?

1 What are digital accessibility and inclusion?

Digital accessibility and inclusion are the principles and practices of ensuring that everyone can access, understand, and participate in digital content, regardless of their abilities, preferences, or backgrounds. Digital accessibility means that your content follows the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which are the international standards for web accessibility. Digital inclusion means that your content respects and reflects the diversity and needs of your users, such as their language, culture, identity, or context.

2 Why are digital accessibility and inclusion important?

Digital accessibility and inclusion are important for many reasons. First, they are the right thing to do, as they promote equality, dignity, and human rights for all. Second, they are the law, as many countries and regions have regulations and policies that require digital accessibility and inclusion. Third, they are good for business, as they can help you reach more potential customers, increase customer loyalty and satisfaction, reduce legal risks and costs, and boost your brand image and reputation.

3 How can you make your content more accessible?

To make your content more accessible, you need to follow the four principles of WCAG: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. Perceivable means that your content can be presented in different ways, such as text, audio, or video, and that it has appropriate alternatives, such as captions, transcripts, or alt text. Operable means that your content can be navigated and interacted with using different devices, such as keyboards, mice, or touchscreens, and that it has clear and consistent menus, buttons, and links. Understandable means that your content is clear, concise, and logical, and that it uses simple and familiar language, headings, and labels. Robust means that your content can work with different browsers, platforms, and assistive technologies, such as screen readers or magnifiers, and that it has valid and error-free code.

4 How can you make your content more inclusive?

To make your content more inclusive, you need to consider the diversity and needs of your users and involve them in your design and testing process. You can use user research, surveys, interviews, or feedback to understand your users' goals, preferences, and challenges, and to identify any gaps or barriers in your content. You can also use personas, scenarios, or stories to represent different user groups and situations, and to empathize with their perspectives and experiences. You can also use inclusive language, imagery, and examples that respect and reflect your users' culture, identity, and context, and that avoid stereotypes, biases, or assumptions.

5 What are some tools and resources for digital accessibility and inclusion?

When it comes to digital accessibility and inclusion, there are many tools and resources available to help you. WebAIM provides guidelines, checklists, articles, and tools such as the WAVE, which can analyze web pages for accessibility issues. The A11y Project offers tips, tutorials, patterns, and resources like the Accessibility Checklist to audit web content for compliance. Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) is an annual event that educates people about digital accessibility and offers events, activities, and resources to learn. Lastly, the Inclusive Design Toolkit is a collection of tools and methods such as the Inclusive Design Cards to generate ideas for inclusive design challenges.

6 How can you keep up with digital accessibility and inclusion trends?

Staying up to date with the latest trends and developments in digital accessibility and inclusion is essential. You can do this by joining online communities, attending events, and experimenting with new tools. For instance, the A11y Weekly newsletter, the A11y Rules Podcast, or the #a11y hashtag on Twitter are all great sources of information. Additionally, you could participate in events such as the A11y Camp or the Web Accessibility Certificate Program to gain more knowledge and make connections. Finally, you could try using tools like ChromeVox Screen Reader, Immersive Reader, or Accessibility Insights to improve your digital accessibility and inclusion.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?