How can you ensure your digital strategy is inclusive of people with disabilities?

As cliche as it sounds, representation matters. This applies not only to inclusive, more thoughtful targeting but also to the folks invited to the proverbial table. To make truly accessible content, you must represent the perspectives and lived experiences of individuals whose opportunity to engage online is beholden to their initial ability to consume digital content and experiences. Of course, it's not possible to represent every audience on every team, but we can work harder to pressure test our strategies and ideas with those who do represent more perspectives and abilities. tl;dr -> get a bigger table. maybe it's not even a table!

It is advised to also study the United Nations’ enable guidelines: “The term persons with disabilities is used to apply to all persons with disabilities including those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various attitudinal and environmental barriers, hinders their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.” From an accessibility stand point of view, the perspective of ‘hinders the participation in society’ has to be the key tasks to solve. Accessibility means enablement.

Navigating the Next Frontier - Uncover the ongoing digital revolution and its impact on industries. - Explore advancements in AI, ML, and the IoT, shaping the digital landscape. - Emphasize the need for robust digital controls to manage innovation and risks. - Prioritize cybersecurity to safeguard sensitive data and digital assets. - Empower users through digital literacy initiatives for responsible engagement. - Address ethical concerns in AI and automation, integrating ethical frameworks. - Foster collaboration, partnerships, and an agile mindset for continuous adaptation. - Incorporate sustainability practices into digital strategies for a responsible future.

Did you know 1 in 5 Australians, totalling 4.4 million people, live with a disability? Age increases the likelihood. Similarly, 1 in 4 Americans have a disability. Shockingly, these stats are often ignored in web design. By incorporating multiple profiles, such as those for vision impairment, colour blindness, ADHD, seizure safety, cognitive disability, and dyslexia, you can make your website user-friendly for everyone. Creating a site with accessibility solutions not only fosters a more inclusive online environment but also attracts a higher number of visitors. This, in turn, leads to better engagement rates and potentially increased conversion rates.

Key to remember that you (your team, your boss, or yourself), in most cases, are not the key audience of the business. Be sure to always gather information about the target audience and adapt to them instead of yourself.

Sometimes the simplest things can deliver tremendous value to users of varying abilities. Something as simple as using ALT tags for image descriptions, or sticking to plain text documentation, can play a big role in making content more accessible. When it comes to form design, testing accessibility using only the tab and enter keys, respectively, can demonstrate what improvements may need to be made to component interactions. It’s also important to consider that universal and inclusive design helps everyone; keeping that in mind when designing, delivering, and improving digital services is key.

Remember, universal design benefits EVERYONE! While it may feel arduous to take these steps in the design, it will make consuming your content easier for potential customers and clients. Try out some of the accessibility features on your computer to test out your content for a hands on understanding of why it's important to manage these details. Keeping up with your alt tags and meta data will also improve your SEO. Win win all around.

Depuis 2012 en France, tous les sites publics doivent être accessibles et conformes à l’ensemble des critères du RGAA et doivent ainsi permettre à tous les usagers un accès égal à leurs droits. Le RGAA permet de contr?ler l’accessibilité d’un site et de ses contenus suivant les normes internationales de l’accessibilité numérique connues sous l’appellation internationale "WCAG". Le RGAA est une méthode technique et propose un cadre opérationnel de vérification de la conformité aux exigences d’accessibilité. Elle comporte 106 critères de contr?le RGAA incluant une moyenne de 2,5 tests par critères.

é importante lembrar, também, que temos a "deficiência situacional", quando a limita??o é momentanea. Exemplo: quebrei meu pé/bra?o, estou no transporte público em transito e utilizando a interface somente com uma m?o, estou com luz externa excessiva em meu device por motivos diversos, estou em ambientes industriais caóticos e insalubres e decis?es emergenciais precisam estar disponíveis na interface, etc etc. Portanto, toda interface deve ser projetada sem exce??es considerando regras de acessibilidade mínimas, independente do público que a mesma pretende atingir, e considerando cenários e contextos peculiares a depender do business, necessidades e usuários específicos em quest?o.

When targeting older adults, be aware of age-related physical and mental changes that will impact their receipt of information. Physically, vision declines, hearing declines and manual dexterity declines. Furthermore, working memory declines, affecting an elderly person's ability to comprehend long sentences and paragraphs. All of these factors impact that person's ability to navigate a website. When communicating to seniors online, avoid the temptation to be novel or edgy with website design. Clarity always trumps cleverness.

Embed accessibility standards into the development process, adhering to guidelines such as WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines). Integrate accessible coding practices, semantic HTML, and ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) roles. Regularly test your digital products with individuals who have disabilities, using a variety of assistive technologies and devices. Conduct thorough usability testing to identify and address any barriers, ensuring that the end product is fully accessible and user-friendly for everyone.

Building on a personal encounter, a close friend with motor impairments shed light on the challenges faced when navigating websites. Applying this insight, we initiated a comprehensive accessibility testing phase in a software development project. Inviting users with various disabilities to engage with prototypes allowed us to identify and rectify potential barriers. This iterative testing process not only enhanced the product's accessibility but also emphasized the importance of ongoing inclusivity in the development cycle.

Develop and maintain a component library and design system that embraces key accessibility needs, and encourage friendly users with different accessibility needs to use prototypes and test versions or your products. Finally do not dismiss accessibility standards as “somebody else’s problem”.

I found it extremely helpful to work with an Accessibility SME to conduct a comprehensive accessibility assessment/review during the QA Testing phase. The expert can identify and prioritize issues/non-compliance, recommend specific changes needed, and evaluate options to fix so that must-fix items can be addressed before deployment while nice-to-have items can be tackled later on as capacity allows.

Assurer l'accessibilité passe indéniablement par des tests utilisateurs impliquant directement des personnes en situation de handicap. Leurs retours d'expérience sont une source précieuse pour détecter les problèmes concrets d'utilisation et y remédier. Pour garantir une accessibilité optimale, il est recommandé de combiner ces tests pratiques avec des outils de validation automatisés du code et du contenu, ainsi que des tests techniques spécifiques. La complémentarité de ces approches, alliant évaluation technologique et évaluation humaine, est la clé pour s'assurer que les services numériques répondent parfaitement aux besoins et attentes des utilisateurs en situation de handicap.

Code Structure: Ensure code compatibility with diverse cognitive processes using validators like the W3C Markup Validation Service. Cognitive Load Check: Use tools like WAVE to minimize cognitive strain, aiding neurodiverse users. Sensory Interaction Simulation: Test with extensions like ChromeVox for sensory processing compatibility, important for sensory disabilities. Motor Accessibility: Conduct keyboard-only tests for users with motor impairments. Neurological User Feedback: Gather real-world usability feedback from users with disabilities to enhance cognitive and sensory user experience.

Food for thought; designing specifically for inclusion also means designing for the presumably ‘not disabled’. According to the Institute of Health Equity, two in five people with learning disabilities are not diagnosed in childhood. So if we are completely inclusive with our disabilities-conscious accessibility, we also reach to the labeled-as-normal users (which are statically simply not). If we talk about accessibility, we truly need a 360 degree experience - not a ‘you go here’ and ‘you go here’ silos digital censorship. Make sure you keep the options open and the possibility for variations of accessibility experiences open - you never know what you might discover.

It's crucial to continuously monitor and enhance your website's accessibility. This involves ongoing maintenance and evaluation. Utilizing analytics tools like Google Analytics can help track user behavior, engagement, and satisfaction. Feedback from surveys, reviews, and comments is also valuable for understanding user perspectives. Regular updates, including patches and new features, can address any accessibility issues and enhance functionality. Furthermore, organizing training workshops, courses, and webinars can educate your team and stakeholders on the significance of accessibility and how to effectively implement it.

Monitoring and improving accessibility in your digital marketing isn't just a good deed, it's a strategic necessity. Regularly audit your website, ads, and content for barriers like missing alt text, poor color contrast, and unclear navigation. Prioritize implementing high-impact changes like adding descriptions for visuals, offering transcripts for videos, and ensuring keyboard navigation is smooth. Remember, the most important aspect is understanding your audience. . By embracing accessibility, you not only expand your reach to a wider audience, but also boost SEO, enhance brand image, and ultimately create a more inclusive and successful digital marketing strategy.

La supervisión y mejora continua son fundamentales para una accesibilidad efectiva en plataformas digitales. Este paso enfatiza la necesidad de un proceso dinámico que va más allá de la implementación inicial, incorporando retroalimentación continua y métricas de desempe?o para refinar la experiencia de usuario. Es una invitación a ver la accesibilidad como una jornada en lugar de una simple meta; un compromiso con la mejora constante que se alinea con los cambios tecnológicos y las necesidades evolutivas de los usuarios. Capacitar al equipo en accesibilidad digital es también una inversión en la calidad y sostenibilidad del servicio que se ofrece.

Currently, ~20% of the US population identifies as a person with a disability, and most people will experience living with a disability at some point in their lives. That means we need to center the perspectives and experiences of the disabled community early and often to ensure opportunities and solutions are what the community desires. We must also hire them across roles, including leadership, to inform the work. Lastly, be curious when an assignment does not explicitly include the disabled community; we create space for all their intersections.

The scope of 'disabilities' is vast and demands careful attention in crafting an inclusive strategy. While data offers insights, true understanding blossoms through meaningful connections. In my experience, I've found that people want to be seen as individuals, not merely a 'target audience.' Embrace ongoing learning, welcome real-time feedback, and reject perfection as an excuse for not starting.

Adopter une communication bienveillante, exempte de jugement, pour libérer la parole des utilisateurs. Chacun doit se sentir en confiance pour partager ses difficultés. Sensibiliser en interne à la notion d'inclusion et aux différentes formes de handicap, pour changer le regard sur la différence. S'engager dans des partenariats avec des associations de personnes en situation de handicap. Leur expertise terrain est inestimable.

Empathy is such a valuable characteristic, and without it, in planning any strategy, you’re not to realise its full potential. Knowing your audience, disabilities or not, is key.

Today's tech and tools give us the power to personalise our digital content - the what, how, and when we deliver it - and this goes a long way in ensuring inclusivity. E.g. Beyond making content compatible with assistive tools like screen readers and captions; we can harness technology and user data to customise experiences directly through voice commands as soon as a user logs on. Achieving deeper/full inclusivity will demand an intentional shift in perspective and approach. Addressing diverse needs necessitate a reimagining of design principles, a reconceptualisation of user experiences, and the inclusion of features tailored to specific needs - crucial to truly embrace and serve the varied requirements of all users.