Behind the scenes of digital accessibility

We work globally, we work digitally, and we work longer and longer until we retire. For a not inconsiderable portion of our working lives, we have to reckon with possible signs of aging and learn how to deal with them, as they inevitably lead to impairment in our everyday digital working lives. Regardless of age, many people live with an impairment of the sensory organs or of motor nature. Accessible workplaces are therefore important for all of us – be it in the analogue (braille in the elevator, accessible restrooms) or in the digital environment. But what is digital accessibility? Constanze Weiland, an accessibility expert at Siemens' Accessibility Competence Center, introduces us to her world.

It is not a given that users can find their way around a website. If the structure of a website is not self-explanatory and the information you are looking for is difficult to find, you feel as if you are taking part in an orienteering race where the markings only give a few hints as to the direction of your destination. If you then end up in a dead end, your run could be over sooner than expected.

In her day-to-day work, Constanze Weiland ensures that dead ends and other barriers do not arise in the first place. The trained computer scientist has been a member of the Accessibility Competence Center at Siemens for more than 15 years. With the help of this team of experts, Siemens is removing digital barriers for people without as well as with disabilities (such as motor or visual impairments). Together with her colleagues, Constanze ensures that we at Siemens adhere to standards that guarantee accessible design of websites and other so-called IT assets.

But let’s take orienteering again to symbolize a few examples of digital accessibility:

Example of digital accessibility #1: Contrasts?

An orienteering run usually takes place in daylight, so that all participants can perceive their surroundings. If this were to take place in dim lighting conditions, the participants would lack the necessary orientation, especially if the eyesight of some is deteriorating due to age or illness.

On a website, in an application, or in web-based training, contrasts take over the function of daylight. If they are sufficiently strong, contrasts not only help people with visual impairments to navigate digitally. This orientation aid serves every eye and possibly prevents premature visual impairment. What are the contrast settings on your screen?

Digital Accessibility Example #2: Trail markings

During an orienteering run, markers serve as signposts, for example a red ribbon knotted to a branch. But which red ribbons provide orientation in the virtual world?

Trail marking #1:?An IT application must be operable by keyboard and not only by mouse. This function serves people with motor impairments, for example when their hands have lost mobility.

Trail marking #2:?It must be recognizable on which element, i.e. ‘where’ the user is currently located, for example when surfing a web page. The respective element should be made recognizable for this purpose. An example for this could be framing it. Users jump from element to element using the tab key. For this, it must be ensured that it is clearly recognizable which link or button can/should be clicked next.

Trail marking #3:?The so-called elements need a meaningful designation (“link to the company homepage”, “save button”, “search input field”) to make life easier for visually impaired people. There is software that can read the individual elements to users aloud, but if the designation, the so-called label, is insufficiently explanatory (“link”, “input field”), even the read-aloud function will not help.

These are just a few examples from the world of digital accessibility.

At Siemens, we have to thank Constanze and her colleagues for the fact that we can move through the digital world of IT assets without barriers. They make a significant contribution to the inclusion of people with disabilities. This also includes all those among us who, at an advanced age, master their everyday working lives in front of a laptop or on a cell phone.

Thanks to them, there’s a high guarantee of success for the digital orienteering race!

More about Constanze Weiland

As a member of the Accessibility Competence Center, Constanze Weiland has been helping to make the working world more accessible and establish new standards for more than 15 years.

Her expertise lies with accessible documents. In presentations, Constanze educates employees on how they too can make their documents accessible. Constanze has no limitations herself, except for minor side effects of aging. However, she has always had a strong desire to help others. That’s why Constanze is not only a computer scientist, but has also trained as an alternative health practitioner.

For Siemens, in addition to her actual job, Constanze takes on the roles of a representative for the severely disabled and a member of the overall representative body for the severely disabled. Constanze is fully committed to her role at the Accessibility Competence Center and is proud to contribute to more accessible workplaces.

Accessibility @ Siemens

The team of experts at the Accessibility Competence Center (ACC) at Siemens addresses the issue of accessibility in the workplace. Some team members have an impairment themselves and know exactly what it takes to make their everyday work accessible. With the help of the ACC’s bundled expertise, Siemens is ensuring that accessibility is gradually established as a standard in both the analogue and digital working world and that we have the necessary sensitivity to the topic.

Article by Arlett Daberkow & Janine Lechermann

Illustration by Susanne Gold