Simple steps anyone can take to create digitally accessible products
What is the one thing we all have in common? We'll all, at some point, struggle with technology as we age. That being said, digital accessibility is crucial for ensuring that everyone, including those with disabilities, can access and use digital content and technology. However, many organisations fail to achieve digital accessibility due to common mistakes. For example...
Lack of understanding of who is affected by poorly designed digital experiences
So many situations and conditions require available technology under our noses and, unfortunately, un-utilised. W3C has great Web Accessibility Perspectives videos illustrating the impact and Benefits for Everyone.
Lack of understanding of digital accessibility guidelines
The first and most common mistake organisations make is not understanding the digital accessibility guidelines and best practices. This includes unfamiliarity with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.
What can you do about it?
Digital accessibility guidelines and best practices refer to the design and development of digital content, including websites, mobile apps, and software, to ensure that individuals with disabilities can use them. Some essential guidelines and best practices include:
Some of the widely recognised standards for digital accessibility are:
Compliance with these guidelines and best practices is important not only to ensure that individuals with disabilities can access digital content but also to ensure that the content is usable by a wide range of users, including those with temporary or situational impairments.
Not conducting regular accessibility testing
Many organisations do not conduct regular accessibility testing on their digital content and technology with a wider cohort of users with various barriers. This means that they may not be aware of any accessibility issues, and as a result, they cannot fix them.
What can you do about it?
Identify the scope of testing
Could you determine which parts of your website or application will be tested, such as specific pages or features?
Define test cases
Create a list of test cases that cover a range of accessibility issues, such as keyboard navigation, contrast ratio, and alternative text for images.
Choose testing tools
Select automated and manual testing tools that can be used to identify and report accessibility issues. Some popular tools include WAVE, aXe, and Google's Web Disability Simulator chrome extension.
Assemble a team
Gather a team of people with diverse abilities to test the website or application. This can include people with visual, auditory, and motor impairments.
Schedule regular testing
Establish a schedule for regular testing, such as monthly or quarterly
This will ensure that any accessibility issues are identified and addressed promptly.
Document and track issues
Keep a log of all accessibility issues identified during testing, including the severity of the issue, the location on the website or application, and the steps taken to resolve the issue.
Monitor and improve
Monitor the website or application for accessibility issues and make necessary improvements. This will help ensure that the digital content remains accessible to all users over time.
Regular accessibility testing is an important part of maintaining accessible digital content. It ensures that digital content remains accessible to all users over time and helps to identify and fix the issues that arise.
Not including accessibility in the design and development process
Another common mistake is not including accessibility considerations in the design and development process. This means that accessibility is often an afterthought rather than a priority from the start.
What can you do about it?
The development process
This will help ensure that accessibility is considered at every project stage rather than as an afterthought. Include accessibility as a requirement in project specifications and contracts. This will help ensure that accessibility is a key consideration throughout the project and that vendors and contractors understand the importance of accessibility.
Use accessible design patterns and components
This will help ensure that the digital content is usable by a wide range of users, including those with disabilities, and will make it easier to identify and fix accessibility issues.
Test for accessibility regularly
This will help ensure that any accessibility issues are identified and addressed promptly.
Include accessibility in user research and testing
This will help ensure that the digital content is usable by a wide range of users, including those with disabilities, and that any accessibility issues are identified and addressed early on in the development process.
Include accessibility in the review and approval process
This will help ensure that accessibility is considered before the digital content is released.
Continuously monitor and improve accessibility
This will help ensure that the digital content remains accessible over time and that any new accessibility issues are identified and addressed.
Not providing alternative formats for digital content
Some organisations need formats for digital content, such as audio descriptions for videos, captions for audio, and larger text for those with visual impairments.
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What can you do about it?
Provide text alternatives for non-text content, such as images and videos
This will help ensure that the digital content is accessible to visually impaired users and that assistive technologies can understand the content.
Provide captions and subtitles for videos
This will help ensure that the digital content is accessible to users with hearing impairments and that assistive technologies can understand the content.
Provide audio descriptions for videos
This will help ensure that the digital content is accessible to visually impaired users and that assistive technologies can understand the content.
Provide multiple ways to access the content
This will help ensure that the digital content is accessible to users with a wide range of abilities and that assistive technologies can understand the content.
Provide large print and high-contrast versions of the content
This will help ensure that the digital content is accessible to visually impaired users and that assistive technologies can understand the content.
Provide sign language interpretation for videos
This will help ensure that the digital content is accessible to users with hearing impairments and that assistive technologies can understand the content.
Provide structured data and semantic markup
This will help ensure that the digital content is accessible to users with a wide range of abilities and that assistive technologies can understand the content.
Not providing accessible navigation
Organisations may also fail to provide accessible navigation, such as providing clear headings, using descriptive link text, and providing skip links for users who use screen readers.
What can you do about it?
Use clear and descriptive labels for links and buttons.
This will help ensure that users understand the purpose of the link or button and that the navigation is usable by a wide range of users, including those with disabilities.
Ensure that all functionality is available via the keyboard.
This will help ensure that users can access all of the navigation using only a keyboard and that the navigation is usable by a wide range of users, including those with motor impairments.
Provide a skip link or skip navigation feature to jump over repetitive or non-essential content.
This will help ensure that users can quickly navigate to the main content and that the navigation is usable by a wide range of users, including those with disabilities.
Use a logical and intuitive structure for the navigation.
This will help ensure that users can understand the structure of the navigation and that the navigation is usable by a wide range of users, including those with cognitive impairments.
Provide proper headings and landmarks.
This will help ensure that users can understand the structure of the navigation and that the navigation is usable by a wide range of users, including those with cognitive impairments.
Not providing enough training to employees
Organisations may fail to provide enough training on digital accessibility best practices. This may lead to employees not knowing how to create accessible content or how to test for accessibility.
To avoid these common mistakes, organisations should make digital accessibility a priority, understand digital accessibility guidelines and best practices, regularly conduct accessibility testing, include accessibility considerations in the design and development process, provide alternative formats for digital content, provide accessible navigation, and provide enough training to employees. By addressing these common mistakes, organisations can ensure that their digital content and technology are accessible to everyone.
It's important to note that digital accessibility is both a legal obligation and a moral one; organisations are creating a more inclusive and equitable society by ensuring everyone can access and use digital content and technology.
The benefits are fantastic
There are many benefits to creating an accessible digital product, both for the user and the business.
Reach a wider audience and increase user engagement
This is because people with disabilities represent a significant portion of the population, and by making digital products accessible to them, organisations can tap into a new market of users.
Improved user experience
An accessible digital product provides a better experience for all users, including those with disabilities. This can include features such as larger text, alternative text for images, and keyboard navigation. These features make it easier for users with visual, mobility, and other disabilities to access and use the digital product.
Legal compliance
Many countries have laws and regulations requiring organisations to make digital products accessible to people with disabilities. Failure to comply with these laws can result in legal action and fines. By creating an accessible digital product, organisations can avoid these legal issues.
Cost savings
Creating an accessible digital product from the start can be less expensive than retrofitting an existing product. Organisations can save costs in the long run by avoiding the need for expensive and time-consuming retrofits.
Competitive advantage
Organisations that create accessible digital products may be seen as more progressive and socially responsible by customers, employees, and investors. This can lead to a competitive advantage over organisations that do not make accessibility a priority.
Improved SEO and usability
Making digital products accessible also helps to improve SEO and usability. This means that the product will be easier to find by search engines and more user-friendly, which can lead to more conversions and sales.
Creating an accessible digital product benefits the user and the business. It improves user experience, increases reach and engagement, facilitates legal compliance, saves costs, gives a competitive advantage, and improves SEO and usability. It is a win-win situation.
Our team at Accessibility NSW are creating some great guidelines for achieving digital accessibility.
For more, go to: digital.nsw.gov.au/accessibility
I hope this has helped in some way, and please feel free to reach out on any topic you would like me to shed more light on.