Tech Accessibility and Why It Matters

A Design Issue Begging to be Resolved

Technology is supposed to be a great equalizer. As the story goes, the power of the mind is stronger than a disability, and technology should allow people to prove it. However, reality tells a different story. When it comes to accessibility, technology has often been a failure rather than a facilitator. The real issue is not the people attempting to use the technology but the technology itself and the systemic barriers built into its design and implementation.

Technology is created by people, and therein lies the problem. While we have the ability to make technology accessible to all individuals, the industry has consistently lagged in making inclusivity a priority. Why is this? Because the tech industry remains overwhelmingly young, white, able-bodied, and male. When developers and designers predominantly come from a specific demographic, they naturally create technology that caters to their own experiences and needs. The lack of diversity leads to unintentional biases in design. If someone has never experienced hearing loss, how can they intuitively design for someone who is deaf? If they have perfect vision, how much thought is given to users who rely on screen readers or high-contrast visuals?

These oversights can have significant consequences. For instance, when facial recognition technology first emerged, early iterations performed well in recognizing white male faces but failed miserably when it came to identifying women of color. This wasn’t an isolated failure; it was a systemic issue stemming from the lack of diverse training data and the biases embedded in AI development. When technology ignores large portions of the population, it reinforces existing inequalities instead of bridging them.

The Scope of the Accessibility Problem

Accessibility is far more than making a website navigable for screen readers. Despite advancements, 98% of U.S. websites still fail to meet basic accessibility standards, according to web accessibility company accessiBe. However, the issue extends beyond websites to every aspect of digital interaction.

For instance, a report by the Pew Research Center highlights that Americans with disabilities are nearly three times as likely to never go online. They are also around 20% less likely to subscribe to home broadband and own a computer, smartphone, or tablet. This digital divide isn’t just a matter of convenience—it impacts employment opportunities, access to essential services, and social inclusion.

Moreover, accessibility concerns aren’t confined to those with disabilities. The U.S. population is aging, and as people grow older, they often find themselves struggling with technology that was not designed with their needs in mind. If a person can read their smartphone screen now, it’s no guarantee they’ll be able to do so in ten years. Many older adults are already turning to simplified devices like Jitterbug phones because mainstream technology has become too complex or visually challenging. The increasing reliance on digital tools for everyday tasks means that if accessibility issues are not addressed, an entire segment of the population will be excluded.

Accessibility vs. Usability

At its core, accessibility is about ensuring technology can be used by everyone, regardless of physical or cognitive ability. It grants job applicants and employees a built-in, cost-effective, and equitable way to engage with technology. Accessibility and usability often overlap, as both focus on improving the user experience. While usability enhances the experience for all users, accessibility specifically addresses the needs of individuals with disabilities or functional limitations.

For example, features like volume control, text-to-speech functions, and display zooming benefit not only individuals with hearing or vision impairments but also the general population. This intersection is known as universal design—creating products that can be used by the broadest range of people possible. Universal design acknowledges that accessibility features are not merely accommodations; they enhance usability for everyone.

The Legal and Business Case for Accessibility

While there is a strong ethical argument for improving accessibility, there is also a legal and business imperative. The U.S. Department of Justice has ruled that accessible workplace technology is a civil right. If individuals cannot access a company’s website, they are unlikely to apply for jobs, engage with services, or leave positive reviews. Companies that fail to prioritize accessibility risk losing potential customers, employees, and brand credibility.

Furthermore, in today’s climate of diversity and inclusion, digital experiences must not be limited to a subset of the population. Accessibility is a matter of equality, and companies must take measurable, quantitative steps toward inclusivity. Organizations that invest in accessible technology not only comply with legal standards but also expand their market reach and demonstrate corporate responsibility.

Designing for Everyone

For many organizations, the key challenge is how to design technology that serves everyone. The first step is establishing clear accessibility guidelines and rigorous testing to support assistive technologies. This includes following standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and regularly auditing digital platforms for compliance.

Another approach is partnering with companies that specialize in inclusive design. Numerous firms focus exclusively on accessibility solutions and can provide expertise that in-house development teams may lack. Leveraging such partnerships ensures that technology is built with inclusivity in mind from the outset, rather than retrofitting accessibility features as an afterthought.

Technology was supposed to be the great equalizer, and it still has the potential to be. However, realizing that potential requires a deliberate effort to design for inclusivity, eliminate systemic biases, and prioritize accessibility at every stage of development. Only then can technology truly serve as a tool for empowerment rather than exclusion.