Accessibility is a crucial aspect of web development that often gets overlooked, but it's essential for a website's success. According to the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), 15% of the global population lives with some form of disability.
Incorporating accessibility features into web development can improve user experience for everyone. This is because accessibility is not just about catering to people with disabilities, but also about making websites more usable for people with older devices, slower internet connections, and other limitations.
A website's accessibility can significantly impact its search engine ranking. Google's algorithm takes accessibility into account when ranking websites, giving accessible websites a boost in search results.
Accessible Technology Compliance
Compliance with accessibility standards is crucial for avoiding lawsuits and damage to your brand image. Lawsuits related to non-conformance to Section 508 requirements have become more prevalent in the last decade, with over 4,000 digital accessibility lawsuits in the U.S. in 2022.
Ignoring accessibility standards can lead to increased costs, rework, and waste. Often, products and content that are inaccessible must be reworked or completely redone to meet Section 508 standards, wasting time and money.
Non-conformance can also result in reduced usership, as disabled users may find alternative means to satisfy their needs. In fact, repeated instances of non-conformance can cause those without disabilities to simply choose not to use your services.
Employing the right talent is also a concern, as inadequate accommodations can lead to an inability to retain a diverse workforce. Studies have shown that employee diversity improves outcomes across an organization.
Here are some key consequences of non-conformance with accessibility standards:
- Legal issues: Lawsuits related to non-conformance to Section 508 requirements
- Increased cost, rework and waste: Time and money wasted on reworking inaccessible products
- Reduced usership: Disabled users find alternative means to satisfy their needs
- Employing the right talent: Inadequate accommodations lead to inability to retain a diverse workforce
- Lack of innovation and investment by industry: Companies less likely to create accessible products and services
It's much more beneficial to consider and design for accessibility from the beginning, as it minimizes legal risk and ensures equitable digital access.
User Experience and Performance
Improving user experience is crucial for ensuring a positive experience for everyone. This concept has been around since 2003, when projects funded by DARPA focused on improving technology accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
The Universal Design Principles are a great starting point for developers to improve website accessibility. These principles include seven key guidelines, such as equitable use, flexibility in use, and low physical effort.
Here are the seven Universal Design Principles in a concise list:
- Equitable Use: The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities.
- Flexibility in Use: The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.
- Simple & Intuitive Use: Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.
- Perceptible Information: The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities.
- Tolerance for Error: The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.
- Low Physical Effort: The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue.
- Size and Space for approach and Use: Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of user's body size, posture, or mobility.
By prioritizing accessibility, businesses can lead to greater innovation and new ways of thinking. This can also result in a more streamlined and cost-effective process for ensuring compliance and embedding universal design.
Improved User Experience
Improving user experience is crucial for any technology, and it's not a new concept. Assistive technology like Siri has its roots in projects funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) that focused on improving technology accessibility for individuals with disabilities as far back as 2003.
Developers can improve website accessibility by employing the Universal Design Principles when building or redesigning a website. This includes seven key principles: Equitable Use, Flexibility in Use, Simple & Intuitive Use, Perceptible Information, Tolerance for Error, Low Physical Effort, and Size and Space for Approach and Use.
The Universal Design Principles are a set of guidelines that ensure a website is accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities. By following these principles, developers can create a website that is easy to use and navigate for people with disabilities.
The number of people with disabilities is significant, with about 1.3 billion people worldwide (16%) having experienced a disability at some point in their lives. This is a huge market that companies can tap into by prioritizing digital accessibility.
Here are the seven Universal Design Principles in a nutshell:
- Equitable Use: The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities.
- Flexibility in Use: The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.
- Simple & Intuitive Use: Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.
- Perceptible Information: The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities.
- Tolerance for Error: The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.
- Low Physical Effort: The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue.
- Size and Space for Approach and Use: Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of user's body size, posture, or mobility.
By prioritizing digital accessibility, companies can tap into a huge market and improve their user experience.
Execute Web Tests
Executing web tests is crucial to ensure a smooth user experience. It's the only way to uncover bugs or design flaws that can make a website inaccessible to people who rely on assistive technology.
Web accessibility tests are a key component of quality assurance testing. Executing these tests helps uncover issues that contribute to a disappointing user experience.
In fact, following the principles of web accessibility is essential, but it's not enough on its own. Quality assurance testing is necessary to catch any bugs or design flaws.
To learn more about web accessibility testing, you can download a white paper on the topic.
Accessibility in Technology
Accessibility in technology is a civil right, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. This means that websites, software, and other technologies must be accessible to people with disabilities.
The lack of accessibility denies full digital experiences to people with disabilities, reinforcing societal inequity. This is why building accessibility into technology is essential for promoting a more inclusive society.
A vast majority of top websites present accessibility issues, as reported on VentureBeat. This is a problem, as it can lead to millions of dollars in fines, as seen in the 2,285 federal lawsuits related to ADA web accessibility in 2018.
Companies like Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google have made significant efforts to make their technology products and services more accessible for people with disabilities. Assistive technology in Apple's iPhone XR, for example, helps visually impaired users send emails, check their calendars, and use maps.
There are many different types of accessibility, including building accessibility, screen readers for websites, and transcripts for meetings or webinars. Invisible disabilities, such as chronic illnesses, can also require accessible options, but may be harder to identify.
The WebAIM Million study revealed that a vast majority of top websites present accessibility issues. This highlights the need for proactive efforts to make technology accessible to everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are accessibility statements important?
An accessibility statement demonstrates your organization's commitment to inclusivity, building trust and loyalty with customers. It's a key step in creating a user-friendly experience for everyone.
Why is accessibility important in the workplace?
Accessible workplaces benefit not only disabled workers, but also organizations by increasing productivity, expanding talent and customer pools, and more. By prioritizing accessibility, businesses can gain a competitive edge and achieve their goals.
Sources
- https://sopa.tulane.edu/blog/why-accessible-technology-important
- https://www.section508.gov/manage/benefits-of-accessibility/
- https://www2.stardust-testing.com/en/why-web-accessibility-important
- https://allyant.com/why-is-accessibility-good-for-business/
- https://www.csescienceeditor.org/article/from-dei-to-deia-why-adding-accessibility-is-so-important/
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