Elements of Digital Accessibility
Digital accessibility ensures that websites, apps, and digital tools are usable by everyone through key elements like perceivability, operability, understandability, and robustness, enabling equal access via screen readers, keyboard navigation, captions, and high-contrast visuals.
A young man accessing and operating a digital device (Microsoft Designer)
Maria* (not her real name), a visually impaired college student, was excited to register for her online classes. However, when she accessed the university’s website, she found that it was not compatible with her screen reader. She struggled to navigate through unlabelled buttons and images without alternative text, making it impossible to complete her enrolment independently.
Frustrated, she had to rely on a friend for assistance—something that could have been avoided if the website had been designed with accessibility in mind. Maria’s experience is not unique; millions of people with disabilities face similar barriers daily due to inaccessible digital content.
In today’s digital landscape, accessibility is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Digital accessibility ensures that people with disabilities can access, navigate, and interact with digital content without barriers. Whether it's a website, mobile application, or digital document, accessibility is crucial for inclusivity and compliance with legal standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). This article explores the key elements of digital accessibility and provides real-world examples of how they can be implemented effectively.
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Perceivability
Perceivability ensures that users can perceive and understand content through their senses, primarily sight and hearing. This involves making text, images, videos, and other media accessible to all users.
- Alternative Text for Images: Screen readers rely on alt text to describe images to visually impaired users. For example, a news website displaying an image of a political rally should include descriptive alt text such as, “A large crowd holding banners at a political rally in downtown New York.”
- Captions and Transcripts for Videos: Platforms like YouTube and Netflix provide closed captions and transcripts for videos to aid the deaf and individuals with varying hearing loss.
- Colour Contrast: Websites should have sufficient contrast between text and background to ensure readability. A poor example would be using light gray text on a white background, making it difficult for users with visual impairments to read the content.
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Operability
Operability focuses on ensuring that users can navigate digital content efficiently, regardless of their input methods, such as a keyboard or assistive technology.
- Keyboard Navigation: Users who cannot use a mouse should be able to navigate websites using the Tab key. For example, Google’s search interface allows users to tab through search results and links.
- Avoiding Timed Content: Websites should not automatically refresh or expire sessions too quickly, as this can be frustrating for users with cognitive disabilities. For instance, online exam portals often provide time extensions for users with disabilities.
- Skip Navigation Links: Websites like BBC include a ‘Skip to Main Content’ link, allowing screen reader users to bypass repetitive navigation menus and reach essential content faster.
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Understandability
Understandability ensures that content and navigation are clear and easy to comprehend for users of varying cognitive abilities.
- Simple Language and Readability: Avoiding jargon and complex sentences makes content accessible to users with cognitive disabilities. Some websites often use plain language to ensure broad comprehension.
- Consistent Navigation: A website’s navigation should remain uniform across pages. Amazon, for example, maintains a consistent header menu and search bar across its platform, making navigation predictable for users.
- Error Identification and Assistance: Online forms should provide clear error messages and suggestions for correction. For instance, Gmail highlights incorrect email formats and suggests corrections.
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Robustness
Robustness refers to a website’s ability to function on different devices and support various assistive technologies, ensuring long-term accessibility.
- Compatibility with Screen Readers: Websites should be tested with popular screen readers like JAWS to ensure they are accessible to visually impaired users.
- Responsive Design: Digital platforms should adapt to various screen sizes and orientations. Websites like Wikipedia use responsive design, ensuring usability across desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
- Semantic HTML and ARIA Landmarks: Using proper HTML5 elements and ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes enhances accessibility for assistive technology users.
The Importance of Digital Accessibility
Beyond legal compliance, digital accessibility enhances user experience, expands audience reach, and promotes inclusivity. Organizations that prioritize accessibility, such as Apple with its Voiceovers technology and Microsoft and Google with their inclusive design principles, set industry standards for digital inclusivity.
Digital accessibility is essential for creating an inclusive online environment where all users can engage with digital content. By focusing on the four elements entities and developers can ensure their digital assets are accessible to everyone. Implementing these principles not only benefits users with disabilities but also improves overall usability for all audiences.
Ensuring digital accessibility is a continuous process, requiring awareness, testing, and constant reiteration.
Article by: Maryanne Emomeri