PART 1 – Web Accessibility: Ensuring Equal Online Experiences for All

Overview –

The concept of accessibility revolves around whether individuals can use a product or service, regardless of how they encounter it.

While regulations for accessibility exist to support people with disabilities, designers should strive to cater to a diverse range of potential users across different usage situations.

Here are some instances of individuals who could be taken into account for accessibility:

• Touch –
  – Individuals with single-arm function
  – Those with arm injuries
• Hear –
  – Deaf individuals
  – People experiencing ear infections
• Visibility –
  – Blind individuals
  – Those with cataracts
• Speak –
  – Non-verbal individuals
  – People with laryngitis

“When user experience fails to encompass ALL users, shouldn’t it be referred to as ‘SOME User Experience’ or… SUX?”
~ Billy Gregory, Senior Accessibility Engineer

Why Prioritize Accessibility?

The essence of accessibility lies in ensuring that your product can be utilized by all individuals, encompassing those with disabilities.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 1.3 billion people confront substantial disabilities, comprising 16% of the global population, which equates to 1 in 6 individuals.

Hence, we might not possess awareness regarding Jessica’s (one of the users) capability to reach the website.

Guidelines –

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) : 

• Level A offers basic accessibility but falls short of accommodating all individuals with disabilities.
• When assessing Accessibility Compliance, the majority of global digital accessibility regulations and statutes point to WCAG 2.1, Level AA, which serves as the established benchmark for satisfactory compliance.

In the next blog we will look at how we can test web aria accessibility issues.

Link to Part 2 – Web Accessibility: Your guide to comprehensive website testing