Digital accessibility is just like physical accessibility, but there is one key difference: The changes and design choices that make websites, digital materials and software technologies accessible are largely invisible to casual inspection. This is because the most impactful steps to be taken in digital accessibility have to do with the internal structure of the digital information that allows for content and technologies to be interacted with in different ways.
It is relatively easy to spot changes that make a physical space accessible to all, especially for individuals with disabilities. Things like wheelchair ramps and curb cuts are hard to miss when they are present. For individuals without disabilities, such things can be a nice convenience. For individuals with disabilities, they can make the difference between being able to enter and make use of a building or a classroom or needing to go elsewhere. It can be very difficult—or even impossible—to add accessibility features after a space is built, so it is important to plan ahead by making design choices at the beginning that ensure access.
Modes of interaction
Digital accessibility considers websites, electronic content and software technologies through the lens of functional modes of interaction. The idea is to ensure that content is readily usable in each of the ways that individuals with disabilities require. Common modes of interaction include the following:
- Without vision or with limited vision.
- Without perception of color or with limited perception of color.
- Without hearing or with limited hearing.
- Without speech, where speech is required to interact.
- With limited manipulation, reach, and strength.
- With limited language, cognitive, and learning abilities.
The key is to ask questions for each of these modes as a way of ensuring that information can be accessed and interacted with in multiple ways. For example:
- Would a person who is colorblind be able to read all the text in a webpage or document?
- Would someone who is blind be able to make sense of the content?
- If a person could not use a mouse, could they accomplish needed tasks?
POUR principles
The intent of the above questions is to consider how to make websites, digital content and software interfaces:
- Perceivable for each of the modes of interaction above.
- Operable, when interaction is required.
- Understandable, especially when someone cannot perceive visual information.
- Robust, meaning the website, content, or software works well with an individuals needed or desired assistive technology, web browser, and computing device.
These are referred to as the POUR Principles in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1, the current technical standard that must be met.
If you approach the creation and use of websites, digital content and software with these questions and principles in mind you will easily recognize accessibility issues, and solutions to those issues will all but present themselves.