No time to read? Press play above and listen to the article!
Accessibility is a term widely used in politics to improve the way that people with a disability can use public services and get around the city.
Do you know, however, how this concept can be used in the creation of websites and blogs? We will answer, in this post, what digital accessibility is, what its importance is and how to put it into practice.
Have a good reading!
What is digital accessibility?
Accessibility is what allows anyone to enjoy activities, content or products offered by society. Regardless of physical-motor, cultural, social or any other limitations, an experience with a minimum of interference must be provided.
Among the large number of internet users, some have:
- difficulties or problems with hearing or vision;
- problems using the mouse;
- access only from small monitors;
- slow Internet.
Therefore, the creators of a website or an online service must plan and execute the usability and experience of the webpage in order to include all people who may have a specific need.
In addition to being based on the right that everyone can and should experience a clear navigation, with the possibility of communication, adequate access to formats that can help such people, there is the profit component.
Whoever includes the various types of public – and also their access difficulties – gets more visits and, consequently, more followers. Companies will increase sales and improve the public’s image of them.
What is its importance?
As soon as we think about access difficulties, we remember those who have visual impairments. Programs like Jaws help these people to ‘read’ the page, even ‘reading’ what the description of an image is and what it means.
However, for the system to function properly, websites must follow good accessibility standards.
In addition, other types of visual impairments, such as color blindness, for example, need to be taken into account. The excessive use of green and red can create a difficulty for these visitors.
In this case, the existence of red links may not be noticed by users, not allowing a complete experience to the content. Consequently, more barriers to interact with the website are present.
There are cases in which it is difficult, even for visitors without any specific need, to identify which buttons confirm or cancel a purchase, for example. The main action indicators are defined by color.
How can we solve these types of problems that make it difficult to access information on websites? That’s what we will answer now!
How to solve these problems in digital accessibility?
- Use the description in your images
To assist those who cannot see properly, describe all of your images and insert alternative text. Remember, however, to describe the image, not your product or website.
Thus, specialized programs will be able to give them a proper dimension of what appears on the monitor.
- Use of texts and markings in addition to colors
It is true that colors convey emotions that help actions. However, more information must be provided so that everyone has access to the actions. You can use images that are self-representative, like an ‘x’ to cancel or arrows to go back or forward.
In addition to color blind people, those with low vision need to find color contrasts between the background and the fonts used.
- Content available also in audio
Making an audio version of your text available will help people who have difficulties reading.
In addition, this feature is useful for people who do not have much time to read everything that they would like to. So they can enjoy it while driving, at home or while walking, for example.
Several blogs and websites already offer audio with the text, as we can see in these examples on the blogs of GetResponse and Qualio.
We have to improve the way that people with any kind of impairment use all services. In addition to including people and respecting our differences, it is a way to improve the experience of your public, increase your audience, and, for companies, your sales.
Do you want to help us build a better world? Share this post on your social networks and spread the idea of digital accessibility!
