Making Accessible Digital Products and Services

The process of ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their skills or limitations, can use digital content and services is known as digital accessibility. It is critical to remember that not everyone uses digital products and services in the same way or at all. Some people only use them on occasion. A person with a learning disability, for example, may require information to be presented in a more understandable manner than a blind person who can use a screen reader.

How can you ensure that your digital products are accessible to everyone? Here are some pointers:

Simple and direct content

Regardless of how obvious it may appear, make certain that the information you present is clear and concise. This can be accomplished by using everyday language and avoiding jargon. It also entails making your content available in alternative formats, such as audio and video, for those who prefer or are required to consume it in a different format.

Keep the Rules in Mind

Several laws and regulations govern accessibility, the most important of which is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. WCAG 2.0 is one of many laws and regulations. Furthermore, an increasing number of countries are implementing comparable rules and standards. It is critical to stay up to date on the latest developments in order to ensure that your products and services comply with the law.

Make Use Of Moving Imagery.

You can make your content more entertaining and easier to read by including photos and videos. However, in order to reduce accessibility concerns caused by their existence, they must be used correctly. Make sure that photographs and videos always have text alternatives so that viewers who can’t see them can still understand what they’re saying. Check the contrast of your images and videos to ensure that people with vision issues can see them.

Create Products With Accessibility In Mind From The Start.

Designing your digital products and services with digital accessibility in mind from the start is the simplest way to ensure that they are usable by everyone. The first step in the design process is user research, and accessibility must be considered at all levels, all the way up to coding. Work with accessibility experts to develop designs that are as user-friendly as possible.

Conduct an accessibility assessment to ensure compliance with current rules and regulations.

Even if your products and services were designed with digital accessibility in mind, it is critical to test them to ensure their usability. This ensures that your customers can use them safely. This entails the use of a variety of testing methods and equipment, including automated accessibility testing methods as well as manual testing by people with disabilities.

The Benefits of Digital Access

Disability is defined by the World Health Organization as a “broad term that encompasses impairments, activity limitations, and participation constraints.” Disabilities can result from issues with the physical, sensory, cognitive, intellectual, or behavioral components of health. It is estimated that one billion people worldwide have a disability, making it one of the most common medical disorders.

Despite this, it can be difficult for disabled people to obtain services such as employment and education. Giving everyone access to digital products and services is one way to help overcome these barriers. This necessitates the development of websites and applications that are accessible to a wide range of disabled people, including those who are blind or have low vision, deaf or have hearing loss, and those with cognitive or intellectual disabilities. We can help remove some of the barriers that people with disabilities face by making digital content and services more accessible, allowing them to live full, inclusive lives.

How People with Disabilities Use Digital Content

When navigating digital content, people with various disabilities face unique challenges. For blind or visually impaired people, it may be necessary to convert text to audio. Subtitles or transcripts may be required for hearing-impaired or deaf individuals to access audio and video content. It may be necessary to simplify the presentation of the material for those with cognitive difficulties. Furthermore, people with physical disabilities may require content that can be accessed via a variety of input devices, such as switches or eye-gaze trackers. Website designers and developers can create digital content that is accessible to a wider audience by taking these various requirements into account.

Keep the Blind in Mind When Creating

It is critical to recognize that not everyone interacts with the world in the same way when it comes to digital information. Those who are blind or have limited vision, for example, rely heavily on a variety of cues to understand information. As a result, special precautions must be taken when developing digital entertainment for children. All photos, for example, should include alternative text descriptions. Captions and audio descriptions are also required for all videos. These steps will help to ensure that your digital assets are accessible to everyone.

Designing with Hearing People in Mind

It is critical to consider the needs of all potential viewers when creating digital content. This applies to people with disabilities who may struggle to understand standard forms of content. Closed captioning allows the deaf and hard of hearing to access digital content.

When creating digital content with closed captions, there are several factors to consider. First and foremost, the captions must be easy to read and understand. This necessitates using large font sizes and avoiding fancy, difficult-to-read fonts. Audio and captions should be synchronized as well. This can be accomplished by either manually transcribing the audio track while using software that generates automatic captions or manually producing the captions. It is critical to thoroughly examine the captions to ensure that there are no errors.

You can create digital content that anyone, regardless of disability, can use if you follow these guidelines. Closed captioning is one method for making your content more accessible; other options include audio description and sign language interpretation. It is possible to create digital material that is accessible to all people if you consider their needs.

Content Development for Cognitively Impaired Users

When creating digital content for people with cognitive disabilities, there are several factors to consider. The most important thing to remember is that each person is unique and requires a unique approach. Nonetheless, broad guidelines for making content more accessible can be followed. For example, disability services promote the use of simple language and graphics. This can help to clarify things and aid the reader’s comprehension. Multiple opportunities for debate and critique are required. Allowing students to interact with the material on their own terms ensures that they understand and retain it. These suggestions will assist designers in developing digital instructional content that is accessible to all consumers.

Learn more about QualityLogic and our digital accessibility tools by clicking here.