Guide
Digital accessibility: a guide
Everything you need to know about digital accessibility: why it matters, how to get started — and where DisabilityTech and AI will take it next
Disability: The world’s largest minority. The world’s most diverse minority. The only minority group anyone can join at any moment in their lives. And at some point, if we live long enough, we will likely age into the community.
– Sandy Lacey, Executive Director of the Howe Innovation Center
At its core, digital accessibility means designing and developing a digital world that includes everyone — regardless of age, ability or means of access.
Ensuring that level of accessibility can feel challenging. Digital accessibility in particular has to be viewed as a journey vs. an end goal — because technology is constantly evolving, standards change, and people’s needs shift. But if you’re committed to making accessibility a priority, being responsive to feedback, staying open to learning more and continuing to improve, you’re on the right path.
And that matters, because the surprising fact is that 1 in 4 people have a disability. Some of those disabilities are visible, but there are many that are non-apparent, situational, or temporary — including some visual, auditory, mobility, and neurocognitive disabilities.
As examples, think of someone who is living with a learning disability like dyslexia (non-apparent), someone who is sensitive to loud noises or bright, pulsing lights (situational) or someone who recently broke their arm (temporary).
Each of these disabilities has an impact on how a person might be able to interact with a website, app or other digital experience. Now take a moment to consider how much of our lives happen online: if a digital experience is inaccessible, it creates avoidable barriers to everyday activities like shopping, banking, education, healthcare, employment and more.
In short, inaccessibility makes life unnecessarily difficult. And this guide is designed to give you the resources you need to get ahead of digital accessibility — whether you’re just starting out or looking to make improvements.
Defining disability: the need for digital accessibility
These resources offer a deeper dive into how a broader definition of disability — including non-apparent disabilities and a rapidly aging population — makes the need for an accessible digital world that much more critical.
- Digital accessibility: what it is and why it matters
- Accessibility and the aging population
- Perkins Library: where reading is accessible
- What you need to know about invisible disabilities and accessibility
- Inaccessible websites: online shopping vs. obstacle hopping
- Digital accessibility is the future of the ADA
Tech tips: get smart about digital accessibility
Whether you’re taking a step back to assess where your digital accessibility currently stands or are ready to jump in to make some quick fixes, these resources will provide the guidance you need to get started on your website, on social media and beyond.
On your website:
- 10 accessible design considerations for a beautiful website
- Three tips to make your website accessible for people with disabilities
- How to create accessible forms
- How to navigate a computer using only keyboard shortcuts
On your social channels:
On your phone:
In video:
DisabilityTech: the future of digital accessibility
Companies in the growing DisabilityTech market are creating products and services that improve accessibility for people with and without disabilities — where accessibility encompasses ease of use, effectiveness, intuitiveness, and comfort.
Oh, and DisabilityTech is super cool. Because it takes digital accessibility out into the world — into our kitchens, our cars, even outer space.
- Honda Scenic Audio and the future of accessible travel
- Revolutionizing indoor navigation: exploring O&M with Olin engineers
- For home chefs with disabilities, accessible design is the recipe for success
- Making data visualizations accessible
- Exploring our universe through sound
AI and digital accessibility
Everyone is excited about artificial intelligence (AI) and the potential it has to change the world. When it comes to accessibility, AI has created some tremendous opportunities — but it’s important to remember that equitable access to information relies on accuracy, and that still requires human oversight.
Our recommendation? AI can be a helpful supplement in improving accessibility, but it’s not a total solution.
- How accessible are auto captions?
- Why you shouldn’t rely on AI for your alt text
- 10 Accessibility barriers an automated scanning tool can’t find
Are you a champion for digital accessibility?
The fact that you’ve sought out and read this guide means that you are, indeed, a champion for digital accessibility. So what’s next?
Share what you’ve learned. Start a conversation with colleagues. Read about how some incredible organizations have already begun to create a more accessible digital world.
We’ll say it again: digital accessibility is a journey. And if you’re open to making it a priority and staying open-minded and curious along the way, you’re headed in the right direction.
Get more insight.
Join our innovation community.
The Howe Innovation Center sits at the intersection of innovation and disability, connecting the entrepreneurial and disability communities to create solutions for a more accessible world.
Dive deeper into digital accessibility.
Perkins Access partners with organizations of all kinds to create digital products, services and experiences—websites, apps, multimedia and beyond—that engage and include everyone.
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