Accessibility in the digital space is quickly moving from something that companies should consider to something they need to act on. There are certainly business and legal reasons to implement accessibility features into your digital product, but beyond all that, it’s just the right thing to do.
In light of our next LevelUp webinar, “Designing & Developing for Accessibility,” we’d like to share a couple of resources on the importance of accessibility and how you can begin building it into your digital product rather than working to retrofit it later.
Accessibility should be a standard
Maggie O’Connor, a Senior Experience Designer based in our Louisville office, wrote in her piece “Accessible Design for Inclusive Digital Experiences” the risks of not designing for accessibility far outweigh the work to put those features into place.
“As the lines between what we buy and who we are blur, where we spend our money becomes more about choosing morally forthright companies over others. Doing the right thing morally via accessible design improves your public image and helps differentiate your brand as being consciously empathetic to everyone’s needs. Accessible design can have a halo effect as many users may assume that your business takes other concerns, like security, privacy, and customer service, just as seriously.
“Fifteen percent of the world’s population has some form of disability according to the World Health Organization (WHO). You could exclude up to 15 percent of the world’s population from your experience if you don’t make your design accessible.”
You could exclude up to 15 percent of the world’s population from your experience if you don’t make your design accessible.
Accessibility starts before the build begins
In “Why Accessibility in Tech is Vitally Important” from our friends in our Atlanta office of Big Nerd Ranch, we learn that plans for accessibility are best put into place before any design or development is even started.
“Have you ever seen a building that had a wheelchair ramp added as an afterthought? Think of an all-green building with a random red ramp. It looks messy and forced, right? It looks like it’s not supposed to be a part of the building. Adding in accessibility to your app after you’ve finished has the same look to it. So how do you avoid that?
“The best way is to consider the accessibility aspects of your app before you start. This means that accessibility for as many users as possible must be a forethought when creating your app. Ways to make it easier for all people to use your application have to be thought about before the building process even begins and definitely not after. Considering all types of users in your design will allow for a smoother design process and a better-looking design.”
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg
The most important element of designing and developing for accessibility is understanding that it’s a process of continuous improvement. As technology advances we’ll be able to offer an ever better experience for our users.
