Page 27 - SPiCE Magazine (September 2019)

26 The SPiCE Magazine • Technology Features: Rocking it @ 40 The SPiCE Magazine • Technology Features: Rocking it @ 40 27

The Case for Website Accessibility Across all business sectors, there is How to get started

By Patricia Morey, Account Executive, Maine, USA a strong case for early adoption of
web accessibility. First, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the
Imagine that you want to buy a new shirt from your favorite clothing store. You drive to the store, park your
In the UK, it is estimated that people with disabilities Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
car, and walk to the entrance. But when you arrive, you are welcomed by a 20-foot high step at the entrance, 2.1, which offers guidelines on how to make web
and their families spend at least £249 billion every year.
with no assistance to negotiate it. There is no one to advise you, no ladder to climb, and no other point of In the US, the annual discretionary spending of people content accessible to people with visual, auditory,
entry. Now, let’s turn this into the more common scenario of a person with disability visiting your website, with disabilities is over $200 billion. Globally, the physical, speech, cognitive, language, learning,
only to find out he can’t read the content, navigate the pages, fill out forms, and perform other necessary market is estimated at 2.3 billion people, generating and neurological disabilities. WCAG 2.1 is the
approximately $6.9 trillion in annual disposable income. accepted standard around the world.
functions due to disability.
Next, you should assess your current state, take
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018 figures show that 1 in 4 adults (or 61 Additionally, early accessibility adoption provides corrective action, and create policy to ensure that
significant benefits for the future, including:
million Americans) in the US live with a disability that affects day-to-day activities. Globally, around 10 percent future integrations are website-accessible from
of the world’s population -or roughly 650 million people – have a disability. Imagine the obstacles you would the start.
• Drive innovation. Including accessibility in your
encounter online if you were sight or hearing-impaired or couldn’t use a mouse due to decreased fine motor technology plan improves overall design for all users, Website and mobile applications: Conduct a

control or loss of limb. including the non-disabled community, by providing a page-by-page analysis to identify violations of
more intuitive experience that can be appreciated by 508, ADA and WCAG 2.0 standards, such as color
The solution? Web Accessibility.
everyone. schemes, page layout, and font size. Take corrective
action to ensure compatibility.
Web accessibility is the practice of ensuring people
• Brand enhancement. Making a commitment to incor-
with disabilities do not encounter barriers that porate accessibility into all aspects of your web pres- Assistive technology compatibility: Ensure your

prevent interaction with or access to websites on ence can strengthen your reputation as a progressive, content is compatible with tools that people with
disabilities use to access websites and applications
the web. How does web accessibility affect one’s life? innovative company. Brands like Barclays, Google, and
like screen readers, voice browsers, and Braille
NPR use innovative accessibility design and have found
According to the World Health Organization, in 2018, display.
it to be an asset that is well worth the cost.
there were “125 million people aged 80 years or older. Document compatibility: Make supplemental
• Increased market. Accessible design can lead to
By 2050, there will be 434 million people in the said online documents compliant with the addition
expanded audience reach, a boost in sales, increased
age group worldwide, with 120 million living in China alone”. As the world’s population ages and health concerns of Alt-Text and video and audio descriptions.
website traffic, and loyalty from an aging population Convert document formats such as PowerPoint,
like vision impairment, dexterity problems, cognitive difficulties, and hearing impairment impact daily lives,
whose disability needs will increase over time. MS Word files, PDFs, and HTML/EPUB to ensure
accessibility will play an increasingly important role.
• Minimizing legal risks. Each country has its own set compatibility.
According to Pew Research Center, in 2018, 97 percent of adults aged 30 to 49 used the internet. By 2050, this of regulations governing web accessibility. In the US, Design for the future: Establish technology policies

figure will increase to 60 to 79. The internet will continue to be an integral part of their lives. It is expected that: lawsuits filed in the federal courts under ADA Title III to ensure that future designs and documents are
have increased significantly. While in the past, most of created with accessibility at the outset to eliminate
• Online interaction will increase, with users being required to access medical, insurance, retirement, and
these have been settled out of court, the recent suit additional costs.
financial information online. against Winn Dixie went to full trial, where the judge
At SPi Global, we are currently working with
• With more leisure time available, older adults will access travel and hospitality sites more often to plan trips. concluded that the supermarket chain discriminated
companies across multiple industries to ensure
• Increasingly, entertainment and game companies are developing online activities specifically designed for against the plaintiff - a blind man who sued more than
compliance with WCAG 2.0, ADA Section 508, and
seniors to keep their minds active and engaged. 70 companies - because of its inaccessible website. EN 301 549 standard requirements. We can assess
• Continued interaction through social media will allow families to stay in touch by sharing news, photgraphs, Around the world, the trend leans toward enacting your current situation for risks and transform your
regulations that ensure accessibility standards are met. online content to be web accessible. Get in touch
and information.
to find out more.