If you have researched web accessibility, then you have quickly learned that there is a lot of information and it’s difficult to understand what is relevant, useful, and up-to-date. To avoid all of this, I recommend that you build foundational knowledge by studying just two areas.
A major challenge in the accessibility space is that decisions about how a site should be implemented are often made by site owners, designers, and developers with little-to-no experience or exposure to people with disabilities or assistive technologies. This was the case with me.
To build empathy and better understand what it feels like to face accessibility challenges, I am actively learning more about disabilities, assistive technologies, and alternative browsing preferences. If your organization is involved in this effort, I encourage you to step into the shoes of a person who experiences web accessibility issues by researching the areas highlighted below.
We will discuss the following topics:
- Learn about Common Disabilities
- Learn About Popular Assistive Technologies
- Learn About Alternative Browsing Preferences
- Consider Combinations and Intersections
Learn About Common Disabilities
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are more than 1 billion people worldwide who live with some form of disability. While not all of these disabilities affect a person’s ability to access the internet, a significant number of people with disabilities do face barriers when using digital technologies. This means that a portion of your website users will have a diverse range of abilities across the following categories:
Vision
This category includes people with low vision, color blindness, and complete blindness. People with low vision may have difficulty seeing small text, and those with color blindness may have difficulty distinguishing between certain colors. Blind users rely on screen readers and other assistive technologies to navigate websites and consume content.
Accessibility issue: Difficulty seeing small text or low contrast content
Assistive technology: Screen magnifiers or screen readers, such as JAWS or VoiceOver
Mobility
This category includes people with physical disabilities, such as those who use wheelchairs, crutches, or other mobility aids. They may have difficulty using a mouse or keyboard and may rely on alternative input devices, such as voice recognition software or specialized keyboards.
Accessibility issue: Difficulty using a mouse or keyboard due to limited dexterity or range of motion
Assistive technology: Alternative input devices, such as head tracking systems or speech recognition software like Dragon NaturallySpeaking
Auditory
This category includes people who are deaf or hard of hearing. They may have difficulty consuming audio content, such as videos or podcasts, and may rely on closed captions or transcripts to understand the content.
Accessibility issue: Difficulty hearing audio or spoken content
Assistive technology: Closed captions or transcripts, as well as assistive listening devices like hearing aids or cochlear implants
Neurological
This category includes people with conditions such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease. These conditions can affect a person’s motor skills, memory, and ability to concentrate, which can impact their ability to use websites and consume content.
Accessibility issue: Difficulty processing information quickly or accurately, or issues with memory or attention
Assistive technology: Text-to-speech software or screen readers, as well as cognitive assistive technologies like reminders or task managers
Cognitive
This category includes people with cognitive disabilities, such as those with dyslexia or intellectual disabilities. They may have difficulty processing complex information and may benefit from simplified content, clear navigation, and visual aids.
Accessibility issue: Difficulty understanding complex language or navigating complicated interfaces
Assistive technology: Simplified language options or easy-to-use interfaces, as well as assistive technologies like visual aids or voice assistants
Medical
This category includes people with chronic illnesses, such as arthritis or fibromyalgia. They may have difficulty using a mouse or keyboard for long periods of time and may need alternative input devices or voice recognition software.
Accessibility issue: Sensitivity to certain colors or patterns, or issues with flashing or animated content
Assistive technology: Options to adjust color schemes or remove animations, as well as seizure alert devices
Psychological
This category includes people with mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD. These conditions can affect a person’s ability to concentrate and may impact their ability to use websites and consume content.
Accessibility issue: Sensitivity to certain types of content or situations, or issues with anxiety or stress related to website use
Assistive technology: Tools for managing stress or anxiety, such as meditation or breathing apps, as well as tools for filtering or blocking certain types of content.
Further reading
World Health Organization: **https://www.who.int/teams/noncommunicable-diseases/disability-and-rehabilitation/who-disability-measurement-and-statistics**
WebAIM: **https://webaim.org/projects/million/**
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REMEMBER
Whether a person is living with a disability or not, it is important to remember: “all people, over the course of their lives, traffic between times of relative independence and dependence (Hendren).
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Learn About Popular Assistive Technologies
Some of your website users may be using assistive technologies to access your site. According to a survey conducted by WebAIM in 2020, out of a sample of 1,011 individuals with disabilities who use the internet, 88.9% reported using at least one assistive technology.
Assistive technologies are devices that allow individuals with disabilities an alternative method to interact with the computer (beyond the standard mouse and keyboard). They serve as a bridge between the user and their device.
Let’s learn about common assistive technologies and how they work.
Screen readers
Screen readers are software applications that read aloud the content of a digital screen, including text, links, and other elements.
They are used by people who are blind, have low vision, or have difficulty reading text on a screen.
Challenges people may have when using screen readers include inaccuracies in reading text, difficulty navigating complex web pages, and limited compatibility with certain websites or applications.
Screen readers are fairly common and are included as a built-in accessibility feature on most devices.
Navigation hardware
Navigation hardware includes tools such as joysticks, trackballs, and specialized keyboards that enable users to navigate digital interfaces.
They are used by people who have mobility impairments or who have difficulty using traditional input devices such as a mouse or touchpad.
Challenges people may have when using navigation hardware include difficulty finding compatible devices for their specific needs and limited functionality in some applications or websites.
Navigation hardware is less common than other assistive technologies, but is still widely used by those who need it.
Switch inputs
Switch inputs allow users to perform actions such as clicking, typing, or navigating through digital interfaces using a single button or switch.
They are used by people who have mobility impairments or who have difficulty using traditional input devices such as a mouse or keyboard.
Challenges people may have when using switch inputs include finding compatible devices for their specific needs and limited functionality in some applications or websites.
Switch inputs are less common than other assistive technologies, but are still widely used by those who need them.
Eye trackers
Eye trackers use specialized cameras and software to track the movement of a user’s eyes, allowing them to interact with digital interfaces using eye movements.
They are used by people who have mobility impairments or who have difficulty using traditional input devices such as a mouse or keyboard.
Challenges people may have when using eye trackers include limited compatibility with some applications or websites, and the need for specialized hardware and software.
Eye trackers are less common than other assistive technologies, but are becoming more widely available.
Speech recognition
Speech recognition software allows users to input text and commands using their voice.
They are used by people who have mobility impairments or who have difficulty using traditional input devices such as a mouse or keyboard.
Challenges people may have when using speech recognition include inaccuracies in recognizing speech, the need for a quiet environment, and limited compatibility with some applications or websites.
Speech recognition software is becoming more common and is often included as a built-in accessibility feature on many devices.
Screen magnifiers
Screen magnifiers enlarge the content of a digital screen, making it easier for users with low vision to read.
They are used by people who have low vision or who have difficulty reading small text on a screen.
Challenges people may have when using screen magnifiers include distortion of text and images when enlarged, and difficulty navigating complex web pages.
Screen magnifiers are fairly common and are included as a built-in accessibility feature on most devices.
Further reading
Web Accessibility Perspectives videos
Learn About Alternative Browsing Preferences
You need not have a disability or use an assistive technology to experience accessibility issues. Users who customize their browser experiences to better suit their needs and preferences may also experience challenges viewing your content. Here are examples:
- RSS readers and browser readability extensions: These take the structured content of a page and display it with clean typography and styles. These readers and extensions focus on making content as readable as possible, sometimes even hiding headers, footers, and ads.
- Text resizing: Some users may need to increase the font size of text to make it easier to read. However, if the website’s layout is not responsive or the text is hardcoded in images, it may become distorted and difficult to read when the font size is increased.
- High contrast mode: Users with low vision or color blindness may need to use high contrast mode to distinguish between different elements on a webpage. However, if the website’s design relies heavily on color to convey information, it may become difficult for users to navigate the site in high contrast mode.
- Voice control: Some users prefer to use voice control software to navigate websites. However, if the website is not designed with accessibility in mind, it may not be possible for these users to access all of the site’s content or functionality using voice commands.
- Text-to-speech: Users with visual impairments may use text-to-speech software to have website content read aloud to them. However, if the website’s design is not optimized for text-to-speech software, it may not be able to accurately read all of the site’s content.
- High contrast mode: Some users may prefer to use high contrast mode to improve visibility, particularly those with vision impairments. However, if your website does not have a clear visual hierarchy or proper color contrast, it can make it difficult to navigate and read for users in high contrast mode.
- Zooming: Users who need to zoom in on content to see it more clearly may experience issues with websites that are not optimized for zooming. This can cause text or images to become distorted or difficult to read.
- Keyboard navigation: Users who prefer to rely on keyboard navigation rather than a mouse may encounter issues with websites that have poor keyboard accessibility. This can include issues with tab order, lack of keyboard shortcuts, and more.
- Text-to-speech: Some users may use text-to-speech software to read web content aloud. However, if the website has not been properly structured with headings, alternative text for images, and other accessibility features, the text-to-speech software may not be able to accurately convey the content to the user.
Consider Combinations and Intersections
I have come to the conclusion that the only way to truly overcome the accessibility challenge is to assumptions about users’ abilities, assistive technologies, or browsing preferences.
Instead, design content and experiences for the lowest common denominator or designing for the simplest and most basic user experience that will still meet the needs of all users, regardless of their abilities or technologies. Your content and experiences should work even if images, fancy functionality, and interactive elements are stripped out.
When I started my quest to learn more about users impacted by accessibility issues, I did not imagine how nuanced the space was. Here are the major complexities that I uncovered:
- Disabilities can exist in various combinations, leading to difficult-to-anticipate challenges. Each of the categories listed above can independently create barriers to accessing your website. But you must also consider combinations across and within each of these categories. For instance, minor disabilities can combine to create major challenges.
- Assistive technologies are used in different ways to different degrees. Not every user with a disability is using an assistive technology. There are many possible reasons for this, such as (1) their disability not being severe enough to benefit from assistive-technology support, (2) assistive technologies that could help them being too expensive, (3) unawareness of technologies that could help them access the web, or (4) a secondary impairment and use of technology specific to another need.
I have come to the conclusion that the only way to truly overcome the accessibility challenge is to avoid making assumptions about users’ abilities, assistive technologies, or browsing preferences. Instead, design content and experiences for the lowest common denominator. In other words, design for the simplest and most basic user experience that will still meet the needs of all users, regardless of their abilities or technologies. Your content and experiences should work even if images, fancy functionality, and interactive elements are stripped out.
BUT WAIT…THERE’S MORE!
See the full Web Accessibility for the Enterprise resource.