Tek-Connect Web Development

DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY

Digital access concerns and compliance are, rightfully so, at the forefront of priorities for companies across industries. To help optimize your organization’s digital accessibility, our full-service web technology consulting firm offers a suite of expert-led resources.

We engaged Tek-Connect to help us make a some changes to our database, and to show us how to run year-end reports. As a community-based non-profit, we needed somebody that could work quickly and efficiently, and who had a keen eye for usability and accessibility. I’m pleased to say that the team at Tek-Connect exceeded our expectations. Their knowledge, patience, and expertise were exactly what we needed!

Sister Christina Heltsley, O.P.
Executive Director
St. Francis Center

I’m very pleased to recommend Tek-Connect. Their professionalism, excellent work ethic, can-do attitude and ability to deliver the highest standard of work truly makes them stand out from their competitors.

Tom Spalding
President
Pacific BioLabs

What is Digital Accessibility?

The right to access “public spaces” has expanded to include digital locations amid the proliferation of web use in our day-to-day lives. As our concept of public “spaces” evolve, so do our legal responsibilities to ensure digital content is accessible to all users.

Digital accessibility refers to the design and development of content and technology that can be used by everyone, including people with disabilities. It is commonly defined by compliance with various guidelines, including the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), and legislation like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, EN 301 549; The European Union’s Web Accessibility Directive; and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

What Can Users Expect From an Accessible Digital Experience?

Content available via different formats: Examples include closed captioning or audio transcripts for users who may be deaf or hard of hearing.
Navigation available via flexible methods: Users that have difficulty using a mouse may navigate content using their keyboard, as well as alternative input methods, like touch or gesture inputs.
Simple and intuitive content and design: For example, providing clear and concise instructions for filling out a form on a website.
Compatibility with assistive technologies: For example, using standard HTML code on a website so that it can be easily accessed and read by different types of screen readers or other assistive technologies.

Many digital accessibility tools, such as closed captioning and gesture inputs, are convenient and utilized by all users, not just those with disabilities, thereby enhancing the overall user experience.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 15% of the world’s population, or more than one billion people, live with some form of a disability.

In a study by the Pew Research Center, just 38% of disabled Americans use the Internet – and about a fifth of them (19%) say their disability makes use of the Internet difficult.

The WHO-UNICEF Global Report on Assistive Technology (AT) reveals that more than 2.5 billion people need one or more assistive products, such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, or apps that support communication and cognition.

In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that one in four adults (25%), or 61 million people, have a disability.

In a survey conducted by WebAIM in 2023, across the one million home pages, 49,991,225 distinct accessibility errors were detected—an average of 50.0 errors per page.

In the United States, businesses have faced a growing number of lawsuits related to digital accessibility. In 2020 for example, there were more than 3,500 such lawsuits filed, according to the law firm Seyfarth Shaw.

Why Prioritize Digital Accessibility?

Increased Reach

By making digital content accessible, organizations can reach a wider audience, including people with disabilities who may have previously been excluded. Complying with accessibility best practices also lends to improved SEO.

Enhanced User Experience

Accessibility features can improve the user experience for all users, not just those with disabilities. For example, captions on videos can benefit users who are in a noisy environment or who are not native speakers of the language.

Legal Compliance

Many countries have laws that require organizations to make their digital content accessible, and failure to do so can result in legal consequences.

Reputation and Brand Image

Prioritizing accessibility demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity and diversity.

Innovation

Prioritizing accessibility can lead to groundbreaking advancements. For example, voice recognition software was initially developed to assist people with disabilities, but it is now widely used.

Common Misconceptions about Digital Accessibility

Accessibility benefits only a small minority

Individuals with disabilities are the largest minority and will only continue to grow as average life expectancy rises. After all, many disabling conditions are a result of aging, illness, or injury. Also, as explained above, many accessibility enhancements can be beneficial for everyone.

Accessibility is a short-term project

Accessibility requirements should be regularly revisited and revised. Similar to the evolving nature of security and privacy practices, accessibility efforts must align with changes in technology, legislation, and user needs over time.

Accessibility should be the last step

Accessibility requirements should be considered at the onset of a project. This helps to avoid the costs and challenges of retrofitting while ensuring sufficient time for research, testing, and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Accessibility is hard and expensive

The long-term cost savings and mitigation of legal risk can offset and often outweigh the upfront cost. Additional financial incentives include increased market reach and improved user experience.

Accessibility means a boring design

Most techniques used to ensure content is accessible are not visible. Visually appealing and complex designs can still be made accessible, especially when developed in collaboration with a team of experts.

Why Choose Tek-Connect?

The accessibility and development teams at Tek-Connect can seamlessly collaborate with your organization to enhance your digital product accessibility, providing counsel and training on areas related to:

Risk & Compliance Management
Testing & Remediation
Strategy & Market Insights

Our accessibility consultants are certified subject-matter experts with extensive experience in related areas of occupational therapy, ergonomics, user experience and inclusive design. To learn more, contact us today.

DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY

What is Digital Accessibility?

What Can Users Expect From an Accessible Digital Experience?