What is digital accessibility?
Digital accessibility is about creating websites and apps that can be used by a wide range of users, regardless of ability.
Accessibility can also be simply defined as "usability for people with disabilities’".
Why build accessible websites?
At least 15% of the world’s population have a recognised disability. Making sure our products can be used by people with disabilities is not only the right thing to do, but it’s good business.
Expand your user base
Accessibility not only helps users with disabilities, but also improves the user experience for all users by striving for simple, usable and inclusive experiences.
Improve SEO
Implemented correctly, web accessibility also boosts your search engine optimisation (SEO) efforts and improves your website's organic search rankings. This article about how web accessibility impacts SEO outlines some specific examples.
Maintain legal compliance
Our websites are used in countries where legislation requires that people with disabilities can access and use digital services. Websites are required to be compatible with assistive technologies and consider the needs of users with disabilities. Some legislation to be aware of includes:
- European Accessibility Act
- 2010 UK Equality Act
- Americans Disability Act (ADA)
- Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)
- Australian Disability Discrimination Act 1992
- New Zealand's Human Rights Act 1993
Who are we talking about?
When we talk about users with disabilities, we should consider the full spectrum including permanent, temporary and situational disabilities.
Microsoft’s Inclusive Design persona spectrum is great for understanding the spectrum of limitations that our users might experience.
What is Group Digital’s accessibility strategy?
We aim for our digital products to meet WCAG 2.1 level AA (as required by the legislation in many of the regions our brands operate in). We’re on a journey towards that goal, focusing on the most impactful changes first.
3 high-impact areas we’re focusing on include:
- Colour: Not relying solely on colour for meaning and ensuring sufficient colour contrast, to ensure accessibility for people with low vision or colour blindness
- Keyboard: Enabling good keyboard only support, so that assistive technologies such as screen readers and voice control work well with our sites.
- Labels: Ensuring all elements on a website have a meaningful label accessible by assistive technologies e.g. form field labels, alt text for images or meaningful button text
Who is responsible for accessibility?
Accessibility is the responsibility of everyone, not just developers or designers. Delivering accessible digital experiences requires input from all teams including:
- Group Digital: by creating robust & accessible features
- The Business: by creating accessible content and following guidelines to use components following best practices