Marketer

Getting Specific

Incorporating accessibility into the core of your workplace can be daunting - where do you even start? You should embrace accessibility into your core work, like how you approach digital strategy, but if you’re already doing that and need more momentum or incorporating it slowly isn’t working, then it’s time to bring out the big guns.

A defining feature of accessibility is that it can stand the test of time and changing technology. Is your site up to snuff? 

We’re exploring the principles of accessibility in our ongoing series, dissecting each theme with real-world examples to demonstrate each one. 

As we explore the principles of accessibility, we must keep in mind that accessibility isn’t a feel-good exercise in making sure the site can pass muster, but it functions well for people regardless of ability.

The commonly used phrase “perception is reality” tells us that what people believe to be true is true to them, and this applies doubly to digital experiences on the web. Perceived accessibility is a useful principle to discuss and apply to your projects, and failing to do so can be limiting to some users you might be trying to reach. 

If you are just getting started with web accessibility or are new to the space, understanding the underlying principles that make up the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is crucial to your success. These ideas not only provide guidance along the way but allow you to determine whether or not an issue you face impacts accessibility.

In this four-part series, we explore the basic principles that make up creating accessible web content and share examples of experiences from our own projects that fit each principle.

In this 5-part series, take a deep dive into universal design concepts in the context of creating component-based systems for dynamic web content. Get a birds-eye view of the inner workings of user experience (UX) architecture. Brand strategy, user psychology, objective methodology, and data-driven decisions come together, guided by timeless fundamental ideas, to construct today’s digital journeys.

Some of us remember life before the internet (seems crazy to think about!). During those times, making a purchase might have involved seeing ads on TV or billboards, asking friends and family for feedback, or relying on the information a salesperson provided before making a purchase. 

Digital accessibility means that any type of online content has an accessible equivalent. For PDFs, this means creating markup in the document that allows users who navigate with screen readers or a keyboard to access information like anyone else would.

If you must create a PDF, it is imperative that you make it accessible for as many people as possible. 1 in 4 people live with a disability which may include visual or mobile disabilities that make accessing content on the web difficult. Doing what you can to break down barriers, such as making sure you have accessible PDFs, is essential to creating an accessibility-first organization.