Accessibility

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.

Dr. Palmer, the Associate Professor and Chair of the Technical Communication and Interactive Design (TCID) department, had a vision for a usability lab at Kennesaw State University (KSU). It would include workstations with: 

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Accessibility refers to building and updating a website to make it easier for all users, including people with disabilities, to navigate and get information. Barriers of traditional mediums, such as print, audio, and visual media, can be overcome through web technology. It’s our job as strategists and producers of web content to ensure that there aren’t different barriers preventing those with disabilities from accessing the same content they might not be able to off the web. 

It’s a known fact that businesses that ignore website accessibility do so to their own detriment. Not only do they risk facing legal action, but they also lose customers who may be seeking accessible experiences. 

In this blog post, we will go into detail about the business case for accessibility and the way that businesses have been impacted when they have neglected to create accessible experiences for all users.