The Imperative of Accessibility: Building an Inclusive Digital World –Part 2

Here is a recap of Alex’s situation:

 Alex, a visually impaired individual, eagerly enrolls in an online training program. His excitement quickly turns to frustration as he discovers the company's failure to follow accessibility protocols. The training materials are filled with inaccessible elements, making navigation with his screen reader software challenging. Needless to say, Alex is falling behind in the course and feeling disheartened.

This situation serves as a powerful testament to the fact that accessibility extends beyond mere adherence to regulations; it is fundamentally about guaranteeing equitable opportunities for everyone. Given the increasing number of individuals with various abilities and impairments, it is essential to secure uniform access to information and services.

In the last issue, we talked about the importance of adding “alt text” descriptions to images, the importance of sufficient color contrast to ensure that text is easily distinguishable from its background, the importance of the choice of fonts to ensure content can be easily read, and how to make PDFs more accessible. You can catch Part 1 of this series here: 

https://www.masteringculturaldifferences.com/blog/the-imperative-of-accessibility-building-an-inclusive-digital-world

Below, you will find additional suggestions to enhance accessibility, so you can make digital content and technology truly inclusive for all.

Suggestions for Enhancing Accessibility (cont’d)

1.      Transcripts and Captions

Transcripts and captions are essential for making audio and video content accessible to individuals with hearing impairments.

For audio content, provide a written transcript that includes the spoken words and any relevant auditory information (e.g., background sounds or music).

For video content, include captions, which are text-based representations of the spoken dialogue and other relevant audio information, synchronized with the video.

Both transcripts and captions allow users with hearing impairments to access and understand audio and video content, ensuring they don't miss out on critical information or context. They are also useful for non-native speakers and in situations where audio cannot be played, such as in quiet environments or noisy public places.

 2.      Text-to-Speech Compatibility

Text-to-speech (TTS) compatibility refers to designing content in a way that allows it to be read aloud by text-to-speech software, making it accessible to individuals who rely on these tools. This is particularly important for digital content, such as web pages and electronic documents.

How to ensure TTS compatibility:

• Use well-defined headings, lists, and structural elements to give the content a logical and understandable structure. Screen readers and TTS software rely on these structures for accurate rendering.
• Maintain consistent formatting throughout the document, including the use of fonts, headings, and lists.
• Regularly test your content with different TTS software to identify and fix any issues that may arise during speech synthesis.

3.      Structured Content

Structured content involves organizing the information within a document or on a website in a clear and organized manner, making it easier for all users to navigate and understand. By structuring content effectively, you create a more organized and user-friendly experience, benefiting individuals with various cognitive and visual disabilities.

How to create structured content:

• Use hierarchical headings (e.g., <h1>, <h2>, <h3>) to outline the document's structure. Headings should represent the content's organization, making it easy for screen reader users to navigate and understand the document's hierarchy.
• Use bullet points, numbered lists, and other list elements to break down information into smaller, digestible chunks. This helps users with cognitive impairments process information more easily and navigate content more efficiently.
• Maintain uniformity in fonts, font sizes, and spacing between elements. Consistency not only makes content more visually appealing but also helps users with cognitive disabilities anticipate how information is presented.

4.      Large Print Versions

Large print versions are alternate formats of documents, often created to accommodate individuals with low vision who may struggle to read standard-sized text. Offering large print versions of documents allows those with low vision to read and understand information without straining their eyes or requiring magnification tools.

How to make content available in large print:

• Increase the font size significantly compared to the standard version. A font size of 18pt or larger is often considered large print.
• Use clear, sans-serif fonts like Arial or Verdana in large print documents. Avoid decorative or complex fonts.
• Increase the spacing between lines and ensure there's ample space between words to make the text more legible.
• Maintain the same formatting and content structure as the standard version, ensuring that users familiar with the standard content can transition seamlessly to the large print version.

5.      Captioning and Transcripts during Webinars/Online Training

Captioning and transcripts are essential accessibility features for webinars, especially for individuals with hearing impairments. Here's how these options work:

Real-time Captioning: During a live webinar, real-time captioning involves displaying a text-based transcription of the spoken content as it happens. Captioning can be provided by a live captioner or generated by automatic speech recognition (ASR) technology. This allows participants with hearing impairments to follow along in real-time.

Post-Event Transcripts: After the live webinar, provide a written transcript of the entire event. This document includes not only the spoken content but also descriptions of visual elements (e.g., slides, images) and non-verbal cues, ensuring the full content is accessible.

By offering both real-time captioning and post-event transcripts, you not only make the content accessible to individuals with hearing impairments, but you also provide a resource for everyone to review or reference later.

Final Thoughts

Alex's frustrating experience with the online training program highlights a critical issue in our digital age—accessibility.

When companies overlook the importance of ensuring that their online materials are accessible to all, they create significant barriers for individuals with disabilities. It's not just a matter of inconvenience; it's a matter of denying individuals equal opportunities to learn, grow, and succeed.

Digital accessibility is not merely a compliance requirement; it's a moral and ethical imperative. The frustration Alex faced underscores the need for companies to prioritize accessibility from the outset. As society becomes increasingly digital, it's crucial that all individuals, regardless of their abilities, can access and benefit from the wealth of knowledge and resources available online.

By putting in the effort to follow accessibility protocols, companies can ensure that people like Alex don't encounter unnecessary obstacles in their pursuit of education and personal growth. Let us remember that making our digital world accessible is not just a legal obligation but a commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunities for all.