Are Digital Accessibility and Website Accessibility Interchangeable?
The terms digital accessibility and website accessibility have heaps of overlap and are typically used interchangeably, however, they’ll mean different things.
Digital accessibility includes web accessibility however it also refers to the accessibility of something digital like audio, video, electronic documents, mobile apps, kiosks, and animations.
Website accessibility specifically refers to the principle that websites and associated technologies and content ought to be equally accessible to those with and without disabilities.
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) states, “web accessibility means that websites, tools, and techniques are designed and developed so that people with disabilities can use them.” They additionally added that “people can:
- perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with the Web
- contribute to the Web.”
The Importance of Accessibility
You don’t need to be told that everything is turning digital. Stores are replacing or adding actual physical locations with online websites. Banking, paying bills, shopping, and other financial services will all be performed online. For a lot of people, communication has shifted toward social media and texting. Radio stations, tv programs, and podcasts may be accessed on digital devices.
So naturally, it stands to reason that everyone ought to have the privilege to take advantage of all that digital has to offer. But, folks utilize completely different devices and technologies to access equivalent digital data and the internet in numerous ways. For people with disabilities, which may include using assistive technologies like screen readers, and so as for those technologies to work properly websites and digital tools need to be designed to be accessible.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in four adults is disabled. Businesses would be wise to embrace folks with disabilities in their markets, and a number of companies are creating accessibility a priority. Sometimes, though, companies stop at their websites in terms of applying accessibility best practices. the problem is that their customers do not stop at their websites, but use their full set of digital offerings. that is why everything people can reach has to be accessible — websites, and the documents they link to, their social media presence, podcasts, videos, and everything else.
Raising Awareness Concerning Accessibility
Organizations are creating commitments to accessibility and recognizing its value. Developers are using and acquiring skills to make accessible apps and websites. Assistive technology is turning mainstream and in some cases cheaper. Even with the progress being created, raising awareness concerning accessibility will help accelerate it. You can help raise awareness by introducing somebody to accessibility, explaining what accessibility is, and what are some of the rules and standards like Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1. Point out the importance of using respectful language when discussing accessibility and people with disabilities. People typically wonder why accessibility is critical, and whether or not it’s definitely worth the time and cost. They will benefit from learning that accessibility isn’t simply a convenience but a human right.
Once folks have a much better understanding of accessibility, and how it affects and improves the lives of individuals with disabilities as well as everybody else, they will themselves become advocates for disability rights.
