It is a common misconception that accessibility is just for disabled people. It isn’t. It literally benefits everyone, and I imagine there are many examples of accessibility within your daily life that you didn’t even know fall under the accessibility umbrella. But, lucky for you, both as someone who lives with a physical disability and works professionally in the accessibility field, I’m here to set the record straight.
In its simplest form, accessibility refers to the design and provision of products, services, environments and facilities that can be accessed and used by everyone, regardless of their age, ability, or status. The purpose of accessibility is to eliminate barriers, ensuring equal access and participation for all.
When most people think of accessibility, they think of physical access. Ramps, curb cuts on sidewalks, accessible parking, elevators, accessible bathrooms. But physical accessibility is just one small part of accessibility as a whole.
Accessibility actually encompasses various aspects, including physical, digital, and communication accessibility.
Digital accessibility is the practice of designing and developing websites, mobile apps, digital documents and software so that people with disabilities can perceive, navigate, and interact with them. Digital accessibility ensures inclusion for users with visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive disabilities.
Much like how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits the discrimination of people with disabilities, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) exist to ensure digital products are accessible to people with disabilities. WCAG guidelines (created by the World Wide Web Consortium) are technical standards that outline the requirements of digital accessibility. While the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal civil rights law in the United States, WCAG standards are not federal law. That said, in 2024 the Department of Justice (DOJ) finalized a rule making WCAG 2.1 Level AA the legal standard for state and local government websites and mobile apps, which is a start at least.
Even with the ADA and WCAG in place, keep in mind that ADA law and WCAG guidelines are not the gold standard for accessibility. They are the bare minimum. They’re the starting point, not the destination.
To drive my point home that accessibility isn’t just for disabled people, here are a few accessibility features you may not have thought of:
Captions: Captions are text that displays the spoken dialogue and sound effects of a video. Captions were originally created for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. These days, captions are used because they allow individuals to still enjoy videos in loud areas like a bus station of when in a quiet environment like a library.
Studies have shown that captions also increase focus, memory, and comprehension for everyone. From a personal standpoint, I’m not deaf or hard of hearing, but I use captions anytime I’m watching a tv show or a movie simply so I can follow what is actually happening. Modern tv shows and movies often feature mumbled dialogue that can often be overshadowed by loud background music and sound effects (known as poor sound mixing), so with captions on I don’t have to constantly adjust the volume.
Audiobooks: Audiobooks first originated as a vital assistive technology for blind and low-vision users. However, these days, everyone benefits from being able to listen to books while they clean, drive, make dinner, or perform other tasks.
Cruise Control: Modern cruise control was invented by blind inventor and mechanical engineer, Ralph Teetor. Today, cruise control is one of the most common convenience features in modern cars. On long highway drives it reduces driver fatigue, helps maintain a constant speed, and lowers the risk of unintentionally exceeding speed limits.
Dark mode: Dark mode is a display setting for phones, computers, and apps that reverses the traditional color scheme. Instead of dark text on a light background, it uses light-colored text, icons, and interface elements on a dark or black background. Dark mode reduces eye strain relieves severe physical pain or discomfort caused by bright screen glare for users with light sensitivities. It also reduces intense visual triggers that can start or worsen migraine headaches and eases focus for those with low vision and other eye conditions. However, as with most features, dark mode is not for everyone. Specifically, users with certain types of astigmatism may experience a blurring effect that can make light text on a dark background harder to read. Today, roughly 80% of smartphone users prefer and actively use dark mode.
What is an accessibility feature you utilize in your every day life? Let me know in the comments!
No posts
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.