Today, digital technology is everywhere. If you walk down the street of any city in the world, digital tablets and smartphones will be an essential part of your surroundings. However, many digital devices pose a threat to people with disabilities. People who rely on screen readers or braille displays can have difficulties using digital devices due to a lack of accessibility features. If digital accessibility is not implemented into devices, digital tools and apps can become discriminatory.
Web accessibility refers to the practice of removing barriers that prevent disabled people from accessing or using digital content online. Web accessibility guidelines cover a wide range of disabilities such as blindness, low vision, cognitive disabilities, and hearing impairment. This article will discuss the importance of digital accessibility and give a few reasons why digital accessibility should be a priority for everyone.
1. Digital Inclusion: Ensuring Access to Technology for All People
One reason digital accessibility is important is digital inclusion. Digital inclusion refers to the access to digital technology, particularly the internet, for all people, no matter their age or socioeconomic status. When digital devices are developed, digital accessibility should be included in the design process so that everyone has access to digital tools and apps.
2. Accessibility Testing
The digital accessibility of digital technology is vital because disabled individuals can use digital devices in education, employment, and social services.
Accessibility testing evaluates digital products to ensure digital tools are accessible for people with disabilities. The testing allows digital tools to be developed to be functionally usable by people with disabilities. When digital tools are developed with digital accessibility in mind, digital tools and apps can be used by everyone.
3 Digital Tools and Apps May Become Discriminatory
Another reason digital accessibility is important is to prevent digital technology from becoming discriminatory. Web accessibility guidelines ensure web-based digital tools are accessible for people with disabilities. If digital tools are not developed with digital accessibility in mind, digital technology can become discriminatory by making digital tools inaccessible to disability groups.
4. People with Disabilities Will Have More Opportunities to Learn and Work Online
Another reason digital accessibility is important is that digital tools can open up new opportunities for people with disabilities. Digital technology can educate people about their disability and how it affects day-to-day life. Of course, digital technology can also be useful for employment and social services, such as learning digital literacy skills and how to use digital devices.
Digital accessibility is important because digital tools can be discriminatory if accessibility is not built-in. For this case, web accessibility guidelines ensure digital tools are accessible for people with disabilities.
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