System Accessiblity

What is an accessible system?

Accessible systems are systems that have been designed in such a way as to be accessible for those with a variety of disabilities, such as visual or audio impairment. When developing new systems developers should ensuring that new systems (or upgraded old systems) consider the needs of all users and are adapted where necessary.

Why do we need accessible design?

There are three strong reasons for developers to design systems that are accessible for all.

Moral Obligations

First, and perhaps most importantly, we have a moral obligation to ensure that we do what we can to ensure that all members of society can access the same resources, regardless of their individual needs. This means that it is important to implement ethical practices within the design process.

Legal Obligations

Many countries now have legislation in place to ensure that all members of society can participate to the fullest degree in the online world, with this legislation detailing the minimum provisions that need to be included, together with the legal consequences of non-compliance.

Financial Obligations

Perhaps most importantly for businesses, ensuring accessibility can be significant positive financial outcomes for the business. As a society we are living longer, which means that more and more people are living with age-related disabilities. This market is increasing in size and those companies which cater for the market will be able to take advantage of this ever-growing sector.

Also it is important to consider the indirect impact of accessibility related changes can have on a website’s search engine ranking, which can have a massive financial impact on a business.

For example:

• Page browsing duration is a ranking signal and so if a user leaves a site because they cant access it then it can have negative affect on ranking.
• Link sharing is a ranking signal and people with accessibility requirements are more likely to share links to sites where they have had a positive experience, thereby boosting the site’s ranking.
• Search engines often rely on image alt tags in order to correctly process and register images and therefore rank them on image searches.

 

Ensuring Accessible Design

Ensuring accessible system design involves considering the needs of people with disabilities and ensuring that the system is designed in a way that is usable and effective for them. Here are some steps to help ensure accessible system design:

1. Involve people with disabilities in the design process: Including people with disabilities in the design process can help to ensure that their needs are understood and addressed.
2. Follow accessibility guidelines: There are several accessibility guidelines available, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and the Section 508 Standards, that provide recommendations for making digital content accessible. Following these guidelines can help to ensure that the system is designed in a way that is accessible to people with disabilities.
3. Provide alternative formats: Providing alternative formats, such as audio or Braille, can help to make the system accessible to people with different types of disabilities.
4. Use clear and simple language: Using clear and simple language can make the system easier to understand for people with cognitive disabilities.
5. Test with people with disabilities: Testing the system with people with disabilities can help to identify any accessibility barriers and provide opportunities for improvement.
6. Continuously evaluate and improve: Continuously evaluating and improving the system can help to ensure that it remains accessible as technology and accessibility standards evolve.

Resources

Teacher Presentation