Digital Accessibility: Demystifying The Non-Negotiable

Madeby.studio explores how to truly create inclusive experiences that recognise and accommodate diverse audiences to push past legal necessity.

In an increasingly interconnected world, digital designers are responsible for creating online experiences that are accessible to everyone. However, beyond WCAG conformance, web accessibility remains an afterthought or simply an ‘add-on’ feature to check off the list.

Digital accessibility is about providing users with alternatives that solve problems from situational, temporary and permanent impairments. When was the last time you used subtitles? For me, it was the other day when I forgot my headphones on the train. The time before that, I wanted to watch a film without waking up my Niece. Whether it’s being in a noisy room, having English as your second (or third) language, or being hard of hearing, we’ve all used subtitles at some point. With Netflix reporting that 40% of its viewers use them regularly, subtitles are a normalised feature of inclusive design that plays an integral part in the majority of user experiences.

Closed captions are a great example of how digital accessibility isn’t just for “people with disabilities”. As the future of enterprise becomes defined by digital solutions, there are several other reasons why businesses should prioritise web accessibility. From compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to the business case that is emerging from the overlap between accessibility and SEO. 

Yet, with only 2.6% of websites fully accessible to users, treating accessibility as an “add-on” feature to pass legal requirements and get a decent Google ranking isn’t enough. Approaching web accessibility as a tick-box practice or something that can be easily fixed by the latest AI-powered accessibility plugin, fails to recognise marginalised biases that exist within brands. As designers, we have the power and responsibility to create inclusive experiences for everyone. 

So why aren’t we doing it?

“It’s too expensive and takes too long.”

Like most product features, web accessibility has expenses. However, 24% of people in the UK have a disability. By overcoming digital accessibility barriers, users who rely on accessibility features to navigate the Internet can engage with brands. Therefore besides the social responsibility of organisations to break down barriers to inclusion, digital accessibility presents a huge opportunity to expand markets. 

The simplest and most cost-effective way of creating an inclusive digital solution is integrating accessible practices into every stage of the process. Rather than treating accessibility as an afterthought, proactively conducting accessibility audits in the earliest stages of the development process will minimise the likelihood of any alterations to the end product. Trying to fix an inaccessible website is what takes the extra time, effort and money. 

At first, the level of understanding and attention to detail may make accessibility feel overwhelming. It’s important to remember that even the most accessible websites contain flaws and there’s always room for improvement. Start small and focus on the most prominent barriers users face – for instance, clear alt text on images or using contrasting colours for branding. Incremental improvements are better than nothing at all. 

“It’s too restrictive and makes websites look boring.” 

Every designer, developer or business leader faces creative constraints. Be it budgets, tools, skills or time. Yet, the trade-off between inclusivity and creativity is a common misconception that stems from the early days of the Internet when technology restricted creative freedom and the design brief. However, long gone are the days when text-only, static sites were the only way to create accessible digital solutions. Nowadays, technology has advanced to allow designers to push past the well-worn visual pathways and create engaging, interactive and accessible websites. 

Besides, for the handful of accessible websites that aren’t visually pleasing, there are millions of other inaccessible websites that are equally as bad. Viewing accessibility as a limitation only continues to ignore real-world challenges that users face every day. Instead, the creative challenge should be embraced as a driver for innovative solutions and close collaboration.

Accessibility – or the lack of it – is becoming an increasingly visible issue that organisations need to address. Subtitles aren’t enough. We need to do better to be inclusive with our practices and normalise equitable access to digital solutions. It’s not a nice-to-have or a bonus feature if you have the time. When designers put accessibility at the forefront of their digital experiences, we all benefit. 

How madeby.studio are making a difference

As part of Leeds Digital Festival 2023, Matt and Sam, the Co-Founders and Directors at madeby.studio, are hosting a webinar: ‘A People-first Approach: Why Web Accessibility Matters’ on Monday 18th September. They’ll be sharing our insights, tips and tricks essential for designing inclusive websites.

We’ll also be hosting a second webinar, ‘Going Green: Future-proofing your Website‘, on Thursday 21st September, diving into the best practices for carbon conscious web design that delivers high-impact results without costing the environment.

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