digital accessibility

Digital accessibility is about removing barriers in websites, apps and digital documents. Someone should be able to fill in and submit a form using only a keyboard, for example. A screen reader needs to recognize headings, buttons and error messages. Videos need captions for people who cannot hear the audio.

When is a digital product accessible?

An accessible digital product makes information and functionality available in more than one way. Text has sufficient contrast and can be enlarged. Meaningful images have text alternatives. The code structure identifies headings, lists and input fields. Interaction must also be understandable and predictable.

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) bring together widely used criteria for assessing digital accessibility. They cover perceivability, operability, understandability and robustness. An automated test can find technical errors, but cannot determine whether a text alternative is clear or a task can be completed logically. Manual checks with tools such as a keyboard and screen reader are therefore also needed.

Who benefits from digital accessibility?

Digital accessibility particularly concerns people with visual, hearing, motor or cognitive disabilities. The same measures often help other users too. Captions are useful in a quiet room, and keyboard controls help someone temporarily unable to use a mouse.

Accessibility goes beyond ease of use. An interface can work comfortably for many people yet remain unusable for someone with a screen reader. Accessibility therefore needs to be considered during design and development and checked again when content or features are added.