Accessibility and Technology

Posted by:
Sarah Bourne, Director of Assistive Technology & Mass.gov Chief Technology Strategist, Information Technology Division

One of the most wonderful things that computers and the Internet have done is open doors to the world for people with disabilities. With technology, they are able to hold jobs, socialize with friends and family, collaborate with colleagues and professional peers, shop, and pay bills. They do not have to impose on others to accomplish everyday things, and are more able to live independent, productive lives.

Sometimes people with disabilities need special software or hardware, called adaptive or assistive technology (AT). Software exists that can change text to speech or braille, or read a description of a picture. There is software that can magnify words and pictures, and software that can recognize your speech and take commands. Most operating systems and web browsers let you change text size, colors, and contrast, features that are a boon for people who just need a little help, or need help just once in a while. These things make universal access possible.

What is Accessibility?

Accessibility is the extent to which software or websites can be used by as many people as possible. It means making sure your websites work for people who use AT or have to use just the keyboard. It means taking into account color-blindness and eye fatigue, and people who work in noisy rooms or in moving vehicles. Accessibility means avoiding barriers that arbitrarily exclude people from using your site or software.

Ensuring accessibility doesn't have to be difficult or complicated. If you have some basic knowledge about how to make things accessible, you can make design and development decisions that will make it easier to do. It is always cheaper to design accessibility in to begin with, and much more costly to fix accessibility problems at the end.

What do you have to do?

Unfortunately, it is easy for unaware designers or developers to interfere with the features of computers and software that make accessibility possible. Common errors are web pages that you have to use a mouse with, plug-ins that don't plug into everything they need to, and subheadings that are just made to look right instead of using proper heading code. Avoiding pitfalls like this give you accessibility for free, just by doing it right to begin with.

There are a few things you need to do to make a website accessible that you might not already be doing. AT can only read a description of a picture if you add a description. You have to make transcripts and captions for audio and video. Data tables need to have a description and row and column headings defined in the code. Forms need to have fields grouped and labeled correctly. These are not hard to do, it takes just a little extra effort once you know how.

When you make websites accessible, they usually are easier for everybody to use. They get covered better in search engines, so people are more apt to find your site and to find what they need. They work better on more devices: oldest or newest models, desktops or cell phones. It also makes it easier to keep the appearance of your website consistent and in accordance with your design.

Last but not least, various state and federal laws require state agencies to have accessible websites for all visitors to our sites, as well as accessible software for state employees.

What ITD does to help

But you don't have to figure all this out on your own.

The Commonwealth accessibility standards, at http://mass.gov/accessibility, cover all the related laws state agencies need to follow. They describe what's required, and include testing and other techniques to help agencies follow them. We also continue to add more detailed information on web accessibility at http://mass.gov/itd/accessibility.

The Information Technology Division also has an AT lab. It has a wide range of assistive technologies (software and hardware) that state agencies can use for testing accessibility. It has an "open hour" for state employees every Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. to noon to encourage ad hoc testing in all phases of development.

Our goal is to help state agencies to do the right thing. If you have ideas for how we can do more, please share them here!

Comments

[hall286]

Sometimes people with disabilities need special software or hardware, called adaptive or as technology (AT).
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hall286

Serve Technology

[george]

you should make this article not so boring and than people will actually understand. Plus add pictures!!