I’m new to understanding digital accessibility. Where do I start? What are the standards of digital accessibility?
Some people prefer to use a keyboard over a mouse when operating a laptop. Some prefer voice-activated controls versus pushing a button. For much of the global population, these aren’t preferences; they are needs. More than 20% of the world lives with a disability which may require them to rely on assistive devices or accessible designs in order to use a product.
Familiarizing yourself with the guidelines around accessibility is a good starting point.
What is the WCAG 2.0 standard, and do you need to worry about version 2.1?
To help with understanding the guidelines of WCAG, check out the 4 principles of WCAG presented in layman’s terms.Version 2.1 of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines includes the same guidelines as version 2.0 with added success criteria to address people with low vision disabilities, people with cognitive and learning disabilities, and mobile accessibility.
Industry experts typically recommend that technologies currently compatible with WCAG 2.0 adopt WCAG 2.1 as their new accessibility conformance target to provide improved accessibility.
How can you benefit from incorporating accessibility into your solutions?
The reason for having a product that is accessible to all is more than being compliant or protecting yourself against legal action. Accessibility brings value to your company in numerous ways: