Table of contents:
What does "accessibility" mean?
“Accessible” means a person with a disability is afforded the opportunity to acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services as a person without a disability in an equally effective and equally integrated manner, with substantially equivalent ease of use. The person with a disability must be able to obtain the information as fully, equally and independently as a person without a disability.
Accessibility is the degree to which a product, device, program, service, resource, or environment is available to a given user. If a building has a wheelchair ramp leading to its main entrance, that entrance is accessible to wheelchair users. If a lecture includes sign language interpreters, that lecture is accessible to attendees who are deaf or hard of hearing and who understand sign language.
What is "Digital Accessibility"?
Digital accessibility is when technology has been designed in a way so that it can be accessed by all users. This includes electronic documents, websites, software, hardware, video, audio, and other digital assets. People who interact with technology are extremely diverse. They have a wide variety of characteristics, and we cannot assume that they’re all using a traditional monitor for output, or keyboard and mouse for input.
Many of the applications we use to communicate, collaborate, and share enable accessibility, but access for all doesn't happen by default. Everyone who shares content in a digital format (course sites, websites, emails, documents, presentations, etc.) must take action to create an equitable experience for all. It is essential to consider the many characteristics a person brings to the table and the variety of devices used to access and interact with the digital information and services we provide.
Consider these users:
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A person who is blind may navigate a webpage using screen reader software and rely on audio descriptions to understand video content.
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People with motor disabilities may use alternative input devices such as switches, eye-tracking software, or a mouth wand.
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Deaf/Hard of Hearing Individuals rely on captions and transcripts to understand audio and video content.
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People with cognitive and/or print disabilities benefit significantly from the structure and flexibility of digital content.
Accessibility also benefits those without disabilities. Listed below are examples of when you build with accessibility in mind, you ensure your digital content is a better experience for everyone regardless of their ability or access.
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People using mobile phones, smart watches, smart TVs, and devices with small screens
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Older people with changing abilities due to aging (vision changes)
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People with “temporary disabilities” such as a broken arm or lost glasses
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People with “situational limitations” such as in bright sunlight or in an environment where they cannot listen to audio
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People using a slow Internet connection or who have limited bandwidth
Demonstration and Perspectives
Screen readers are the most widely used assistive technologies. People who are blind or have limited vision use screen readers to have text read out loud. They can also be used by people without a physical disability, for example, someone who is illiterate or has a learning disability.
Watch the videos below to learn screen readers are used for navigating the web.
Learn about the impact and benefits for everyone in various situations when accessing the web.
Why is it important?
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It’s the law
Federal and state laws mandate public and private entities follow laws for accessible electronic and information technology. California State University also requires all 23 campuses to adhere to accessibility policies.
Laws and policies
Standards and technical guides
International standards for web accessibility were created by The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The current version used is Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG). WCAG 2.2 is due to come out in December 2022.
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It’s the right thing to do
To promote inclusion and equal access to people from all walks of life in the digital world, you have to provide access to essential resources in many aspects of life: education, employment, government, commerce, health care, recreation, and more.
When the content on the web, like websites, documents, course content, forms, applications, etc., is not digitally accessible, this creates a significant challenge. Unintentionally you may be excluding our students, staff, faculty, and the public from accessing services and resources that allow them to participate and contribute on the web with our University.
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It is good business
Accessibility also benefits businesses by
Where do I start?
No matter your role at the University, we recommend starting small by learning one of the seven core digital accessibility skills. As you become more comfortable practicing one of the skills, start working on another and continue to grow your skillset.
These core skills are not only a great place to start but will also help cultivate a more inclusive, accessible, and equitable world for our community and beyond.
To get started, practice using the 7-core skills with accessibility (from the University of Minnesota):
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Alternative text
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Contrast
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Headings
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Links
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Lists
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Tables
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Video and audio
As you grow your skillset, keep in mind the following:
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Gaining an accessibility skill set is something you have to put into practice. The more you do it, the easier it becomes to apply automatically.
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Improving your content for accessibility is a continued practice and can change over time as technology evolves. Staying flexible will help you adapt.
For more information
Recommended sites for introduction to digital accessibility:
Help from peer institutions:
Help at CSU Monterey Bay
Resources for this content: