Striving to remove barriers that prevent us from building Vibrant, Diverse, Inclusive, Accessible Communities!
Accessibility: Essential for Some, Useful for All
A frequent barrier to accessible practices in an organization is a lack of awareness. Many people in an organization know little about accessibility, or nothing at all; some do not see how their own work contributes to digital accessibility, and others do not know what accessibility offers. An introduction to accessibility tied to the organization's own goals builds that awareness. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) video above, Introduction to Web Accessibility and W3C Standards, is one to watch and then share, and the guide to training in the international accessibility standards lists where to learn more.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities makes awareness part of its work. In Article 8 the countries that join the Convention undertake to raise awareness throughout society regarding persons with disabilities and to foster respect for their rights and dignity. Article 9 calls for access, on an equal basis with others, to information and communications, including information and communications technologies and systems, and it includes the identification and elimination of obstacles and barriers to accessibility.
Article 21 extends freedom of expression, including the right to look for, receive and pass on information and ideas, to persons with disabilities: information intended for the general public is to reach them in accessible formats, in a timely manner and without additional cost, and private entities that serve the public, including through the Internet, are urged to provide information and services in accessible and usable formats. That right rests on Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which protects the right to look for, receive and share information and ideas through any media and across borders. The World Health Organization estimates that 1.3 billion people experience significant disability, 16 percent of the world's population, or 1 in 6 of us.
Awareness is where accessible practice in an organization begins. When the people who write, design and post its materials understand accessibility and see their own part in it, accessibility becomes part of the organization's work.
We should share an introduction to accessibility with everyone who creates our publications, communications, and digital content, and tie it to what our organization sets out to do. Each person should know how their own work contributes to accessibility. Awareness that reaches every role would make room for Vibrant, Diverse, Inclusive, Accessible Communities for People with Disabilities.
Knowing about accessibility is the first step toward removing the barriers it names.
Learn More
For more information, see:
- Web Accessibility Perspectives Videos: Explore the Impact and Benefits for Everyone: videos and information on specific accessibility topics.
- Introduction to Web Accessibility
- WAI website: to find a wide range of resources on different aspects of web accessibility standards, education, testing/evaluation, project management, and policy.
- Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (United Nations, full text with Articles 8, 9 and 21)
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 19
- World Health Organization: Disability fact sheet (1.3 billion people, 16 percent of the world's population)
Questions for Reflection
- Which people in our organization know little or nothing about accessibility, and when did we last offer them an introduction to it?
- Who among us has watched Introduction to Web Accessibility and W3C Standards, and with whom will we share it?
- How does each role in our organization, from writing to design to posting, decide whether People with Disabilities can use what we publish?
- The Convention calls for access to information and communications on an equal basis with others. Where do our materials still keep that access from People with Disabilities?
- Which of our materials reach the public through the Internet, and are they in accessible and usable formats?
- The World Health Organization estimates that 1 in 6 people experience significant disability. How many of the people we serve does that mean, and have we asked them what keeps them from using our materials?
Also See:
- While AI is Building the Web Faster Than Ever, Accessibility Can't Be Left Behind
- A complete guide for content creators to start making accessible content
- The internet's accessibility problem -- and how to fix it
- Artificial Intelligence Has One Chance To Get Accessibility Right
- Accessible Forms
- 5 Web Accessibility Oversights That Could Be Costing You