December 3rd marks the 30th anniversary of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), which aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society.
We invite individuals and organizations alike to learn more about disability and inclusion. Together we can make a difference, and by encouraging the leadership and participation of persons with disabilities in all areas of life, we can collectively work toward a more inclusive, accessible, and sustainable world.
The Changing Narrative and Needs of Disability
We’re happy to say that attitudes have come a long way since the early 90s. Changes to legislation have significantly improved people’s lives, the language we use to describe disability has become more positive and less discriminatory, and the internet has become a much more inclusive place. But there is still a way to go. On average, people spend over 6.5 hours per day online, so websites and apps must be accessible.
The key to online inclusion lies in altering the outdated assumption that the term disability is synonymous with someone in a wheelchair. This isn’t entirely illogical, given that the wheelchair has become the international symbol of disability.
Of course, people with physical disabilities still need to be supported. However, there’s much more to disability than lifts and ramps. In fact, of the 1 billion people worldwide with a disability, only 1% need a wheelchair. In many cases, disabilities are entirely hidden, but that doesn’t mean that people don’t still need support.
Hidden Disabilities and Online Inclusion
The long list of hidden disabilities is diverse and includes vision problems, neurological differences, cognitive impairments, language issues, and learning difficulties:
At least 2.2 billion people worldwide have a vision impairment
Dyslexia affects at least 15% of the population
Around one in every hundred people are on the autism spectrum
Millions of new cases of chronic pain, fatigue, and brain injuries
Each person’s individual access needs and the online barriers they face are equally as diverse as the number of conditions. As technologies continue to emerge and converge, businesses must focus on digital inclusion to broaden their audience and make online information more accessible to everyone.
How do Hidden Disabilities Affect Online Journeys?
People with disabilities may find everyday tasks like online shopping, banking, and making reservations complex, confusing, and time-consuming. For example:
- Visually impaired website visitors using screen-reading software often struggle with navigation or the lack of alt text descriptions on images. Learn more about writing accessible alt text here.
- When website pages have insufficient color contrasts, users with dyslexia or color blindness can’t read the text.
- Those with learning difficulties like ADHD and hyperlexia cannot find the information they need on poorly formatted web pages, and countdown timers further increase anxiety.
- Epileptic website visitors may be triggered by flashing imagery like fast-moving carousels of images and videos that cannot be removed.
- Deaf website visitors are denied information when on-page video content is not presented with captions.
- People who speak English as a second language need a translation option to adequately understand the content.
Online Accessibility and Inclusion Toolkit
This year we published our Digital Inclusion Toolkit that was developed to help businesses make a real difference to the lives of the millions of people around the world who encounter online barriers. The 40 page document provides practical advice covering the complete landscape of online accessibility from how to write an accessibility statement to our top tips for providing an inclusive recruitment journey.
Providing Website Visitors with an Inclusive Experience
As laptops, mobile phones, and tablets become the dominant access point for audiences to receive information, it is time for businesses to prioritize digital inclusion. When people cannot access information, they are excluded from online activities, and online shopping, and prevented from leading independent lives. There is no better time than the International Day of Persons with Disabilities for companies and brands around the globe to make positive changes and ensure their website and web content are fully accessible to everyone.
Want to make your own website more accessible? Then be sure to check out the Recite Me online accessibility checker.
