If I’m being completely honest, web accessibility was a completely foreign term to me prior to this week. In all my reading and investigating about the newest trends in educational technology, it was a concept I just never came across.

My Key Takeaways

After exploring all of the resources provided, there were couple big ideas I was left with. Most notably, as per the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) site, web accessibility simply means “that websites, tools, and technologies are designed and developed so that people with disabilities can use them,” and I was really surprised to learn that that expectation is not mandatory or standard today. When I think of all the laws in places for students with disabilities in our schools, this stands out as a major discrepancy for those students (and adults) once they are outside the school environment in the digital world.

It is really important to note that web accessibility ultimately benefits people without disabilities too. Despite what its definition suggests, the experience for all will be improved when websites, tools, and technologies are created with those with disabilities in mind.

In his “Web Accessibility Matters: Why Should We Care” video, David Berman, UN adviser rated #1 in North America as a speaker on accessibility, mentions that web accessibility can be the new “going green” movement. Thinking about this comparison while also being aware of the benefits, it really is a no-brainer. Web accessibility is clearly a cause that just needs a following to take off and become a widespread expectation.

Its Importance

When trying to clearly sum why web accessibility is so important, Berman’s five reasons why we should care about this issue did the job rather nicely.

1. The number of people it affects
2. The most frequent visitors to websites are machines
3. An issue of human resources
4. The social responsibility
5. The increase in regulations and laws being passed

Take a look at Berman’s video below to hear more about each reason.

Promoting a Culture of Inclusion

While I found it really easy to agree with and want to support web accessibility, identifying the best way to promote the culture of inclusion that this concept represents was pretty tricky.

Elise Roy suggests design thinking, a process for innovation and problem solving, as an option in her TedX talk “When We Design For Disability, We All Benefit.” Using this idea, puts designing for the disability first. If this design process is adapted on a widespread scale, I think it definitely would encourage that culture of inclusion.

But, I think before we can see that shift in thinking, there just needs to be more awareness. Web accessibility needs to become an issue that is talked about and not a term only a select few know. Those who are already advocates need to grow their tribe. And, while those with disabilities should be the focus of this issue, consistently highlighting the benefits for companies would motivate more to act. Maybe beginning to introduce this concept at the college level as it pertains to each field of study and profession could be a place to start. In the end, people need to know about web accessibility in order to make changes/future decision with it in mind and ultimately begin to develop that culture of inclusion.