As the need for ADA-compliant web accessibility becomes more recognized, companies such as accessiBe are leading the way in developing intuitive software for everyone, including users with disabilities.
Just looking at a few accessiBe reviews, the necessity for the software is obvious and the appreciation for its development is clear. As businesses become increasingly web-based, so will the need for accessible software. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 61 million adults in the U.S. live with a disability. That equates to one in every four people. Web accessibility matters and here are a few reasons why it does.
No Disability is the Same
While it’s difficult to list every disability existing, there are distinct categories that it can fall under. Disabilities can be categorized as the following:
- Ambulatory: disabilities that impair movement.
- Cognitive: emotional, mental, or physical disabilities that impair thought processes.
- Hearing: disabilities that impair a person’s ability to hear.
- Independent Living: Any impairment that creates difficulty for a person to live and function by themselves.
- Self-Care Disability: Any impairment that causes difficulty for a person to perform basic, yet essential tasks (such as bathing).
- Visual Disability: Any impairment that creates difficulty for a person’s ability to see.
Software that greatly improves a user’s navigation process is fantastic. Developing software that can help anyone with a disability access the internet is crucial. Predicting how a disability can impact that access is next to impossible because there are so many different types. However, programs that expedite web accessibility exist.
Always Recommended, Sometimes Mandatory
In theory, every software program on the planet would be ADA-compliant. However, the reality is that it is far from being true. The gap between digital access and people with disabilities has been well documented and many websites and programs do not address ADA-compliance accessibility needs.
However, there are some websites and software where ADA compliance is mandatory. Most of those sites and programs are through federal, state, and local governments because those agencies are held responsible through Title II of the Americans With Disabilities Act. Some of those activities include:
- Filing taxes
- Paying fees
- Paying tickets
- Registering for educational programs
- Town meetings that are held virtually
- Voting activities, such as absentee ballot applications
- Applying for government benefits
- Filing reports with police
In the Title III section, businesses open to the public are also required to make sure that web content is ADA-compliant. Some of those businesses include places such as:
- Hotels
- Eating establishments
- Hospitals and other medical offices
- Banks
- Retail stores
- Theaters
- Auditoriums
Aiming Toward Universal Usability
As companies are working to narrow the digital divide in ADA compliance, it also highlights that much more has yet to be done. That is where the concept of universal usability comes in.
One of the primary goals to increase universal usability is to abandon the idea that there is such a thing as a “typical” user. While all people have different abilities, there are also different types of software, browsers, and programs. The goal of universal usability is to make sure that these things are accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability.
One of the ways that companies address this issue is by offering AI software that is highly intuitive.. This helps remove the barriers that more complicated programs create to inhibit web accessibility. These companies work by adapting to what already exists and keep working by constantly assessing other software’s ADA-compliance levels (and helping establish it if it doesn’t exist).
Ensuring complete web accessibility is on its way to becoming a successful reality when companies incorporate programs like accessiBe and similar programs.