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Inclusive Digital Experiences: Empowering Every User

By July 29, 2024Learning

An estimated 1.3 billion people live with a disability. With just over 8 billion people on the planet, that correlates to 16% of the world’s population, or 1 out of every 6 of us – and the numbers are growing every day. Creating inclusive digital experiences is a strategic business decision and an imperative because accessibility benefits a significant portion of the global population! In addition, the growing number of accessibility lawsuits and the potential loss of billions in revenue underscore the urgency of addressing this issue. 

Embracing Technology for Inclusive Design 

As technology continues to evolve, so must our commitment to inclusivity. By embracing accessible design principles, we can create a more equitable digital landscape that empowers all users, regardless of their abilities. The journey towards full accessibility may be ongoing, but every step taken is a move towards a more inclusive world. 

CARA’s Commitment to Inclusive Digital Experiences 

As a consulting firm with a global reach, CARA strives every day, on every project, to design, develop, and deliver solutions that are accessible to all users—including those with visual, hearing, physical, or cognitive disabilities. In line with the goals of the National Center on Accessible Educational Materials, we want to ensure that: 

“A person with a disability can acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services in an equally effective, equally integrated manner, with substantially equivalent ease of use as a person without a disability.” 

Key Strategies for Creating Inclusive Digital Experiences 

So how can you also ensure that a solution provides inclusive digital experiences? On a recent project, we were tasked with designing and developing an eLearning course on company cultural principles that was delivered to over 100K global users. To make sure all audiences were able to engage with the content in a meaningful way, we: 

  • Used images conveying diverse representation, ranging from multicultural images of food growers, lab workers, production personnel, and office staff to images reflecting support for LBGTQ+ audiences and Pride. 
  • Created content and used language appropriate to the context and audience, writing to an approximately 8th-grade reading level to ensure all users were able to easily comprehend key messaging. 
  • Utilized high-contrast colors and fonts to ensure a 5:1 minimum ratio between background and foreground colors, making onscreen content easier and more legible to read. 
  • Added alternative text to images and videos, providing visually impaired users with descriptions of images they may not be able to see. 
  • Provided transcripts and/or closed captioning for audio and video content, enabling hearing-impaired users to read the provided content and follow along. 
  • Designed all content and interactivity for mouse and keyboard-only navigation, giving users with physical or visual disabilities as much control over the learning experience as those able to use a mouse. 
  • Used pre-delivery checklists to verify compliance has been integrated into the solution, enabling CARA to communicate with confidence that the eLearning is indeed accessible. Tip: CARA’s recommendation is to create checklists as part of the design to ensure accessibility components are incorporated into the solution. 

Benefits of Inclusive Digital Experiences 

“100% compliance may not occur immediately, but if you incorporate these straightforward, cost-effective techniques into a solution you can ensure that your content provides inclusive digital experiences to the widest possible range of users, giving everyone the same opportunity to change, learn, and grow—regardless of ability.

In addition to being the right thing to do, designing and developing inclusive digital experiences: 

  • Complies with legal and regulatory requirements (Section 508, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines [WCAG]) 
  • Creates a competitive advantage 
  • Aligns with industry best practices 
  • Reaches wider audiences 
  • Improves the overall quality of a solution 
  • Increases user engagement and satisfaction 

The Risks of Ignoring Accessibility 

All of that said, doing nothing is not an option. 

  • Inaccessible solutions fail to accommodate an underserved, but growing, population segment. 
  • According to the ADA, accessibility lawsuits regarding digital materials are on the rise (4,600 in the US in 2023 alone, almost eighteen per business day). 
  • 21% of lawsuits are against companies that have been sued regarding web accessibility in the past. 
  • Many businesses have received multiple ADA-based lawsuits. Often the first lawsuits are for the website and the second for a mobile app. 

CARA: Your Partner in Creating Inclusive Digital Experiences 

We can provide guidance on implementing accessible design practices so your organization can reach a wider audience, improve user engagement, gain a competitive edge in the marketplace, and create a more inclusive and user-friendly digital world. Get in touch to learn more!

For more information on making content accessible, here are some helpful resources: 

 

Thanks to Gina Arinyanontakoon for her contributions to this blog.

Gary Krukar

Author Gary Krukar

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