Accessibility might seem difficult or complicated at first, which may cause precaution or even resistance. Part of the reason for this difficulty can be misconceptions or myths related to the topic. Many misconceptions about digital accessibility can create unnecessary barriers to implementing accessible services.
In this text, I’ll break some common myths related to digital accessibility.
1. Accessibility is boring, ugly or unattractive
Many of the accessibility fixes are invisible. For example, alternate texts for images, correctly tagged elements such as labels and table headings, and site structure using landmarks and correct languages do not alter the design. Ensuring that the UI is robust and flexible so that anyone can perceive and interact with the service, regardless of the technology being used, is crucial. Conversely, accessibility should not be used as an excuse to exert less in creating designs that appeal to users.
Still, some of the accessibility fixes do alter the visual appearance. Ensuring sufficient contrast, font size, or intuitive navigation enhances both the visual appeal and usability of a website. Accessible designs can be as stunning or as simple as any other design. The key is to ensure the design is inclusive and usable for everyone.
2. Accessibility is only for people with disabilities
This is also related to another common myth, accessibility is just for blind people, or just for screen reader users. While accessibility is crucial for people with disabilities, it benefits everyone. Accessible design improves usability for everyone, including older adults, people with temporary impairments, and those in different environmental contexts (e.g., bright sunlight or noisy environments). Very often accessible products are found to be more enjoyable to use by anyone.
3. Accessibility is only about complying with standards
While legal compliance is important, accessibility is about creating inclusive experiences. It’s about empathy and ensuring everyone can access information and services. Standards, such as WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) do not consider the content understandability or overall usability of the service. These are important factors of accessibility. It’s more important to understand the diverse user needs behind each of the criteria than merely striving for strict compliance with the guidelines. Focusing solely on compliance can lead to a checkbox mentality, missing the broader goal of true inclusivity.
4. Accessibility has no business value
Creating an accessible system does require investment, but it is often cheaper than retrofitting an inaccessible system later. Accessibility has business value: providing accessible services can bring more users, more revenue and a better reputation. It can also have fewer risks for fixing things afterwards or responding to accessibility complaints. In the end, it can be less expensive to make it accessible. The long-term benefits can potentially outweigh the initial investment.
5. Accessibility is the last step
During a product’s lifecycle, accessibility is an ongoing process. Designing for accessibility from the start prevents the need for costly and time-consuming retrofits, where you need to balance between compromises. Creating a technically compliant last-minute solution might be possible, but you probably need to start over to make it usable and future-proof. Also, technology and user needs evolve, so regular updates and maintenance are necessary to ensure continued accessibility. It is important to continually test and improve digital products to keep them accessible, as part of their development and maintenance.
6. Accessibility checks can be automated
Automation has a significant role in accessibility testing. Anyhow, it is estimated that only 30-50% of accessibility issues can be found in automatic testing. Automated tools can check for “low-hanging fruits”; technical issues like missing alt text or improper heading structure, but they cannot interpret the meaning or intent behind the content. Accessibility involves understanding the context in which users interact with the user interface. For example, an automated tool might ensure that an image has alt text, but it cannot judge whether that alt text is meaningful or helpful to a user.
When testing for accessibility, we should go beyond the needs of technical accessibility. Accessibility is also about making sure it’s usable by people with different cognitive and emotional needs. A combination of both automated and manual testing is necessary to ensure that a website or application is fully accessible to all users.
Conclusion
Digital accessibility is crucial for creating an inclusive digital world. These were just a few myths of the many that persist. Dispelling these incorrect assumptions is essential to better understand the importance of accessibility in the digital world.
Accessibility considerations should be integrated from the start of any project. Involving specialists or teams with expertise in accessibility is essential for project success when developing products and services.
Do you want to create digital services that customers love to use, or get the most out of your investment? Read more about UX design and accessibility or contact us.