Digital Accessibility

Digital accessibility refers to the ability of mobile applications, websites or electronic documentation to be understood by users, including those with visual, motor auditory or cognitive disability.

There are several software and hardware assistant tools to help people with disabilities to interact with content from digital devices.

For example, alternative input devices, such as puff and sip switch, may enable the user with motor impairment to access content without using a conventional mouse or keyboard, and an alternative output device, like a screen reader, can enable visually impaired users use digital content.

Just as a variety of assistive technology tools can help end users reduce the impact of deficiency, so can low digital design reduce efficiency and prevent the user's ability to interact with digital content. Design principles and elements that meet the requirements of end users with disabilities are very similar to best practices recommended for good design.

Digital products that follow universal design principles can be easily adapted to the needs or preferences of different users and can be accessed in a variety of ways.

For example, streaming video content often provide subtitles for those with impaired hearing, and certain websites include alternate text labels for graphics.

There are also digital accessibility regulations, for example Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), that help to control the content compliance with certain standards. To ensure compliance with these and other industry and government requirements, corporate and consumer developers are increasingly using universal design guidelines to provide users with a consistent and easy-to-use UX. Addressing digital accessibility in the design process is also economically beneficial. According to data from the US Census, the population incorporating assistive technology in order to surf the Internet is a market that is valued at more than $350 billion and continues to grow.