Easy Read and Digital Accessibility

What is digital accessibility?

Digital accessibility is all about making sure online content is accessible to people with different needs. Our digital landscape evolves at a rapid pace, with the emergence of new technologies every day - and with this growth, the accessibility of all things digital is a pressing concern. Without proper attention, organisations run the risk of creating a space that can actively alienate people with learning disabilities, but this time online.

Digital accessibility is about:

• Breaking down barriers.

• Ensuring people of all abilities can harness the power of the internet.

• Empowering people of all abilities to access the online information and services that are relevant to them.

  
  

How organisations can be digitally accessible

If organisations are aiming to improve the accessibility of their online content, a great start is looking at and understanding the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), these guidelines offer a framework for creating accessible online content. Organisations can ensure their online content is accessible by adhering to these guidelines.

But digital accessibility is more than just rule compliance. It is about understanding the daily challenges faced by people with disabilities and considering their needs from the outset. Organisations may find it useful to include people with disabilities when they are designing and planning online content, using user tester groups to check that their online content is accessible.

How is Easy Read Online digitally accessible?

We must practice what we preach! This is how we at Easy Read Online strive to be digitally accessible:

• Giving our clients the option of a WCAG 2.2 compliant version of their commissioned Easy Read document.

• Offering interactive versions of forms and surveys that can be filled in online.

• Championing accessible online content by incorporating descriptive links, form accessibility, reduced mouse interaction, responsive design and clear fonts into our website.

• Including alt text on any images that are used on our website and accompany our social media posts.

• Regularly reviewing, maintaining and improving the accessibility of our online content.

  
  

To find out more about digital accessibility, you can read about and take part in Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD): https://accessibility.day/