Mobility disabilities are the most commonly thought about when people think of disabilities. 12.1 percent of U.S. adults have one that seriously impedes their ability to walk or climb stairs. Another thing this disability may impede is the ability to use a phone, tablet, or computer as easily or effectively as someone without a mobility disability — which is a problem in today’s technological society, where 310 million people own smartphones and 97% of households own a computer.
Ensuring equal access and good digital accessibility for people with mobility disabilities is essential — but how can you ensure your website remains accessible? Let’s look at ways to keep your website up-to-date and accessible.
What are mobility disabilities?
Mobility disabilities impair independent movement or use of one or more body parts. Some examples are paralysis, stroke, and arthritis. They impact people of all ages but may also occur due to aging.
Some people with mobility disabilities require mobility aids. These aids help a person with mobility disabilities function or get around in their daily life. Examples of mobility aids include wheelchairs, canes, and prosthetic devices.
What do people with these disabilities need for digital accessibility?
Many people with mobility disabilities have problems using technology. Many use technological aids like screen readers or voice recognition software to navigate the Internet, especially if they find holding onto a phone or using a mouse difficult or impossible. These technological aids — or assistive technology — are game changers for people with mobility disabilities and allow them to utilize the Internet, computers, and mobile devices they may otherwise not be able to use.
Assistive technology must keep up with the latest technological advances so people with disabilities can continue to have equitable access to the Internet. Brands like Apple continue to innovate with their assistive technology with every software update, from Conversation Boost for the AirPods to Assistive Access for the iPhone. Many other brands have accessibility features, like Google’s screen reader or Windows’ eye control.
The fight for accessibility doesn’t just stop at these features, however. There are things you can do as a website owner to ensure you are creating an accessible environment for people with mobility disabilities.
How can you ensure your website is accessible?
Screen reader accessibility
Ensure your website is accessible to assistive technology, such as screen readers. To do this, make sure you have accessible features like alternative text (alt text), which is a text substitute for images that allows a user who has visual disabilities to understand what an image is conveying without having to see the image. Other ways you can optimize your site are including captions to all videos, which helps people with hearing disabilities understand what’s being said in video and ensuring your site is keyboard navigable for people with disabilities that prevent them from navigating using a mouse.
Design Element for Accessibility
For the design element, make sure your website layout is formatted clearly. Clean formatting and plain language benefit those with cognitive disabilities, for whom a cluttered website or overly flowery language may be distracting. Your website's layout should clarify what goes where — aspects should not blend. There should be a clear separation between the segments of a website, such as a separation between images and blog posts.
Another way you can use formatting to ensure your website is accessible to people with mobility disabilities is to ensure your website is predictable. This means that a home button should lead a user to the home page, or a button shaped like a phone or a letter should lead a user to a contact page. Your website should operate in clear and predictable ways to ensure that navigating it is understandable and easy. Ensuring your website operates predictably is a WCAG requirement.
Functionality and Accessibility
Website functionality, such as timing and forms, should be designed to be accessible. Avoid time-based activities, such as time limits on filling out forms or timeouts for inactivity, especially without warning a user beforehand. For filling out forms, allow users to review their forms and correct any errors. People with disabilities will greatly benefit from both, especially if they cannot use the website without assistance.
Conclusion
Mobility disabilities impair movement or the use of one or more body parts. Just as you design for other disabilities, it is important to create your website with accessibility for these disabilities in mind. Clear functionality and formatting are good steps, but you can also optimize your website for assistive technology to ensure you are as accessible as possible for people with mobility disabilities.
Comments