Often misunderstood, the concept of accessibility is generally associated with disabled people. Let’s get one fact straight here: digital accessibility is about giving everyone the opportunity to access online experiences.
People with disabilities are of course part of the equation, but hardly the sole public for accessibility.
When the Obstacle Creates the Handicap
If big tech companies like Apple, Windows, IBM, Google, or Samsung are now drawing attention to their inclusion policies and putting their users at the center of everything they do, it is not just because of the laws. In 2021, it is 100% possible for a visually impaired or unsighted user to get on the computer and browse the internet like anyone else... or is it?
Just as a short-sighted person will not feel impaired or limited by wearing glasses that correct their vision, users with reduced or no vision will only feel restricted when they encounter an obstacle. Their computer and browser may be optimized in this regard, but the last link in the chain, the website, is often not. Sometimes websites are designed without any consideration for accessibility!
"There is indeed a market, a demand, and a need for accessibility!"
Of course, big tech companies are striving for accessibility partly because, well, you know, the optics. But there is indeed a market, a demand, and a need for digital accessibility. A website that reaches more people and is easy to use ensures that favourably impressed users will return, not to mention the benefit of expanding your virtual storefront to more users. Deque Systems revealed in its Nucleus Research that two-thirds of online orders were abandoned by unsighted users, which represented 6.9 billion dollars in North America.
Two years down the road, after the 40% jump in online transactions during the pandemic, this figure could reach up to $9.66 billion.
For several years, Google has been pushing us towards a more user experience–
oriented web design. Google is one company that makes no secret of its commitment to accessibility: “The web should be accessible to everyone. We are committed to making this wish a reality.” In the near future, accessibility may very well represent a new measure affecting a website’s ranking in the results of the most used search engine worldwide. So, it would be wise to tackle this up-and-coming differentiator before your competitors beat you to the punch.
Absolunet is proud to work to make websites more accessible. We can save you the embarrassment of being the weak link in the accessibility chain and help you put a plan in place to improve your website in this regard.
Contact our team of experts and start closing the accessibility gap today!
