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Accessibility in web design has never been more important. According to research conducted by the World Health Organization and the CDC, 16% of the world’s population, and 26% of the U.S. population, have a disability. Whether it’s cognitive, intellectual, sensory or physical, these can hugely impact people’s ability to interact with, and experience, websites to their fullest capability.
Challenges Faced by Disabled Jobseekers
Disabled people are already at a disadvantage when it comes to job hunting. Scope – a charity dedicated to supporting disabled jobseekers – notes that disabled people are almost twice as likely to be unemployed, and face a multitude of barriers at every stage of employment. As one of the first stages in the candidate journey, ensuring that websites are accessible is a vital contribution that employers can make to help level the playing field for disabled candidates.
Surprisingly, websites are inherently accessible in their essence. It is the add-ons – additional features, graphics, functionality and technology – that cause accessibility issues. Accessibility and innovation can coexist harmoniously on websites by being smarter and more considerate of every user’s experience.
Dan Leach on Ensuring Website Accessibility
I interviewed Dan Leach, Development Manager, to grasp how employers can ensure a website accessible for all.
“Accessibility is the first thing we think about when we build a site. It is not an add on, or an afterthought, it is the foundation.’’
Dan Leach
Dan describes making websites accessible like a driving test – easy to pass, easier to fail. The expert advises starting with accessibility to seamlessly integrate it into every aspect of your site.
Advocate for features designed with accessibility at their core, rather than retrofitting for various audiences post-development.
Dan believes that accessibility is for everyone. Accessible website features benefit everyone, not just those needing assistive technology, enhancing usability for the entire population.
Captioning videos ensures it’s accessible, allowing candidates to consume content anytime, anywhere, regardless of their location. Ultimately, accessibility impacts us all, every single day. In an increasingly digital world, ensuring website accessibility is not optional; it’s essential for everyone’s inclusion.
