In Digital Accessibility, We All Start Somewhere

Over the span of almost 25 years spent working in digital accessibility, I’ve met hundreds of passionate, dedicated people who choose to make ensuring equitable access to technology for people with disabilities their full-time, professional focus. In every case, these people share 2 beliefs in common: 1) that equal access to technology for people with disabilities is an essential human right, and: 2) that working continuously to ensure equal access for all is a worthwhile pursuit. Seemingly, however, there appear to be relatively few examples in which multiple practitioners have arrived at this profession in precisely the same way.

But what if you’re not someone for whom accessibility is a full-time focus? What if it’s merely been this thing you’ve heard about over the years, enough to sense that there are people out there, with specific needs or conditions, who might run into issues if digital experiences are not designed just so? You may even wonder what you might possibly contribute to improving these experiences for those people, especially when there are such seasoned experts who are already focusing on it.

In practical terms, the job of making every digital experience accessible to every person is daunting, particularly when going back to fix content that was not made to be accessible in the first place. It is not something that can realistically be accomplished by experts or advocates alone. In order to “move the needle” toward greater digital access, it requires the contributions of experts and non-experts alike. The truth is, we need you – yes, you specifically – regardless of your skill level, certifications, or knowledge about accessibility laws or standards.

A suggestion to help make accessibility something you can truly care about, and not just something you’ve been told you need to care about, is to discover your own, personal connection to it. Whether it’s the struggles of an aging parent using technology, the barriers faced by a loved one with a disability, or your own frustrating experience when your device or gadget failed you at a critical moment, you can tap the emotional energy from such connections to help fuel you in your resolve to include accessibility in future digital content. And remember, creating accessible experiences today means creating a more accessible future for our aging selves.

So go ahead, start somewhere! There’s no need to feel overwhelmed, and actually, starting small is best. It increases the likelihood that new behaviors will truly stick over time. Here are some other suggestions to think about as you get started:

• Embrace new habits – as with any new skill, sometimes the trickiest part is just remembering to do it! Things like adding alt-text, running the accessibility checker, or double-checking the captions on your video can be intimidating, especially at first. With time and consistency, though, you’ll be surprised how quickly these things can start to feel like second nature.
• Be mindful – take the time to give thought to your audience, as well as your content. Acknowledge the things that you know, and those you don’t know, about the people most likely to access the materials you are creating, and then be deliberate about the design decisions you make.
• Give yourself grace – have patience with yourself as you learn, and allow yourself the time needed to acquire new skills. Also, don’t forget to be proud of yourself, and the selfless commitment you are showing to help promote inclusive online experiences.

With a few small changes, and just a bit of time, you’ll soon start to notice your level of comfort with some of the accessibility best practices will grow. Before long, these new skills will begin to feel more natural, and almost automatic. Eventually, without even realizing it, you’ll find yourself seamlessly including more accessibility in all aspects of your digital life, both at Harvard and beyond.

For more tips on accessible best practices, visit our Digital Accessibility Services site, contact us via email at digitalaccessibility@harvard.edu, or drop by on Fridays for our virtual office hours.