4 minute read
September 2022 Special Needs Living Akron/Canton
Technology and Life
AS TECHNOLOGY RAPIDLY ADVANCES, ACCESSIBILITY MUST BE IN THE CONVERSATION
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By James Warnken
James Warnken
Technology plays an important role in almost every aspect of life. From medicine to entertainment, we all rely on technology in our everyday lives. In early 2020 the world shifted, and technology became an even larger part of our daily life. People are now working from home, ordering food for delivery with no human contact, and taking courses online. In fact, the disability community is to thank for making the transition a little easier. Accommodations that were once designated for people with disabilities are now normal practice for many people in a post-pandemic world. Although playing a large part in the transition, the problem still remains that people with disabilities are often forgotten or ignored when building online environments like social media, websites, applications, and documents. What if someone’s only option for food was to order for delivery? What would happen if that website didn’t work with assistive technologies used by people with disabilities? That would be a serious problem, and for some members of the community, this problem is far too real.
When the world was forced into a virtual structure, many of the common issues with inaccessible design shined through. Many of which are still not being addressed today. Whether it be working, ordering food, getting medical attention, or entertainment to pass the time, many industries are falling short of being truly inclusive to all. For a blind user who relies on assistive technologies like a screen reader, a non-visual equivalent experience must be provided to allow that user to engage. A deaf user whose scheduled telehealth meeting has no captions or transcripts would be completely useless for that person. An application that requires timely and accurate inputs would be frustrating for someone who has trouble moving/ controlling their movements. There are endless examples, similar to these, where barriers/challenges are present that are frustrating and sometimes even make completion impossible.
From screen readers to magnifiers and braille displays, assistive technologies are something that needs to be considered in all online environments. Likewise, software and built-in features like captions, transcripts, and audio descriptions need to be incorporated to further opportunities for engagement. Very few times are people with disabilities intentionally excluded, so this is not an attempt to make anyone feel bad but to merely help at raising awareness, planting the seed for ideas, conversations, and development towards a more accessible digital world that allows everyone to access and engage. Think about how many times you check your mobile phone each day. We all rely on technology for independence, learning, development, employment, and overall living purposes.
Each of us can play a part in moving things towards more accessibility for everyone, regardless of disabilities, and here is how:
1. Purchase accessible products and services Shifting businesses away from the “accessibility is a good idea” mentality will be slow and painstaking. Being more particular with what products and services you buy will help to show that this is a necessity, not just a good idea. 2. Get into the people-first mindset We are all people regardless of whether we can see, hear, taste, touch, and smell. Treating everyone the same will reduce the stigma that people with disabilities need help and cannot live independently. 3. Be intentional/inclusive in development Thinking about people with disabilities when creating a new product, app, website, or service is a great first step. Better yet, communicate with people with disabilities and those who use assistive technologies. This will be critical in ensuring that the efforts/ work are effective and efficient. 4. Speak up, even if you don’t have a disability If you don’t have a disability, you can still ask questions to open the conversation. You don’t need all the answers or to be an expert to be an advocate. The best question to ask is, “have we thought of users with disabilities?” or “Does this work for assistive technologies like screen readers and magnifiers?”
