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The internet should be a smooth journey for everyone, but for many disabled users, it's often filled with unexpected obstacles. These hurdles can turn what should be a simple online task into a frustrating experience.
This blog post shines a light on the 10 common challenges that disabled users face when they're online. Join me as I explore these issues, aiming to understand and advocate for a more inclusive online experience for all users.
1. Untagged PDFs: The Invisible Barrier
Untagged PDFs represent a significant hurdle for users relying on assistive technology. These documents lack the digital markers that assistive technologies use to interpret and narrate content. As a result, important documents such as bank statements, insurance documents, and educational materials become inaccessible.
The solution lies in adopting proper tagging practices for PDFs, ensuring that documents are structured in a way that assistive technologies can understand.
2. The Absence of Alt-Text: A Picture Left Unseen
For users who are blind or have low vision, images without alt-text are equivalent to a story left untold. Alt-text is a concise description of an image, which screen readers can convey to users, allowing them to participate in the visual culture of the internet.
The inclusion of descriptive alt-text for all images, charts, and graphs on websites and social media is crucial for making digital content accessible to everyone.
3. Navigational Nightmares: Lack of Headings and Structure
A well-structured webpage uses headings to organize content, making it easier for all users, including those using screen readers, to navigate. Proper use of headings allows users to understand the layout and main points of a page without having to read every word.
Websites should employ a logical structure, using headings sequentially from H1 to H6, to facilitate easy navigation and comprehension by assistive technologies.
4. Font Faux Pas: Size, Contrast, and Choice Matter
Text readability is crucial for users with low vision or reading disorders like dyslexia. Websites should use larger font sizes (14-16pt minimum), high contrast between text and background, and sans serif fonts to improve readability.
Additionally, offering users the option to adjust font sizes and contrast levels can further enhance accessibility.
5. Keyboard-Only Navigation: A Must for Many
Many disabled users rely exclusively on keyboard navigation due to an inability to use a mouse. Ensuring that all web content and navigation can be accessed using keyboard shortcuts is essential for inclusivity.
This includes avoiding keyboard traps, where a user cannot move forward or backward without resorting to a mouse.
6. The CAPTCHA Conundrum: Ensuring Accessibility
CAPTCHAs are intended to differentiate human users from bots but can inadvertently lock out users with visual impairments.
Opting for accessible CAPTCHA options, such as those offering audio alternatives or relying on more accessible forms of verification, can help avoid this issue.
7. Cluttered Layouts: Simplify for Clarity
Websites crammed with content, moving elements, and pop-up ads can overwhelm users, particularly those using screen readers.
A clean, well-organized website design helps users, including those with cognitive disabilities, to find the information they need without unnecessary distraction.
8. Autoplay and Animations: A Double-Edged Sword
While animations and autoplay videos can make content engaging for some users, they can be highly disruptive for others, including those using screen readers. Providing options to pause or disable these features can make web content more accessible to a broader audience.
9. Pop-Up Menus and Ads: A Navigation Nightmare
Pop-up menus and ads can disrupt the browsing experience for all users but pose a significant challenge for those using assistive technology.
Ensuring that these features are easily dismissable and do not trap keyboard focus is crucial for accessibility.
10. Beyond the Screen: Addressing Social and Cultural Barriers
Creating an inclusive digital environment extends beyond technical fixes. It requires addressing the social and cultural attitudes that contribute to the marginalization of disabled individuals online.
This includes promoting digital literacy, ensuring representation in media and online content, and fostering a culture of inclusivity and respect.
