Digital accessibility
Digital accessibility enables people with disabilities to perceive, understand and operate digital services.
Make digital services accessible
Digital accessibility means designing and implementing digital services so that people with disabilities can use them. On the web, this includes content, navigation, forms and compatibility with assistive technologies. An easy-to-read font alone is insufficient.
In an example customer portal, it must be possible to change a delivery address without a mouse. An error needs an understandable explanation and an association with the affected field. A screen reader user must be able to identify the field's label and state.
Usability considers how well particular people can complete particular tasks in general. Accessibility focuses especially on barriers associated with disabilities. These areas overlap. An automated test can uncover individual problems; a passing result does not establish the accessibility of the entire portal.
Sources
Related terms
- WCAGWCAG provides testable criteria for accessible web content. A conformance claim needs a defined version, level and scope.
- Keyboard operabilityKeyboard operability makes tasks possible without a mouse. Actions must be reachable through a clear sequence of controls.
- Screen readerA screen reader makes digital content available through speech or Braille. Meaningful structure and labels support understandable interaction.
- Focus orderFocus order determines the route through focusable elements. It should preserve meaning and operability, including during dynamic changes.
- Keyboard trapA keyboard trap leaves keyboard users stuck within a region. Deliberately containing focus in a dialog needs a keyboard-operable exit.
- Skip linkA skip link bypasses repeated navigation and leads to the main content. The destination must also work for subsequent keyboard navigation.
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