Why Teach/Why Learn Accessibility? Fact Sheet
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Infographic Description
What is accessibility?
Digital accessibility means that resources such as websites, apps, online documents, and kiosks are designed and developed to be usable and functional for people with disabilities.
Why is Digital Accessibility Important?
- Approximately 1.3 billion people in the world experience some form of disability
- In the United States, more than one in four adults lives with a disability
- Disability is a universal experience that any individual may encounter at any point in life, specially as they age
- There’s been an increase in accessibility standards and regulations
- Over a thousand accessibility lawsuits were filed in the first quarter of 2024 alone
What is Accessible Technology?
Accessible technology uses content and interfaces that meet the diverse needs of people with disabilities through flexibility and customization features. You’re probably already using some accessibility features without even realizing it! Think about closed captions or subtitles, voice assistants, text-to-speech for reading articles aloud, dark mode or high-contrast themes for your screen, and handy tools like predictive text or autocorrect. These features were originally designed to make technology more accessible, but they’ve become popular because they’re so useful for everyone.
Carl has a tremor and arthritis that make typing difficult. He types slowly, which can cause his banking app to time out due to inactivity. Carl loves the convenience of online banking, but wishes app developers didn’t lock out slow typists.
Alex has ADHD and works in marketing, where she has built an excellent portfolio. She is applying for a new job but the application is hard to use. The text is faint, the instructions are unclear, and the alerts and error messages are vague. The application’s problems not only make it harder for Alex to job hunt, they also make it harder for the hiring company to find qualified talent.
Why is Inaccessible Technology a Problem?
Technology that isn’t accessible creates numerous barriers for people with disabilities in everyday tasks such as:
- Shopping for clothes, groceries, or anything else online
- Ordering food from a restaurant
- Finding directions to a new place
- Joining or participating in an event
- Booking a ride through a rideshare app
- Searching for and applying to jobs
- Using software and digital tools at work
- Booking a flight or a hotel
- Taking an online class or using digital course materials
- Connecting with others on social media
- Scheduling appointments
- Checking a bank account balance or managing finances
How Can We Address This Problem?
Accessibility can become the norm in digital products if everyone has the fundamental knowledge and skills to make it happen. Yet, few organizations and institutions actively provide the support needed to develop these essential skills.
Accessibility skills enable us to design, evaluate, and choose digital products that are fully usable by people with disabilities. These skills cover topics such as:
- Disability, Assistive Technology, and Accessibility Needs
- Communication, Collaboration, and Problem Solving
- Principles, Guidelines, and Testing for Accessible Design
Why are Accessibility Skills Important?
Creating inclusive products is a key market differentiator. That’s why government agencies and leading companies like Microsoft, Google, Adobe, and Salesforce are actively seeking talent to design products that everyone can use. However, they’re struggling to find skilled candidates due to a significant accessibility skills gap. A recent survey conducted by the University of Phoenix and Teach Access revealed that:
- 44% of organizations said their staff doesn’t have enough skills in accessible technology4.
- 53% of organizations have difficulty finding candidates with accessibility skills or an understanding of what those skills entail5.
It’s clear—accessibility skills are in demand now and will be even more important moving forward!
Why Learn/Teach Accessibility Skills?
- Accessibility is an essential design component of systems, processes, and product development.
- Many industries have accessibility standards, with more following their lead.
- More and more assistive technology users are interacting online with industries, government services, and private businesses.
- Making a proactive effort to learn about accessibility is a meaningful way to demonstrate a commitment to disability inclusion, whether as a person with a disability or as an ally.
- Without a proactive understanding of disability inclusion in design—one that considers a wide range of disabilities—new professionals enter the workforce without the skills, experience, or mindset needed to create accessible and inclusive products and services for all users.
- There is an accessibility skills gap among graduates and potential employers seeking accessibility knowledge and experience.
Getting Started
Accessibility is an ongoing journey that requires continuous learning and practice. Teach Access offers free programs and resources to help you start teaching accessibility knowledge and skills!
Check out these infographics on why you should learn and teach about accessibility.
References
- World Health Organization (WHO), “Disability and Health,” https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/disability-and-health.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Disability Impacts All of Us,” https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/infographic-disability-impacts-all.html.
- Level Access, “2024 U.S. Web Accessibility Litigation: Key Trends and Strategies for Mitigating Risk,” https://www.levelaccess.com/blog/2024-u-s-web-accessibility-litigation-key-trends-and-strategies-for-mitigating-risk/
- Teach Access, “Bridging the Accessible Technology Skills Gap,” https://teachaccess.org/accessibility-skills-gap/.
- University of Phoenix, “University of Phoenix Shares Survey Findings on Accessibility Skills and Training Opportunities in the Workplace on Global Accessibility Awareness Day,” https://www.phoenix.edu/press-release/survey-findings-on-accessibility-skills-training-opportunities-gaad.html.
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