International Standards for Web Accessibility: The Business and Human Impact
A Regulated Compliance Journey to Empower People with Disabilities
The interest in accessibility has evolved since the 1970s, driven by a growing focus on empowering individuals with disabilities and integrating them into various sectors of society, including government, healthcare, and civil services. This attention has developed steadily into the 1990s, paralleling technological advancements. As we navigate this journey, it’s essential to recognize the challenges faced by people with disabilities stemming from diverse conditions. Here, we briefly explore the increasing focus on accessibility through the establishment of international and formal standards:
Rehabilitation Act of 1973
This legislation focused on providing accessibility for individuals with disabilities in federal agencies and their contractors, addressing prior discrimination in hiring, funding, and service provision. While the law was broad, it laid the groundwork for raising awareness about empowering this demographic and ensuring equal access to services.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990
The significance of this law lies in its concrete requirement for accessibility in public facilities, including wheelchair ramps and other accommodations. It mandated that public spaces accessible to the general public meet these accessibility standards. However, a pivotal moment occurred when activists began advocating for classifying websites as public spaces, arguing that they should also comply with accessibility regulations. In 1996, amidst the rapid rise of the internet, the U.S. Department of Justice ruled that websites were indeed classified as public spaces. However, at that time, digital accessibility methods were not yet defined.
Introduction of WCAG Guidelines (1999) - The Cornerstone
Tim Berners-Lee, the founder of the World Wide Web, prioritized universal access from the very beginning. In 1999, the W3C group he established released the first version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), consisting of 14 guidelines and 65 checkpoints, addressing various aspects of digital accessibility, such as providing alternatives for audio and visual content. This milestone was a significant step towards creating a more inclusive web and establishing practical laws applicable to websites. The guidelines were updated with important revisions in 2008, leading to the launch of WCAG 2.0, which focused on four key principles: perceivability, operability, understandability, and robustness. The subsequent version, WCAG 2.1, was released in 2018, emphasizing new elements to support individuals with cognitive disabilities.
This evolution highlights the growing importance of WCAG as a legal framework that establishes clear and applicable standards, aligning with the increasing recognition of accessibility as a fundamental human right.
The Business Impact of Accessibility
Compliance with laws and standards is not the only motivation for adopting accessibility in websites and applications. In fact, accessibility can have a significant business impact on companies, making it a strategic and valuable step. This commercial impact includes expanding customer bases, enhancing user experiences, boosting reputation and trust, improving performance in search engines, and gaining access to government markets and major contracts.
Products that fully comply with WCAG 2 are expected to perform 50% better in the market compared to their non-compliant competitors (Gartner). Companies prioritizing accessibility are four times more likely to outperform their competitors (Accenture). Research from 2019 indicates that two-thirds of e-commerce transactions are abandoned by blind individuals due to a lack of accessibility, costing companies without accessibility tools an estimated $6.9 billion annually to competitors with accessible sites (Nucleus Research).
The Human Impact of Accessibility
Most importantly, achieving a tangible positive human impact enhances the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and provides them with the opportunity for full societal integration. When digital content and public environments are designed to ensure accessibility, we create more inclusive and equitable communities where everyone can participate and engage without barriers.
- Empowerment and Independence: Accessibility enables individuals with disabilities to rely on themselves for daily tasks, promoting independence.
- Fostering Equality: Accessibility contributes to the principle of equality, granting everyone the same opportunities to access information and services.
- Enhancing Social Inclusion: Accessibility fosters a sense of belonging, allowing individuals with disabilities to feel part of the community and participate without barriers.
- Improving Quality of Life: Accessibility simplifies daily life for individuals with disabilities, enhancing their experiences in learning, working, and recreational activities.
- Encouraging Innovation: Accessibility drives companies and developers towards innovation in creating technologies that meet diverse needs.
- Reducing Discrimination: Accessibility helps diminish discrimination and bias, reflecting positive changes in societal attitudes toward individuals with disabilities.
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