Accessible websites promote equality
The Act on the Provision of Digital Services, i.e. the Digital Services Act, which entered into force on 1 April 2019, has made accessible websites and the concept of accessibility familiar in online content production. Web Content Accessibility Guidelines The aim is to promote everyone's equal access to digital services. It is about accessibility in the digital environment.
The coronavirus has also quickly transferred those who are not used to using online services to online services. The aim is to take the usability of online services into account in the planning and implementation of online services even better. This ensures that customers who are not used to using online services, such as the elderly, can use online services smoothly.
Improving the quality of digital online services through accessibility
The accessibility of online services benefits all users. However, it is estimated that there are as many as 1,254,800 people in need of accessibility in Finland alone.
The following user groups will benefit from accessibility in particular:
- Elderly people
- people with dyslexia and learning difficulties
- people with difficulty concentrating
- Sensory impairments
- people with intellectual disabilities
The baby boomers will benefit significantly from the accessibility of online services. The number of people aged 70 and over has been on the rise for a long time, and according to Statistics Finland, at the end of 2019 there were already 874,314 of them.
When things are mainly handled online, the ease of use of services and the accessibility of information are increasingly important.
Although the starting point for accessibility is to ensure that services are accessible to many special groups, accessible websites benefit all users. The ease of use of services also guides online behaviour. The increase and development of audio applications also create a new kind of demand, as users who are used to consuming audiobooks and podcasts consume content more and more with the help of sound.
Accessibility is a good guideline for all companies, regardless of the industry! Therefore, the guidelines should be put behind your ear – after all, the goal of all operators is to provide their customers with the smoothest and most pleasant website experience possible. The content is created to be user-friendly, easy to read, and visually airy and pleasant to read. Thanks to a good website experience, the user stays on the page longer. With an accessible website, you also improve the search engine visibility of your website!
What does an accessible website require from an online service provider?
Accessibility requirements can be roughly divided into three different groups: a technically flawless implementation of the page, a clear and understandable user interface, and understandable content.
When the online service has been implemented technically correctly, it can be ensured that the screen readers are able to interpret the content of the page in the right way. The prerequisites for user interface design are ease of use and clarity of navigation. The content of the website must be easy to understand, and information must be provided not only with text, but also with images and videos, for example. Sound is also one way to improve the accessibility of the website. Voice technology is developing and contributes to the accessibility of online services when the content can be listened to quickly.
Give your customers the opportunity to enjoy content – design for everyone
"A design that suits everyone is a user-centred principle, which means that products, environments, programmes and services are designed so that as many people as possible can use them without adaptations or special arrangements. In other words, accessibility and accessibility are taken into account already in the design phase of various services, and this starting point is kept in place throughout the implementation."
When attention is paid to the accessibility of online content, it will soon become a standard in all sectors. At the moment, the Digital Services Act obliges public organisations and private sector operators working in the fields of water and energy supply, transport, postal services and insurance business, for example.
You can learn more about the topic, for example: On the eOppiva website, where you will find an online course lasting about 40 minutes on the requirements of accessibility and the Digital Services Act.