Accessibility is the accessibility of digital environments
Taking into account people's diversity and different needs is a prerequisite for equal functioning in different environments. Accessibility is established to describe the construction of physical environments that are easy to use for different users, and with the word Accessibility refers to smooth functioning in digital environments.
The accessibility obligations of online services mainly focus on ensuring technical accessibility, such as the functionality of the website with a screen reader or other assistive technology. However, accessibility is a broader entity than this. Accessibility requirements often do not take into account the comprehensibility of content, the clarity of language or alternative forms of content. In other words, compliance with the requirements of the law alone does not guarantee a high level of accessibility of websites.
Accessibility is examined a lot from the perspective of serving special groups. For example, The Finnish Autism Federation's, The Finnish Association of People with Physical Disabilities or The Finnish Federation of the Visually Impaired The website contains information on the subject with different emphases.
However, the accessibility of websites also serves all other users and is linked to extensive entities of user-centred design and Design for All principles. Taking accessibility into account is also beneficial service provider, among other things, by improving the customer experience and the visibility of the website in online search results.
The EU's Accessibility Directive defines Finland's national law on the provision of digital services. Entry into force in 2023 Digital Services Act define obligations for authorities and institutions governed by public law. In 2025, the obligations will also be extended to cover many consumer services, such as online stores, e-books, passenger and banking services, and communications services. More information on the requirements can be found in the Regional State Administrative Agency's Accessibility requirements website.
According to the Digital Services Act, digital services must meet the minimum technical level of accessibility in accordance with the European standard EN 301 549. The standard is partly based on a report drawn up by the international consortium W3C WCAG guidelines (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) on the accessibility of online services, which has four principles: observability, manageability, comprehensibility and reliability. The law also obliges the user to prepare an accessibility statement for the service and to offer the user the opportunity to give feedback on accessibility.
In the WCAG guidelines, sound is taken into account, for example, through the subtitles of various audio and video recordings and the control of playback of audio content. Sound is a critical tool for visually impaired people who use online content mainly with the help of screen readers. Ageing, dyslexia and various concentration and perceptual disorders can also create cognitive accessibility needs, for which sound can be a significant support. Many of us understand information listened to aloud better than read text.
Implementing various assistive technologies or add-ons can be challenging. This often requires independent information retrieval and digital skills, and support for installing and starting to use the technology may not be available. When brought to the platform, voice supports communication regardless of the user's background and digital skill level. Voice provides the user with flexibility and serves efficiently in different usage situations as well.
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