Digital accessibility
Digital accessibility – an opportunity not an obligation
Glenn Hansen , executive strategic advisor BPA Worldwide , discusses keeping up standards in the field of digital accessibility
ecently , I had the
R opportunity to facilitate an informational session about accessible websites and what it means to the events industry to get it right for attendees with disabilities . This was the first of ‘ On the Path to Sustainability ’, a series of webinars designed to inform event organisers , meeting planners and the event supply chain of the Events Industry Council ’ s Sustainable Event Standards .
Deep in the standard ( eight out of nine categories ) is the category that addresses accessibility . It has 18 elements to it . The 17th addresses digital ( remote / online ) accessibility . It states , “ Offer digital experiences that are accessible for people with disabilities .” Whether it is an event registration page , a show site , or a corporate information destination , accessibility matters .
As the independent certifier of suppliers and organisers wishing to confirm conformance with the EIC standards , I often receive questions of how to go about compliance , and , in this specific case , providing accessible digital experiences . I reached out to the event organiser for this sector of industry , Abilities Expo ’ s director of marketing Kevaleen Lara and to sales manager in the USA of Faciliti , Laetitia Longuefosse . The company leverages assistive technology to adapt websites for users with cognitive , visual , or motor challenges . We were joined by Mariela McIlwraith , executive consultant at the EIC Center for sustainability and social impact .
Laetitia pointed out that one in four users have some difficulties when browsing the web . Visual , motor or cognitive impairment are issues that need to be addressed in any web design . Website owners need to do everything in their power to help users navigate websites .
I asked Mariela why accessibility is included in the sustainability standards and she noted the importance of social impact in the way organisers design , develop and deliver events .
Digital sessions need to be accessible for people with disabilities and she emphasised the importance of a universal design approach when designing event experiences , including the web and digital aspects .
Everyone should be able to participate in a full and dignified manner . The EIC Digital and Hybrid Events Guide helps organisers identify several aspects of designing engaging and meaningful digital and hybrid events including those with disabilities .
Doing so ties to several of the sustainable development goals ( SDGs ) and hence the connection with sustainability in the EIC
Glenn Hansen
“ Whether it is an event registration page , a show site , or a corporate information destination , accessibility matters .”
standards .
Kevaleen , when explaining what she hears most often from those asked to consider accessibility , noted that the common objection is that people with disabilities don ’ t use the organiser ’ s or exhibitor ’ s products or services and don ’ t attend events , so why spend to accommodate ?
She advised a change of thinking . A person with a disability can do things as well as a non-disabled person can do . They might do it differently , but they ’ re doing it . And if you are not working to increase the accessibility of your website , your virtual events , your live event , then you ’ re in danger of not capturing this robust consumer base .
Kevaleen recommends we approach accessibility as an opportunity rather than obligation and notes that , given the high percentage of adults with a disability ( one in four ), it would be a mistake to assume they ’ re outside your customer base .
I learned from our session and research that it ’ s not a person living with colour deficiencies that has the problem . It is our use of colour alone to relay information that is the problem .
It ’ s not a deaf person ’ s problem that they cannot hear . It ’ s the use of platforms that do not offer and support Communication Access Real-time Translation ( CART ) captions or Sign Language Interpreters ( SLI ) that is the problem .
l For more information on accessible web sites , please consider the Web Accessibility Initiative ( WAI ) which was created to come up with a single shared standard for web content accessibility .
l You can view the webinar on Vimeo at : https :// vimeo . com / 827291861
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