Usually, a server error is to blame, maybe a spotty wi-fi connection. Reboot, and the problem is solved…for some.

For others, even the fastest and most stable domains, apps, and platforms are inaccessible by nature. People experiencing disabilities navigate a digital landscape that is actively working against them and their needs. With the realization that this demographic needs and wants to be online, and legislation in place to ensure they can be there, the time has come to rethink what accessible technology means and what it looks like.

Many are already using the Internet and mobile technologies at a reduced capacity, and studies show that roughly 90% of web content has significant barriers to access. With more and more content being created and published than ever before and more and more businesses moving their primary functions online, it has never been more critical to create inclusive and accessible content for everyone.

Suppose you also include friends, relatives and caretakers of people with disabilities. In this case, spending power increases to $311 billion in Canada alone – hardly a 'niche market,' yet it's a market that brands and companies regularly overlook. Taking the necessary steps to be inclusive benefits everyone, including the brands and companies that initiate positive change. We all choose products and services based on our own needs and the needs of our loved ones. We are all inclined to share our experiences, good or bad, and this demographic is no exception. Accessibility in technology creates many crossover applications that can foster stronger brand connection, fuel innovation, and drive capital spending by connecting with consumers.

This bill was created to ensure greater inclusion of all Canadians with disabilities and includes a focus on digital content, information and communications technologies, as well as the technologies used to access them. While it is still up to Canadian provinces to outline their accessibility mandates, many expect these regulations to follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) closely. Considering the speed at which the digital landscape evolves, time is of the essence when it comes to implementing these mandates in order to effect change in both the short term and long term.

Products like AccessiBe can be added and integrated into your website to increase accessibility for people with disabilities without impacting your other users. Individuals simply need to activate these tools via their main interface (or screen reader) when accessing a website. They offer many options that increase accessibility, such as text and screen readers, voice commands, and keyboard navigation. They also allow users to block blinking and flashing content and make adjustments to colour, contrast and content to make fonts, cursors, text and images easy to read, view and access.

While there is no 'one size fits all' answer to digital inclusion, the frequency with which new information, technologies and compliance guidelines are becoming available allows brands and companies to continue to research, expand and grow their répertoire. At Full Blast Creative, we are passionate about inclusion, online and in the workplace, and are proud to offer our clients custom solutions for accessibility.

Author: Jessica Rodgers, Production Manager, Full Blast Creative