How to remove barriers that prevent people with disabilities from accessing websites, digital tools and information communication technologies.
You may have heard about Colorado’s new digital accessibility law, which aims to ensure that individuals with disabilities are not denied services or benefits due to inaccessible government websites. With July being Disability Awareness Month, this is the perfect time to share some helpful tips for fostering digital accessibility at your organization.
Because so much of everything we do these days is online, let’s focus on the digital experience of people with disabilities. Having a vision disability myself, I can relate to students with disabilities who experience barriers to online content.
I’d like to walk you through a new tool—with simple how-to exercises—that can help identify those barriers and eliminate them. But first, let’s talk about what kind of obstacles we’re dealing with.
Road Blocks to Learning
As a college student with a vision disability who uses a screen reader, I encountered numerous digital accessibility barriers related to course documents and textbooks. I’ve had difficulty accessing handwritten assignments and encountered barriers to marking my answers on a test.
I’ve waited, over and over again, to receive an accessible copy of a textbook, or to receive an electronic copy of a worksheet or a test. When I got my first ever accommodation letter, my instructor told me, “Oh, this just means that I have to be nice to you.”
It was humiliating. My dignity went right out the door with me.
Education Is Key
Education has surely been the catalyst that has helped me become a disability services professional. But my endeavors to get here—and to pursue a doctoral degree in leadership for education equity—have been far from easy.
I encountered many cultural, social, financial, medical and systemic barriers along the way. I know all too well about the many disadvantages students with disabilities endure just to attend college, let alone be successful.
That’s why I feel these accessibility efforts are so critical. I strive to help others enrich their lives and advance their careers through education.
Why Accessibility Matters
I’m now a coordinator for disability support services at FRCC. I coordinate accommodations so that our students with disabilities can have equal access to all programs at the college.
Through my life experience and my work, over the years I have expanded my knowledge on finding and removing barriers. To this day, I cringe and I am fearful. Fearful of stumbling upon digital content that is inaccessible—to me and many others.
More and more businesses, as well as health care and government agencies are going “contactless” and offering their services digitally. And that’s great—as long as everyone has access to these necessary services. It’s when these digital services are not accessible that we run into real problems.
Forms Can Be a Big Obstacle
As an example, when I go to complete an online medical form, I simply don’t know if there will be a way for me to fill it out. My anxiety spikes just at the thought of the possibility of encountering a barrier.
Will I be able to complete the form? Will I need assistance? How long will I spend completing the form?
Understanding—and Removing—Barriers
It takes me much longer to complete online forms than it does my wife. She can complete this kind of form in five to 10 minutes. It usually takes me two to three times that long—and that’s only if the form is accessible. It’s up to the medical facility to create a form that would be accessible for all their clients.
Although Colorado’s new law (House Bill 21-1110) applies to government websites within our state, digital accessibility is a much broader issue. Its importance stretches way beyond just government websites in Colorado.
Doing the Right Thing
All of this is really about doing the right thing and making sure digital information and services are inclusive for everyone. When Colorado House Bill 21-1110 first passed, I didn’t know what to think.
Of course I was happy, but laws and policies concerning digital accessibility have been around since 1990. That’s 34 years!
So when the Colorado Office of Information Technology announced that the technology accessibility rules were finalized this past February, I became overwhelmed with emotion. I was overcome with both feelings of accomplishment and a release of frustration.
I’m so grateful that Colorado’s new accessibility law has come to fruition. Now I have hope. Hope that digital content will become not only accessible and inclusive but also more equitable, especially for those students with disabilities who come into my office asking for accommodations.
What Does This Mean for Websites?
There are several basic things anyone can do to practice website accessibility. I have the honor of serving on a steering committee for the governor’s Office of Information Technology.
We just completed an interactive Digital Accessibility Workshop designed to walk you through how people with disabilities experience web pages, forms, colors and more. You can do all of these exercises online, and they will help you understand how to improve your digital content for all users.
The whole purpose behind this interactive workshop is to bring awareness to digital accessibility and equity. I hope you’ll check out this great new tool that will help people and organizations make their digital information more accessible to all.
How-To Exercises
Forms
In these forms exercises, you can look at two forms to compare their accessibility and see what elements and features make for a strong form for all users.
Documents
Documents are a critical part of our everyday work lives. Learn about structure, design, and what goes into a strong, accessible document.
Web Pages
Whether your pages are for customers on the web, or for staff on an intranet, these tips and tricks can help you design a successful site across the board.
Data
Explore what goes into a great data view to ensure that all of your users can see and understand the data that you’ve put together.
Language
In these exercises, you can explore the differences between complicated text and plain, easy to read language.
Vision and Color
This page will lead you through exercises designed to show you how color can make a big impact on the digital products you use every day.
Keyboard
Practice using only a keyboard to navigate web pages to see how others use technology without a mouse.
Multimedia
Explore how different media types can be presented in a variety of ways that are inaccessible to audiences including those with visual, auditory and cognitive disabilities.
Why Is Digital Access So Important Now?
It’s important to know that Colorado’s new law went into effect on July 1, 2024. This is crucial for state organizations.
Failure to ensure digital accessibility—not just for the organization’s website, but also any digital content used for accessing services and resources—can lead to monetary penalties for organizations responsible for providing accessible digital content to individuals with disabilities.
FRCC Supports Digital Accessibility
I have been working in Disability Support Services at FRCC for just over two and a half years. As an employee with a vision disability, I am impressed with the advocacy and number of resources the college devotes to fostering digital accessibility.
At our institution, accessibility is truly a cross-disciplinary effort to ensure that our services and resources can be accessed by all students and employees. You can find out more about FRCC’s commitment to accessibility by reading our accessibility statement.
Progress
It has been an honor to represent FRCC and the state of Colorado in cultivating digital accessibility, inclusion and equity. This work could have not been completed without the Governor’s Office of Information Technology and the Technology Accessibility Program (TAP) team.
The TAP, led by Theresa Montano, encourages everyone to talk, think and learn about digital accessibility. Together, we can work toward building a more inclusive Colorado for all.
Gratitude
I am very thankful for Governor Polis’ dedication and action toward making all state services accessible. You can view this message from the governor expressing his commitment to accessibility.
I feel really blessed to have come this far in my own education and employment endeavors, and I’m delighted to have the opportunity to share my experiences and pay it forward. It really warms my heart when students achieve their college goals and go on to change the dynamics of their lives.
