The users of Accessibility
  • 29 June, 2023

When creating a communications project, it’s important to understand the target audience and their literacy level in order to align with the project’s business goals. This is considered a priority when developing project content.Accessibility audience can be divided into 2 groups:

People with disabilities

The primary focus is on the people “who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others”.

Information Systems

As people age, they become more susceptible to disabilities such as arthritis, vision and hearing loss. Additionally, older adults may not be as familiar with newer technologies, making it more challenging for them to navigate digital products, particularly during events like the COVID-19 pandemic.

After COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people with disabilities has grown more and more. People who experienced severe cases of the disease have the highest likelihood of suffering from Long COVID, a condition that can cause a range of difficulties in daily life. For example, some said that they find it hard to concentrate while reading an article (brain fog), as well as muscle aches and pain in the back or shoulder.

Companies, organizations, businesses

The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) guarantees equal access to public services for people with disabilities. The internet has become part of people’s daily life, and nowaday people see that they have the right to get access to the internet.

Website-Compliance

Noncompliance with the ADA can result in fines of up to $75,000 or more, depending on the policies of the government involved, and there have been several legal cases related to this issue.

Businesses have two options to avoid the risk of compliance: they can either invest significant resources and money to rework their product, or they can import an accessibility extension from a third-party at a much lower cost and with less time and effort.

Conclusion

When designing and developing accessible products, services and websites, the point is to consider the needs of both individuals with and without disabilities. Regardless of the intended user group, it is crucial to remember that users of health apps are human beings and not just consumers.