Benefits of Accessible Design Flashcards
What is the benefit of accessible design for people with disabilities?
- Makes life easier
- Makes things possible that would otherwise be impossible and participate in society & major life activities (e.g. education, employment, social activities)
- Accessible websites let people do personal banking, make reservations, access gov’t benefits, etc.
- Accessible transportation makes it possible for people with disabilities to go to work, visit friends and family, go to entertainment venues, go to restaurants, etc…
- Accessible architectures makes it possible for people with disabilities to enter & actually use buildings, public spaces, private businesses, personal homes
How does accessibility improve public perception of businesses and organizations?
- Shows you’re committed to basic ideals of equal opportunity and fairness
- You can leverage your accessible website as a differentiator among competitors
How does accessibility increase compatibility?
- Site will be compatible with a wider variety of web-enabled devices
- Designing for accessibility requires you pay attention to the robustness of your website in many platforms, browsers, and devices using a variety of input methods
How does accessibility improve search engine optimization for businesses and organizations?
Many techniques required for accessibility involve use of semantic markup in text and HTML, which improves ability of search engines to find & index work
How does accessibility increase customer base for businesses & organizations?
If people with disabilities can access your site, and if they like what you have to sell, they’ll probably buy it
How does accessibility increase your eligibility for funding for businesses & orgs?
If you do any work with gov’t entities, you’ll most likely be required to make your deliverables accessible
If you know how to make your deliverables accessible, you’re more likely to get the contract
How does accessibility help you avoid lawsuits?
Creating inaccessible websites is against the law in many areas of the world
If people with disabilities decide to sue your company, that’s bad press, a huge expense, and very avoidable
What are 3 benefits of accessible design for people without disabilities?
- Accessible design improves access for all
- Less burden on family members & helpers
- Opportunity to befriend more people with disabilities
How do curb cuts help people with and without disabilities?
Accessibility feature: Provides wheelchair access
For people without disabilities: Allows easy access for strollers, bicycles, carts, dollies & hand trucks, anything else with wheels
How do elevators help people with and without disabilities?
Accessibility feature: provides wheelchair access
For people without disabilities: anyone can use an elevator, which saves us physical effort, esp in tall buildings. Also easier to move furniture & other large/heavy objects
How do dual height drinking fountains help people with and without disabilities?
Accessibility feature: provide access for shorter people (e.g. people with dwarfism) and wheelchair users
For people without disabilities: Other people like children can access shorter drinking fountains more easily
How do auto-opening doors help people with and without disabilities?
Accessibility feature: provides access for wheel chair users
For people without disabilities: People with hands full can enter building without putting things down
How does accessibility lessen the burden on family members & helpers?
Inaccessible environments often require 2 people to do things that usually require one person (e.g. inaccessible print materials could require helper to read text out loud)
How does accessibility provide more opportunities to befriend more people with disabilities?
If the world were more accessible, there would be more social contact between people with and without disabilities. We all need friendships and would enrich our lives
