Assistive Technology
Web sites are only as useful as they are useable. Usability is determined by how accessible the information is to the users of that site.
Different sites require different degrees of accessibility. A site providing information specific to one group of users, only needs to be accessible to those specific users. The purpose of a government web site is to provide information to all citizens, regardless of physical or technical capability. Government web sites must be universally accessible.
Accessibility depends on a user-centred design. How the users access the web site has to be taken into consideration. For users with disabilities, access to the web site may require assistive technology.
Access to assistive technology
Assistive technology has particular requirements that must be included in the design and delivery of accessible web sites. The phase of development where site audiences and audience needs are defined, is a good time to consider audiences with impairments and how their needs will be met. It is essential that web designers understand how users access assistive technologies, and how those technologies affect their web experience.
Engaging with the disabled community
It is important that any identified user group is involved in the design process, to make sure that the design is accessible and useable.
Engaging with the disabled community is particularly valuable, especially for those organisations which play substantive roles in the lives of disabled people, or organisations which touch the lives of all New Zealanders. Using networks and processes already established by other parts of the organisation to gain a greater understanding of this diverse audience can usefully inform the work of communicators and those responsible for web sites.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) disability networks may be able to assist. The Office for Disability Issues www.odi.govt.nz provides guidance on engaging with disabled people on its web site. Disability organisations that have expertise in the field of assistive technology can also help.
What is assistive technology?
Assistive technology is any product used by disabled people to perform everyday tasks that might otherwise be difficult or even impossible.
In order to access the Web, some users require special software or devices in addition to a standard web browser, or specially designed web browsers. Such devices are known as assistive technology. When used with computers, such products are often referred to as adaptive software or hardware. In the context of web-enabled applications, there is an increasing range of technologies to assist disabled people to access information by computer. New technologies are frequently being developed, and existing technologies updated to keep up with the development in web and computer technologies. Assistive technology may be as universal as spellchecking software, or as specific as a Braille display.
Who uses assistive technology?
There are several groups of disabled people who may use assistive technologies. It is important to note that all disabled users will have access to specialist technology. Many will manage with regular technology, or readily-available adaptations such as split keyboards, larger screens or browser settings to control their web user experience. Not all users in the groups below will use assistive technology.
People with sensory impairments
These include:
- blind and visually impaired people, also sometimes referred to as people with low vision
- people who are colour blind
- deaf and hearing-impaired people
- deaf/blind people
Assistive technologies for users with sensory impairments
People with physical impairments
These include people with a wide range of mobility impairments from a tremor or poor hand-eye co-ordination to people with quadriplegia who have little use of their hands.
Assistive technologies for users with physical impairments
People with learning difficulties and intellectual impairments
This group is quite diverse, and includes people with specific learning disabilities such as dyslexia as well as those with intellectual disabilities. It also includes users with temporary impairments, such as those recovering from illness.
Assistive technologies for users with intellectual impairments
People with multiple impairments
There is also a group of people who have more than one impairment. Note that one impairment may prevent a user from accessing technology that would otherwise assist them to overcome another impairment.
Strategic Planning
Incorporating assistive technology requirements into web accessibility means taking a “beyond compliance” approach to make sure everything works to everyone’s best advantage. Seeing accessibility as a last minute add-on will not bring the best results.
A strategic approach to focusing on the requirements of diverse audiences is required. Making links with high-level strategies such as the Disability Strategy and EEO plans and programmes will assist in developing a business case for the organisation and/or specific businesses.
Testing using assistive technology
Integrating accessibility objectives in communication and web plans and strategies is fundamental to ensuring web-based applications and web sites are accessible to people who use assistive technologies.
The next step in the process involves user-centred design in relation to accessibility standards and international best practice, in conjunction with user testing with disabled users. It is important that user testing is carried out by disabled users themselves, to recreate an authentic experience. Able users will not use assistive technologies in the same way, nor with the same degree of expertise, as disabled users accustomed to those technologies.
Further Information
The Useful Links page suggests some sources for further information on the subject of Assistive Technologies.
