A guide to internet accessibility for Americans with disabilities

It’s obvious that the need for daily internet access is here to stay and will only continue to grow, but internet services were not built for accessibility by those of us with hearing, sight, mobility or cognitive issues. In the last several years, federal accessibility rules were enhanced and software and nonprofit organizations stepped up to develop and promote accessibility features and assistive technology.

What is digital accessibility?

Digital accessibility is the ability of everyone, regardless of any disability, to use tech devices or products to access the internet.

“Every user deserves a first-rate digital experience on the web. Someone with a disability must be able to experience web-based services, content and other digital products with the same successful outcome as those without disabilities,” according to the Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) organization.

The Digital Equity Act was included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The act provides state-level grants to implement digital skills training, improve accessibility and for rural agencies to address their own broadband needs. 

In July 2023, to mark the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a federal accessibility rule was announced to establish accessibility standards for state and local governments’ web and mobile app-based services to make it easier for them to comply with the ADA rules. These guidelines will enable screen readers to decipher images, provide video captioning and enable navigation via a keyboard rather than a mouse.

According to ADA rules, making a website more accessible can be as simple as adding alternative text on images. All videos should have captions. There are several free tools that can help designers and developers test the accessibility of their pages:

• WAVE – Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool 
• Colour Contrast Analyzer
• axe (Deque)

Who is affected by inaccessibility? 

Digital access is necessary because 70 million adults in the U.S. live with a disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). That is 1 in 4 adults.

According to Pew Research, 54% of adults living with a disability use the internet, compared with 81% of adults without disabilities and 72% of adults living with a disability have home broadband, compared with 78% of those without a disability.

The most common disabilities fall into these categories: visual, hearing, motor and cognitive. According to Pew Research, “about 13 million people reported cognitive difficulties. Around 11 million people in the U.S. reported significant hearing difficulty, while roughly 7 million reported significant difficulty with vision, even when wearing glasses.”

These issues sometimes lead to disparities in who has access to technology.

The same study found that “62% of adults with a disability say they own a desktop or laptop computer, compared with 81% of those without a disability.”

Accessibility features and assistive technology

How to help improve web accessibility

• Teach & Advocate: Contact organizations about inaccessible websites
• Participate in Global Accessibility Awareness Day: The third Thursday of each May is Global Accessibility Awareness Day. Ideas to participate include: Caption a video or at least prepare a transcript. If it is not your video, send the transcript to the owner and suggest that they follow the information provided by Google for YouTube or 3Play Media for Vimeo to add captions. Write a blog post on what digital accessibility awareness is and what your (the writer’s) ideas are for raising that awareness. Create a video demonstrating how you use some type of assistive technology and upload it to YouTube.

Tips for caregivers on patient internet accessibility

A university study noted that while “internet use empowers patients,” it also increases a caregiver’s burden.

Researchers conducting the study recommended implementing a system allowing caregivers to detect risky online situations like passwords or credit card information going into the wrong hands. The experts suggested this also brings up questions about who controls a person’s online life.

“Technological caregiving is a new form of work. We hear about the physical, financial and social stress of caregiving, but no one ever talks about the burden caregivers feel to keep people active online, which we feel is a fundamental part of participating in society,” said lead researcher Anne Marie Piper, assistant professor in the department of communication studies at Northwestern’s School of Communication.

Recommendations for caregivers to support online use include:

• Setting up family accounts to support home computer use among family members
• For cognitive patients, a caregiver may be needed to type a word or phrase in a search engine
• Playing brain games or reading news stimulates a patient’s mental and emotional well-being
• Promote connecting with friends or family via social sites

Tips to stay safe online

Keeping a family member and yourself safe online is a big priority. The Allconnect Online Safety Guide will help you recognize phishing attempts and offer ways to keep your information safe, like virtual private networks, etc.

Internet resources for people with disabilities 

• The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is an international community that develops open standards to ensure the long-term growth of the web.
• The Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) is the global leader in assistive technology (AT) education and research and the premier organization for AT manufacturers, sellers and providers.
• AAPD will advocate for policies that promote the development of universally designed technology and ensure affordable access to that technology, to support people with disabilities to live independently.
• The Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs Raises awareness about digital accessibility through conferences, seminars and media relations, benchmarking progress in implementation and deploying capacity-building programs for governments and advocates.
• Knowbility Inc. is a nonprofit organization based in Austin, Texas, and an award-winning leader in accessible information technology.
• Adaptech Research Network conducts research involving college and university students with various disabilities in Canada. Their website offers downloads for free and inexpensive adaptive technologies and built-in accessibility features for Windows, Mac OS, Android and iPhone.

Discounted internet for persons with disabilities or low-income struggles

Many providers offer cheap internet plans for low-income households that qualify, including Spectrum, T-Mobile, Xfinity and CenturyLink.

Human-I-T also offers low-cost internet for Americans with disabilities.