National AccessAbility Week as a celebration of inclusion

In my childhood, I recall a world where disabilities were often misunderstood, sometimes stigmatized and certainly seen as barriers to full participation in society. Back then, individuals with disabilities were relegated to the peripheries, with limited opportunities and resources at their disposal.

We’ve witnessed many improvements over the past forty years. But our work here is not done. Today, we find ourselves at a major turning point in the middle of deeply impactful societal changes. Changes that value inclusivity and celebrate diversity.

National AccessAbility Week in Canada bears testament to this transformation. It’s a week dedicated to acknowledging and applauding the significant strides we’ve made in breaking down barriers for disabled individuals. It’s also the perfect moment to shine a beacon on the remarkable contributions people with disabilities have made to our society.

Yes, in recent years, we made great strides towards more inclusion. This is certainly something worth celebrating. But let’s not forget! This is a journey. We’re not quite there yet. We’ve got miles to go and heaps of challenges to surmount, especially in the digital sphere.

Imperatives of accessibility in the digital era

With technology constantly pushing us further into a virtual world, where work meetings happen online and classrooms are on your laptop screens, it’s our collective responsibility to make sure these spaces are accessible to everyone. Gone are the days when accessibility was only about physical spaces and ramps. Now, it’s also about making sure every person, regardless of abilities, enjoys equal access. Access to information. To communication. To opportunities. Even more so in our ever-expanding virtual spaces.

In these times where artificial intelligence and digitization rule as kings, the power and impact of technology have never been more clear. From socializing to shopping, learning to earning, our lives have been irreversibly changed. In many ways, these transformations have made life more convenient. Yet, we must ask ourselves – has life really become equally convenient for everyone?

The truth is, without conscious efforts in making virtual spaces accessible to those living with disabilities as well, what we create is a digital divide where some of us are left behind. This is simply not socially acceptable!

So, as we celebrate National AccessAbility Week, let’s take a moment to reflect on how we can make our virtual spaces more inclusive of everyone. Let’s work towards creating spaces where everyone can enjoy the same opportunities and experiences.

Prioritizing inclusive design from day one

Making a virtual space truly accessible and inclusive is like building a house. Just like a house, your accessible virtual platform needs a strong foundation, blueprints that guide its construction, and the right people who can translate the blueprints into an inclusive reality.

The journey towards creating a more inclusive space begins with an important decision. Prioritizing inclusive design from day one. This involves seeing inclusivity not as an add-on feature but as the very foundation upon which the virtual platform is built. In this world of extreme digitization, inclusivity is no longer a “nice-to-have”. It’s now an absolute “must-have” that involves considering the needs of all potential users from the start – those who have disabilities, older adults, individuals with limited digital literacy, as well as the many other marginalized groups we often forget about.

Inclusivity is also about considering how these people will access the platform. Will they be using screen reader technology? A speech-to-speech relay service, perhaps? Will they require other forms of accommodation? By considering such factors, you ensure that the platform caters to a broader range of needs and expectations.

That said, planning for a blueprint is just one part of the disability inclusion journey. Who do you think might be best suited to help implement these blueprints? Who might be in the best position to guide us in our quest to build accessible platforms? This is where people living with disabilities come into the picture! Their lived experiences, their day-to-day navigation of the world with its varying degrees of accessibility… all of these experiences make them the absolute best guides to help us understand the needs and challenges involved in creating more inclusive spaces. Nothing about us without us, right?

Inviting individuals with disabilities to be an integral part of the process isn’t just about ticking a box. It’s about recognizing the unique value that these folks bring! It’s about learning from their rich expertise and their valuable lived experiences. It’s about revealing the unconscious biases we all have, discarding them, and ultimately, creating solutions that truly work – for all of us.

Empowering users in the virtual space

But there’s more to it than a solid blueprint. Guidelines are another crucial aspect in the journey towards creating accessible spaces. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) offer a very comprehensive roadmap that can help you and your team build accessible online experiences. These guidelines not only provide the needed technical specifications and implementation solutions, they also offer a broad understanding of the different accessibility issues that end users with disabilities typically run into as they are using your platforms and consuming its content. Priceless!

However, just like maintaining a house, creating an accessible platform is not a one-time task; it requires regular upkeep and updates. This means not only fixing issues as they come up but also being dedicated to constantly improving and innovating to better serve the end users.

Moreover, multiple avenues for communication and support also need to be provided. Just like you have plenty of options to seek help in a physical space, you should have the same freedom in a virtual environment, too. From chatbots to email support to hotlines, we need to ensure that end users can receive the assistance they need in a manner that suits them best.

We must remember that creating accessible spaces is a team effort. It’s not just up to developers and designers; managers and end users need to be in sync as well. The best way to achieve this is to ensure every stakeholder understands why accessibility matters and the role they can play in championing it.

After all, creating an accessible and inclusive space is not a straightforward journey. It’s really more of an ongoing commitment. It’s about prioritizing inclusivity from the beginning, involving the right people, following guidelines, providing ample support, and continuously learning and improving. Above all else, it recognizes that our efforts to create such spaces make a profound difference in other people’s lives.

Envisioning an accessible future

So, where do we go from here? How do we take the next leap in our journey toward a truly inclusive virtual world? Well, it begins with event organizers across the board making a firm commitment that accessibility is a non-negotiable aspect of their operations. This isn’t just about compliance or ticking boxes on a checklist. It’s about embracing a mindset that sees the value and importance of accessibility. It’s about recognizing that every attendee, irrespective of their abilities, deserves an engaging, enriching, and inclusive event experience.

A crucial aspect of this future is the integration of accessibility features directly into event platforms and technologies. The virtual spaces of tomorrow need to be built with accessibility in mind from the ground up. We’re talking about integrating closed captions for videos, transcripts for audio content, alt-text for images, colour contrast options, and easy navigation features built right into them. Accessibility needs to be baked into the platform rather than something that gets bolted on later.

The future of accessible virtual events is also one where collaboration and knowledge-sharing are the norm rather than the exception! We need industry professionals, digital accessibility experts, and disability advocates to come together to share their experiences, insights, and best practices. This collective knowledge can then guide the development of better, more innovative solutions that cater to a broad range of accessibility needs.

Education and training opportunities also play a crucial role in this envisioned future. These aren’t just for event organizers and staff. They’re just as relevant for presenters, attendees, and other stakeholders. The aim is to ensure that everyone involved in virtual events understands the importance of accessibility and knows how to create and deliver accessible content.

Lastly, the future of virtual event accessibility is one where we make better use of automated accessibility testing tools such as Deque’s axe DevTools browser extension. These tools can help us quickly identify potential accessibility issues, suggest improvements, and ensure that our virtual spaces meet the required accessibility standards.

This future might seem ambitious, I know. But it’s well within our reach! We make this vision a reality when we all commit to making accessibility a priority. When we work collaboratively, and when we leverage the right tools and technologies. When we continuously educate ourselves and others.

So, why don’t we commit to taking these next steps? Let’s strive towards a future where virtual events are not just accessible for some but inclusive for all. One where everyone can participate, engage, and contribute.

The impact of National AccessAbility Week

National AccessAbility Week is more than a mere date on the calendar. It’s a potent reminder of our collective commitment to creating a truly inclusive society… One where everyone can participate fully and equally. Let’s pause for a moment to consider why having such a dedicated time to focus on disability inclusion and accessibility is so significant. I like to think of it as creating a special, shared understanding in our collective mindset. A space where we turn our attention and energy towards understanding and addressing the challenges faced by people with disabilities.

These events, like National AccessAbility Week, serve as catalysts, sparking vital conversations around inclusion and accessibility. They encourage individuals, businesses, and governments to initiate actions that promote inclusion. Whether it’s an organization committing to make their virtual events more accessible, a software developer choosing to learn more about accessible design, or an individual deciding to educate themselves about disability rights – every action, big or small, counts.

Moreover, these dedicated times bring the topic of accessibility into the public eye and garner media attention. These spotlights shed light on the achievements and contributions of people with disabilities. They challenge stereotypes, highlighting the importance of accessibility and inclusion in all aspects of life.

National AccessAbility Week also provides opportunities for education, sharing of best practices, and collaboration through workshops, webinars, and panel discussions. It offers valuable insights into the latest trends, tools, and technologies in the accessibility field. Such knowledge-sharing irremediably paves the way for innovative solutions that enhance accessibility.

Perhaps one of the most significant impacts of National AccessAbility Week is the sense of unity and solidarity it fosters, as it brings together people from different walks of life: people with disabilities, accessibility advocates, professionals, policymakers, and more. This sense of community is inspiring and builds towards a common goal for a more inclusive society. Most importantly, events like National AccessAbility Week foster a collective commitment to disability inclusion, where we get to reaffirm our promise to make our society more inclusive. A promise that we should strive to uphold not just during this week, but throughout the year.

So, as we immerse ourselves in the spirit of National AccessAbility Week, let’s reflect on the formidable power of awareness. When we raise awareness about disability inclusion and accessibility, we take a step towards a more inclusive future. One where everyone has the opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of our digital society.

The journey ahead: your call to action

We’re at a distinctive crossroads in our history. One where technology has an unprecedented influence on our lives, with opportunities and tools to create a world that’s more inclusive and accessible than ever before. But for this potential to be realized, it requires a collective commitment. We all have a part to play in this incredibly transformational journey.

Know that your actions matter. Whether you’re a designer tinkering away on the upcoming virtual event platform, or an event organizer meticulously planning your next big conference, or even an attendee eager to ensure everyone can join in… remember, your actions carry weight. They can truly make a difference.

But where do we begin? Start by educating yourself about accessibility. Learn about the diverse range of disabilities and understand the barriers people face in accessing virtual spaces. Familiarize yourself with the guidelines and standards for accessible design and communication. Remember, awareness is the first step to change.

Next, let’s change our viewpoint on accessibility. It’s not about extending a courtesy to someone else. It’s about acknowledging that we all deserve an equal shot at information and opportunities. If you can influence decisions, do so! Ensure that accessibility isn’t an afterthought but, instead, a priority from the onset. Include individuals with disabilities in the decision-making process. Their insights and experiences are invaluable.

Foster an environment of collaboration and knowledge sharing. This journey is not one we can undertake in isolation. So, let’s share best practices! Let’s learn from each other’s experiences! Let’s work together to overcome challenges! We also need to actively demand more from technology. Encourage tech companies and developers to integrate accessibility features into their platforms. Advocate for the use of automated accessibility testing tools to ensure that virtual spaces meet the necessary standards.

Finally, take advantage of occasions like National AccessAbility Week to promote accessibility. Use these platforms to spark conversations, share knowledge, and inspire action. As we come to the close of this year’s National AccessAbility Week, let’s not forget the importance of the journey we’ve embarked upon. Accessibility isn’t a one-time event; it’s a continuous pursuit of inclusion.

Forging the path to an inclusive future

Right now, we hold an incredible power to mold the future—a future where every person can freely participate in our digital world. However, we can only bring this future to life if we’re ready to take the required steps. Take a stand with me today. Commit to promoting accessibility, not just during National AccessAbility Week, but every day of the year. After all… inclusion isn’t just about creating spaces for everyone. It’s about creating a world where everyone belongs.