- Robust, understandable, operable and perceivable are some of the characteristics of digital accessibility.
- Equal opportunities in accessing technological environments is the main raison d’être of digital accessibility.
What is digital accessibility and how does it work?
When asked what accessibility is and what its main features are, we explained that this concept could have a physical and a digital aspect.
In this case, we are going to analyse digital accessibility, which could be defined as the design and subsequent development of technologies, websites or applications so that everyone can access and use them without limitations.
For a digital product, content or service to be considered accessible, it must have a number of key elements.
Characteristics of digital accessibility
The first characteristic is that it must be perceptible, meaning that the information can be perceived through different senses. Examples of this include alternative text to describe images for people with visual impairments or the inclusion of subtitles in videos.
Another characteristic is that it must be operable, which means that the interface can be operated by different means and not only by mouse. Operability means being able to work with the keyboard, voice assistants or other assistive technologies.
Likewise, the content must be easy and clear to understand, which is achieved through clear writing, logical structures and legible fonts. This comprehensibility goes beyond the content itself, as the navigation must also be clear.
Finally, another feature of digital accessibility is robustness, understood as the ability of the digital product in question to be compatible and function on different browsers, mobile devices, or screen readers.
Why is digital accessibility important?
From an inclusion perspective, digital accessibility reduces existing inequalities in technological environments. This digital equity also indirectly generates a greater degree of participation in digital life.
Similarly, the autonomy and independence of people with disabilities is increased and reinforced.
Apart from the benefits it brings to those with disabilities, digital accessibility also indirectly benefits companies that adapt their digital environments.
For example, by increasing the number of potential users who can access these services, the volume of people using these accessible digital services can indirectly increase.
From a less tangible perspective, it also improves the reputation of companies or organisations that have made the necessary adaptations to move towards digital accessibility.
We could summarise the importance of digital accessibility in the fact that, thanks to it, everyone – regardless of whether they have a disability or not – can use digital environments on equal terms and in a simple way. This improves not only social inclusion but also the quality of the digital experience.
Telefónica and accessibility
As Telefónica explains in its Digital Inclusion Report, responsible digitalisation means offering accessible, reliable and more environmentally friendly connectivity and digital solutions.
In terms of accessibility, the operator seeks to leverage its capabilities to close both coverage and usage gaps, thereby addressing the barriers faced by the most vulnerable groups in society in terms of access to technology and promoting digital inclusion.
In the same document, the operator considers digital services to be a ‘key tool for improving the lives of people with disabilities’.
Examples in products and services
To illustrate the importance of digital accessibility for Telefónica, we can mention some specific cases.
In the field of television consumption, Movistar Plus + has a service, the first on private television, that offers accessible content with subtitles, audio description and sign language.
On the other hand, there is a collaborative platform promoted by Fundación Telefónica, Mapcesible, which maps the accessibility of places, combining physical and digital accessibility in this case.
Another example would be the development of new accessible terminals (POS) for ONCE sellers.
