Our weekly roundup of the media’s key articles on the topic of digital accessibility.

ALL | Is Web Accessibility Only for People Who Are Blind?

Web accessibility requires an appropriate mindset, and some misconceptions can prevent businesses from making effective decisions. One of the most common myths: If you’ve made a website accessible for people who are blind, it’s accessible for everyone. After all, accessibility is about providing accommodations for people with vision disabilities — isn’t it?

https://www.boia.org/blog/is-web-accessibility-only-for-people-who-are-blind

UK | Accessibility at the heart of GDS

When GDS says accessibility is everyone’s responsibility, we mean it. Even royalty, as Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall found out when visiting the Cabinet Office: the duo seemed impressed by a demo of assistive technologies reading GOV.UK, so we like to think our approach to accessibility has the royal seal of approval.

https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/digital-accessibility-transforming-government/94962/

US | What insurance is available to mitigate Website ADA risk?

It would be inconceivable to open a building that doesn’t adhere to the ADA. The same principle applies online. Currently, however, 94% of the 225 million websites in the US are non-compliant and discriminatory, leaving organizations at risk of litigation. AAAtraq first week - first hour, demonstrate reasonable adjustment & benefit from $10,000 cover.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z6xgqGBWAo&feature=youtu.be

US | Higher Ed Accessibility Lawsuits, Complaints, and Settlements

Higher educational institutions face liability for inaccessible web content and technologies. Across the US a breakdown, by State of the litigation again some very well-known and some not so well known higher education establishments. Listing are examples of actions taken by legal forms, individuals along with complaints filed by the Dept. of Education. 

https://www.d.umn.edu/~lcarlson/atteam/lawsuits.html 

US | Pandemic presents new opportunities to boost accessibility

Though US law requires most public and private companies to make their websites and digital experiences accessible to people with disabilities, many are still missing the mark……. a review of the top 1 million homepages worldwide by WebAIM also found that many lacked the most basic features: 86.3% failed to offer low-contrast text, 66.0% were missing alternative text for images, and 59.9% had empty links.

https://www.emarketer.com/content/pandemic-presents-new-opportunities-boost-accessibility