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Inclusive language: the first step towards greater accessibility
Language shapes reality. It is therefore crucial that we consciously opt for an inclusive and respectful choice of words. Instead of reducing identities to a single aspect, we put people first and speak of “people with disabilities”. Phrases such as “confined to a wheelchair” or “dependent on a visual aid” also undermine the autonomy of people with disabilities. Actually, supportive measures such as a wheelchair should be understood as a tool for self-empowerment and communicated as such.
Accessibility in digital communication
Although people with disabilities make up around 25% of the population in Austria, they are usually portrayed very one-sidedly in the media and often in the context of their disability. They are still often reduced to special occasions such as the Paralympics or fundraising campaigns. It is time for the realities of their lives to become more visible in an everyday context. This means meeting people with disabilities at eye level and showing them in real-life situations just like non-disabled people.
The interaction area shows the way
Technology companies such as Apple are demonstrating how accessibility works in an interactive user context. They are constantly working on the development of innovative solutions to improve the user experience for people with disabilities and allow them to participate in the same content as non-disabled people. In addition to new operating aids such as eye tracking for iPhone and iPad and intelligent machine learning for speech pattern recognition in Atypical Speech, “moving” content is designed to prevent motion sickness and vibrations are intended to make the experience of music “tangible” for deaf people.
The entertainment industry is also undergoing a positive change: for a long time, the landscape of accessible game development was dominated by small independent studios. Today, large mainstream studios are also setting new standards in the accessible design of games. Be it through a wide range of accessibility features in “The Last Of Us 2” or a racing game developed entirely for blind and visually impaired people such as “Forza Motorsport”. Microsoft is now promoting a largely customizable controller for the Xbox.
Why we need to take accessibility further
Accessible design is not only an ethical responsibility, but also a legal necessity. In Austria, the constitution guarantees equality for people with disabilities. The European Accessibility Act (EAA), which will also come into force for private companies in 2025, will further strengthen the obligation of accessibility.
But even beyond the legal and ethical reasons, it is clear that accessible design leads to a generally better user experience. It takes into account the diverse needs of users and makes digital products and services more accessible and user-friendly for everyone. This is demonstrated not least by the so-called cut curb effect: this phenomenon describes how measures that were originally intended for people with disabilities end up benefiting society as a whole. A simple example: lowered kerbs not only make everyday life easier for wheelchair users, but also for people with baby carriages, cyclists or delivery staff and tourists with trolleys.
Assistive tools such as voice control have also long benefited a wide range of people who are not dependent on them, such as visually impaired people or people with motor impairments.
It does not always have to be a permanent disability that makes barrier-free measures necessary. Temporary or even just situational difficulties can be overcome much more easily with barrier-free design measures. A parent carrying a child in their arms is temporarily restricted in their motor skills, just as a particularly bright environment makes it difficult for us to see screens. On the subway without headphones, we can enjoy videos without sound thanks to subtitles, and plain language makes it easier for us to absorb information when we are stressed and not receptive.
