*Per Ricardo Lecheta
According to data from the IBGE and the National Health Survey (PNS), Brazil has 17.3 million people with a disability. Given this scenario, it is essential that we talk and think more and more about accessibility and strengthen the objective of breaking down barriers and providing conditions for all people to have the same opportunities, whether in social or digital life.
The Brazilian Inclusion Law (LBI 13.146/2015) brings article 63 that determines that companies with representation in the country have their websites accessible. Digital accessibility is the practice of using resources and techniques, such as websites or mobile applications, to improve the user experience, regardless of the deficiencies or limitations they may have. But unfortunately, even with LBI, a survey published by the group “Movimento Web Para Todos” (2021) shows that 1% of Brazilian websites passed all accessibility tests.
Recently, the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT) released the Brazilian Standard ABNT NBR 17060, which establishes the requirements to facilitate and optimize access for people with disabilities to virtual environments, aiming to eliminate or mitigate barriers to the use of web pages and applications on mobile devices. Talking about disability is talking about versatility and there are several ways in which technology can help, but it is important that companies start to become more aware of the subject so that their digital products can really make a difference in people's lives.
Good habits
When starting the development of accessible digital products, it is common to ask ourselves what are the main practices and solutions that can be used. To cite some examples, when building a website or application, we can help the visually impaired by adding alternative texts to be interpreted by screen readers, which will convert the elements of the digital product to voice.
Using contrast between the background color and the text colors on the page also makes texts and images easier to understand. This practice helps to visualize the interface in environments with a lot of lighting, such as in direct sunlight or on a screen with little glare. Accessibility, in this example, does not only apply to the visually impaired, but to people of all ages with low vision. There are users who increase the font size to be able to read the content, so it is expected that the website or application is responsive and works correctly with the suggested settings.
Likewise, we can help the hearing impaired by adding a text and image translator for Libras (Brazilian Sign Language). Videos must be subtitled in the user's native language.
Not all practices are simple, for example, an interesting exercise is to imagine how a visually impaired user navigates a website or application. For this, it is necessary to provide a keyboard navigation mechanism in the case of computers or by gestures in the case of applications for mobile phones. This allows the individual to search for elements on the screen and change the focus of each one in order to be able to navigate through the interface. An efficient implementation of this navigation is an important criterion for the success of the system in order to guarantee a good experience.
To implement accessibility in digital products, it is recommended to follow the WCAG guide (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), which provides a set of guidelines for creating accessible digital content. Finally, accessibility needs to be planned from the conception and development of the product, so that this is a development premise. This recommendation is even reinforced by the good practice guides for the interface of Apple and Google, in the development of applications.
Accessibility based on user experience
When we talk about a design centered on the user and his experience, it is easy to imagine that digital product with a friendly interface and an innovative design. The fact is that studies indicate that good user experience practices should also include accessibility in digital content. Accessibility is at the base of the UX Design pyramid, it is not a feature, is a premise.
I bring as an example the importance of an accessible Design System, an internal product of extreme value that serves other products and systems of the company, providing an ecosystem of components and standards that can be used as an accelerator. This ecosystem addresses good interface and usability practices, ensuring visual consistency and standard experience across all digital products.
That is, when creating a Carousel component whose objective is to display 3 images, the component accepts as a parameter the alternative texts that will be interpreted by the screen reading software.
Technology is indeed a great ally of accessibility.
*Ricardo Lecheta is CTO at BRQ Digital Solutions . It is also Software architect, author of books by publishing house Novatec and professor of Graduate Studies at Universidade Positivo.
Notice: The opinion presented in this article is the responsibility of its author and not of ABES - Brazilian Association of Software Companies
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