Digital accessibility means making online content (on websites and apps) easy to use for everyone, including people with disabilities. This ensures that all users can understand and interact with digital content without difficulty.
Recently, in the case of Rajive Raturi vs. Union of India (2024), the Supreme Court looked at Rule 15 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Rules, 2017 and found a major problem with it.
The issue was that Rule 15 was written in a way that made accessibility optional, rather than something that must be followed. However, the RPwD Act, 2016, (especially in Sections 40, 44, 45, 46, and 89) clearly states that accessibility for PWDs must be ensured in all aspects of life (including digital services).
Because Rule 15 did not make accessibility a strict requirement, it went against the purpose of the law, which is to provide equal opportunities and access to PWDs. The Supreme Court ruled that this inconsistency weakened the law’s objective and needed to be corrected.
This led to the development of five important accessibility principles that aim to improve the digital experience for all users. Let’s check them out.
1. Perceivable
The first rule of digital accessibility is perceivability. This means that all users, including those with disabilities, must be able to see, hear, or otherwise sense the content.
For example,
- On an online product page, there are only pictures without descriptions. Now, a visually impaired user using a screen reader won’t know what the product is. To make it accessible, the website should include text descriptions (alt text) for images so the screen reader can read them aloud.
- Similarly, if the online marketplace has only product videos, a hearing-impaired user won’t understand them if there are no captions. Adding captions or subtitles ensures they can read the information instead of hearing it.
In this way, by making content perceivable, everyone can access and understand the information, no matter their abilities.
2. Operable
The second rule of digital accessibility is operability. This means that everyone should be able to use and navigate a website or mobile app easily, even if they have physical or cognitive disabilities.
For example,
- By using a bank’s website or mobile app, users can apply for loans or check their EMI details. Now, if the website only works with a mouse, someone with limited hand movement who relies on a keyboard or assistive technology won’t be able to use it. To fix this, the website should allow users to navigate using only a keyboard, with shortcuts like the Tab key to move between links and buttons.
- Similarly, if the bank’s app logs users out too quickly, someone with a cognitive disability who needs extra time to read and understand loan terms might struggle. To be accessible, the app should give users the option to extend time before automatically logging them out.
Thus, by making a website or app operable, all users can interact with its features comfortably and independently.
3. Understandable
The third rule of digital accessibility is understandability. This means that all users should be able to read and understand the contents of a website or app easily.
To achieve this:
- Use simple and clear language so that everyone, including those with reading difficulties, can understand the content.
- Provide easy-to-follow instructions so users know how to complete tasks like filling out forms or making payments.
- Keep the layout and navigation consistent so users don’t get confused when moving between pages.
- Ensure buttons and links behave predictably (meaning they should do what users expect). For example, a “Submit” button should submit a form, not refresh the page.
- Offer helpful error messages if users make mistakes (like entering the wrong password) so they know how to fix the issue.
In this way, by making content understandable, users can interact without confusion.
4. Robustness
The fourth rule of digital accessibility is robustness. This means that a website or app should be compatible with different browsers and assistive tools. Such robustness allows users with disabilities to access it in the way that suits them best, like screen readers or voice commands.
To make a website robust, developers should follow web standards, like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Also, as technology changes, the website should continue to function properly without breaking or becoming unusable over time.
5. Inclusive Design
The fifth and last rule of digital accessibility is inclusive design. This means designing for everyone from the start instead of fixing accessibility issues later.
To create fair and accessible experiences for all users from the beginning, developers should think about different user needs while designing a website or app.
For example:
- Say an NBFC providing loans should include voice assistance and large text options on its mobile app and website. This will help visually impaired users. Additionally, it should support regional languages so customers from different backgrounds can easily understand loan terms.
Also, they should test the design with a diverse group of users to find and fix problems early. This makes sure the website or app is easy to use for everyone and not just for people without disabilities.
Conclusion
Digital accessibility ensures that websites and apps are easy to use for everyone, including people with disabilities. The Supreme Court’s ruling in Rajive Raturi vs. Union of India (2024) highlighted the need for strict accessibility rules. Eventually, it led to the development of five key accessibility principles:
- Perceivable
- Operable
- Understandable
- Robustness
- Inclusive Design
By following these principles, businesses and developers can improve the usability of digital assets, like informational websites or online marketplaces, and ensure they are accessible to all users.