As a Michelin-starred meal delights the senses, digital accessibility enhances user experience. Including but not limited to access to screen readers, keyboard navigation, and text alternatives.
Both endeavors share the same goal: to offer an exceptional and fulfilling experience in the world of fine dining or the boundless realm of digital interaction.
Tantalize the senses
With its exquisite presentation, flavors, and textures, a Michelin dinner aims to tantalize. Within digital accessibility, the technology stack strives to enhance user experiences, effectiveness, and satisfaction.
This can only be done by embedding accessibility thinking, starting with a gap-analysis, followed optimizing your processes and activities, and implementing accessibility as early as possible. Helping comply with, e.g., the European Accessibility Act (EAA), the Web Accessibility Directive (WAD), Section 508, and more.
The vital role of technology
Technology plays a vital role in today’s world, and accessibility has become a critical aspect of our digital environment.
It ensures that all individuals, regardless of their abilities, can access and engage seamlessly with digital content independently.
This serves as evidence of the profound influence of accessibility on the enjoyment and engagement of individuals in today’s era.
This is a testament to its heartfelt impact on everyone’s enjoyment and participation in the modern age!
Discovering the key benefits of digital accessibility is like ‘master cheffing’ digital technology.
“Acknowledging the importance of accessibility in the digital age can be compared with highlighting the artistry that goes into an exceptional Michelin dinner.”
Jake Abma
The Recipe
For preparing a Michelin-worthy gastronomic experience, you always need a tried-and-tested recipe to serve an exquisite meal together with an experienced master chef and the finest ingredients.
In that regard, optimizing digital accessibility is comparable to the gastronomic experience.
Our recipe for guidance on accessibility considerations for people with disabilities, the elderly, and other diverse users is ISO 30071-1.
The ISO 30071-1 Code of Practice
ISO 30071-1 Code of Practice for creating accessible ICT products and services, released on 28th May 2019.
Organizations ensure compliance with international accessibility standards, improve the user experience, promote inclusivity, and demonstrate a commitment to accessibility and equal access for all users by adhering to the ISO 30071-1 Standard.
Max Inclusion is pleased to assist you in navigating the complex processes and adapting the culture with a strategic framework build around ISO 30071-1, the digital accessibility standard.
Nine benefits of using ISO 30071-1
ISO 30071-1 is an international process-oriented Standard enabling organizations to embed accessibility considerations into their “business as usual.”
As an organization, you benefit from using ISO 30071-1 in digital accessibility in several ways.
1. Conformance to Standards
Adopting ISO 30071-1 demonstrates a commitment to adhering to a recognized international accessibility standard, which, in return, secures other standards as well.
This is crucial for organizations that operate globally or work with clients and partners who require adherence to specific accessibility standards.
2. Increased Reach and Audience
By making digital content more accessible, organizations cater to a broader audience, including individuals with disabilities.
This leads to increased website traffic, engagement, and potential customers and improved user satisfaction.
Ensuring that all individuals regardless of their abilities can access and engage with digital content seamlessly is vital.
3. Legal Compliance
In the food industry, the HACCP certificate instantly demonstrates the commitment to producing and working with food in a safe manner. Just like with HACCP, in many countries, there are legal requirements for digital accessibility to ensure equal access to information and services for people with disabilities and the elderly.
Implementing ISO 30071-1 helps organizations meet these obligations and reduce the risk of potential legal challenges related to accessibility.
4. Improved Brand Reputation
Embracing digital accessibility showcases an organization’s commitment to inclusivity and social responsibility.
It enhances the organization’s reputation and brand image, attracting more positive attention from customers, investors, and the public.
“Investing in accessibility not only aligns with ethical principles but also contributes to organizational success by reaching a larger customer base and fostering a positive brand reputation, user experience and satisfaction.
5. Enhanced Usability and Satisfaction
Improvements in digital accessibility often benefit all users, not just those with disabilities or the elderly.
By following the ISO 30071-1 guidelines, organizations create digital products and content that are more user-friendly, intuitive, effective, and efficient for everyone.
Ensure individuals with different impairments can interact and understand the content without facing unnecessary barriers or challenges.
6. Cost Savings
Addressing accessibility in the product life cycle as early as possible is more cost-effective than retroactively fixing them later.
ISO 30071-1 provides processes and activities to follow during the complete cycle, preventing costly accessibility-related refactoring where the time on task can be up to 150 Time Units!
Preventing refactoring is particularly interesting for your Return on Investment (ROI).
7. Innovation and Creativity
Meeting accessibility challenges drives innovation and encourages creative problem-solving within the organization.
It leads to developing new features, technologies, or design approaches that benefit both accessibility and overall user experience.
8. Improved SEO and Search Rankings
Search engines favor websites with better accessibility and user experience over those that do not.
Implementing ISO 30071-1 processes and activities positively impacts search engine optimization (SEO), improving the organization’s search rankings and visibility.
9. Inclusivity and Social Impact
By prioritizing digital accessibility, organizations contribute to a more inclusive digital environment, allowing people with disabilities and the elderly to participate more fully in the digital realm and society as a whole.
Organizational Opportunity
Overall, adopting ISO 30071-1 guidelines in digital accessibility can provide organizations with a range of benefits, from increased compliance and audience reach to improved reputation and user experience.
It is an essential step toward creating an inclusive digital presence that serves all users, regardless of their abilities.
At Max Inclusion, we are absolutely dedicated to helping organizations reach their goals using the best framework there is: ISO 30071-1
