Articles in This Section
How Do All Users Benefit?
All users benefit from accessible content because the content is well-organized, easy to use, and provides clear pathways to information.
All users may experience barriers with poorly organized content including missing key takeaways, having trouble navigating the content or experiencing difficulty finding the information they need.
Here are examples of how all users benefit from accessible content:
- Captions and subtitles are especially handy when someone can’t listen to audio, such as in a shared space like a doctor’s office, at work, or on public transportation.
- Screen readers allow webpages and other content to transform into audiobooks so users can engage with content while driving, viewing a different screen, doing chores, et cetera.
- Audio descriptions on TV shows and movies are particularly handy for times when you may not be able to watch the screen, such as multitasking or being in another room.
- ShareAmerica has an excellent article on things invented by persons with disability that include texting, typing, straws, and audio content.
How Do Content Authors Benefit?
These best practices create efficient workflows and flexible content.
“Accessible content helps you with the following: Reach more users and gain a competitive edge; Be more easily understood by people with a different first language; Accommodate a broader audience; Provide accessibility improvements that help all users; Increase user retention; Reduce eye fatigue.” – SiteImprove
Here are examples of how accessible content benefits content authors:
- Reduces distraction so users focus on what they need to know or do
- Ensures your message is clearly understood
- Saves time and effort by reducing the need for follow-up communication
- Creates flexible documents that meet the needs of all users
- Allows you to automatically generate a “clickable,” interactive table of contents
- Creates an efficient workflow that allows for quick, multipurpose execution
How Do Users with Disability Benefit?
Users with disability benefit from content that is barrier-free.
“Accessibility is addressing barriers to give everyone equal access.” – UTA Student Access and Resource Center
Accessible content creates an environment that is universally accessible, useful, and understandable.