Making digital content accessible for all

For people with accessibility needs:

• AbilityNet ¹⁰ is a UK charity offering free advice and information to ensure that digital information is accessible to all.
• Their My Computer, My Way ¹¹  section has support for learners with vision, hearing, cognitive and motor needs.
• AbilityNet also produce factsheets ¹²  to explain how to make technology easier to use for people with conditions such as dyslexia, dementia or learning difficulties for example.

Accessibility standards for mobile and web resources

The following resources give guidance on how to check whether a website is accessible for people with  disabilities.

• Easy Check ¹³  provides evaluation tools and gives step by step guidance  to assess whether or not a site meets accessibility criteria.

• Web Content Accessibility guidelines (WCAG) ¹⁴  from the World Accessibility Initiative (WAI) have been developed to provide a single shared standard for web content accessibility.
• To check if a website or digital app complies with the WCAG accessibility standards, look in the “About” section or footer where this information is often published.

 Workbook Exercise

Workbook exercise (3.1, 3.2, 3.3)

As we look at resources in the next section, about sources of support to overcome health literacy barriers, consider each of these scenarios and identify information sources or technology tools to support each  person's needs:

1. Michael, a 56 year old man with learning disabilities who has recently been diagnosed with diabetes type 2 and wants to find out more about it.

2. Millie wants to help her elderly mother who has partial paralysis of her hands after a stroke to use an iPAD to access the support and services from Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland.

3. Hamid, a 14 year old boy who is part-time carer for his wheelchair bound mother and is feeling very alone, finding it difficult to cope.