Accessibility benefits everybody, not only disabled. So, lets create an inclusive world.

        Accessibility is going to benefit each one of us. It is not only benefit people with disability. Let us first understand that what does the word “Accessibility” means? In simple words, accessibility means able to access. According to W3C, accessibility “means that websites, tools, and technologies are designed and developed so that people with disabilities can use them. More specifically, people can: perceive, understand, navigate, interact with the Web and contribute to the Web.”. However, accessibility helps all of us. For example, captions are necessary for the people who are hearing impaired, the same can also benefit for the people who are watching the video in a noisy environment. Similarly, alternative text for the images are important for the people who are visually impaired, but at the same time it will help to the people who are viewing the image with low internet connection. The biggest problem is people don’t consider accessibility as a solution. Ironically, for them it is a barrier and adding a extra cost.

Therefore, to achieve inclusivity for the people with disability, we have to talk accessibility in the positive way. Lets discuss what measures we can take in order to make the accessible and inclusive world for all of us.

·        Consider Accessibility in the beginning, not at the end: Keep accessibility in your mind while designing your product. Research a bit that what all things are required in order to make your product accessible for everyone. It is difficult to alter the changes when your product is ready. It is same as adding the ramps, when your 10 floor building is ready. It is same as changing the structure of your website, when your website is ready. So, it is necessary to consider accessibility when you start designing your product.

·        Accessibility should be the part of the course curriculum: Our students are our future. Accessibility should be taught in school and colleges. At least, it should be mandatory course for the IT students. Our IT students of today, will be the IT professionals or IT engineers of tomorrow. So, every IT professionals should know how to implement accessibility. They must be aware about ARIA and WCAG guidelines. If our students learn accessibility, then they can implement the same where ever they will go

·        Accessibility awareness: Accessibility is the part of inclusion. The most important thing is that people are not aware about accessibility. Whenever I talk about accessibility, people take the same in a different context. It is difficult to explain that how people with disability works, what are the assistive technologies, etc. Accessibility is completely new term for most of the people. The first step toward change is awareness.

·        Inclusive work environment: Everyone should get equal opportunity irrespective of their ability or circumstances. Companies who doesn’t hire deserving candidate having disability, they are losing the good talent. Some companies do hire just to fulfil CSR requirement, but there work environment is not inclusive at all. Some companies work for accessibility, but their own infrastructure and websites are not accessible at all.

·        Inclusive classrooms: Lots of children are deprived from the education. The reason being, normal school doesn’t give admission to the children having disability. Luckily, if they get admission, then they have to face discrimination everyday. Study materials should be presented in the manner which is accessible for all. Every student should get opportunity to participate in sports and  extra curricular activities.

·        Strong Laws: Last but not the least, laws should be strong regarding to accessibility and inclusion. It is good that countries like USA and Canada are having strong laws. The country India, from which I belong, have laws but are not strong enough. Accessibility and inclusion are rights for person with disability, it is not something which is given in charity. Therefore, strict laws are necessary to enforce accessibility and inclusion in the society. However, I personally believe that things which are done forcefully, are not of quality. Quality comes from the heart not from force.

 would like to end up here with the quote, “everybody is different, we should accept differences, and we should celebrate differences”.