Library Subject Guides
What good is creating all that lovely digital content of yours if not everyone can access it?
Accessibility is about making things so they can be used by as many people as possible. This might include digital devices and applications, physical spaces, events, documents and files, and all sorts of other things. In this guide, we particularly focus on digital accessibility, which involves areas like integrating accessibility into designing digital content like websites, resources, documents, and applications and using accessibility features with digital devices to get the most out of that technology.
Essentially, digital accessibility is making sure digital tools, processes and platforms are accessible as possible to people with different needs. There are features and tools to help you make your digital work more accessible, which we'll highlight in this guide, but flexibility in your approach is important.
For example, there is no single "right" file type that will be equally accessible to everyone, as the access needs of different users will vary and can sometimes be in opposition. In some instances, the way to best meet accessibility needs of different users may be to supply information in different formats, so try not to get too fixed on a single way of presenting your work. But digital accessibility isn't just about settings and file formats. It is using universal design principles - whether in a document, a presentation, a website or a service - to think about a clear design that will work for a wide range of users, including those with disabilities. Principles in creating accessible digital materials hold true across different kinds of formats, so getting into good habits can help you improve the accessibility of all your work, whatever the format.
The bottom line is that the more accessible you make your output, the more people can engage with it - and who wouldn't want that?
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