What is digital accessibility?

Digital accessibility ensures that everyone can participate on the internet. Even if you have a functional disability.

Imagine...

You wake up on Monday morning and walk to the bathroom on autopilot. You turn on the light. But it doesn't. At least, that's what you think.

Beau's life changed overnight. She suddenly went blind.

"Soon the realisation dawned that it was down to my own eyes. It was as if someone had muted the light."

Beau Hoekstra, project manager at Cardan

Meet Beau!

Beau is an optimist. Based in Amsterdam, she has 13 years of experience in (web) design and development. Beau loves cycling, regularly reads books and has a huge Pinterest addiction.

However, after that one night, these hobbies were no longer so obvious.

Beau, project manager bij Cardan

"My left optic nerve not working means that since that one night, I have been among the 25 per cent of Dutch people with disabilities."

This changed for Beau in her daily life

1. Cycling in Amsterdam

"Having a big blind spot on your left side and not seeing depth as well. This was incredibly exciting (and still is), but what a milestone when it worked!"

2. Her trendy laundry basket

"Because the laundry basket is not closed, I can't gauge the depth properly. As a result, I always miss out. So I already have this even with my first glass of wine, haha!"

3. Reading a real book

"One of those that you can hold onto: Retreating for a while with a good book. Reading a book is too much effort and therefore, unfortunately, no longer relaxation."

4. Her pinterest addiction

"Scrolling for hours. Saving images, designs and recipes in my structured library, wonderful! This too has become more effort than relaxation."

This changed for Beau in terms of work as a designer

1. Giving advice

"Clicking through a website or webshop to give design/technical advice to a client no longer worked for me."

2. Creating wireframes

"Creating wireframes so that before everyone within a project understands your vision."

3. Design and build

"Designing or reviewing website elements for a new website. And then building the website myself I couldn't do either."

4. Analyse code

"Diving into the code of a website together with developers to solve problems."

New opportunities for Beau through digital accessibility

The digital and physical day-to-day work as a web designer and developer is too challenging for Beau. This whole experience has changed her perspective on design. Beau now works with us as a project manager, sharing her knowledge and experience with everyone.

Adjustments on her laptop

With these adjustments on her laptop, Beau can use the internet more easily.

  • Increasing colour contrast.

  • Using screen readers.

  • Zooming in on content.

  • Use enlarged fonts and line spacing.

Getting started with digital accessibility

What is digital accessibility?

By digital accessibility, we mean that websites, apps and other online content are built and designed to be accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities.

This has to do, for example, with the right layout of your website, or with tools such as video subtitling and a read-aloud function.

The aim is to ensure that everyone can access online information and services. Unfortunately, this is still far from being the case: many people encounter daily problems when trying to use online services.

"Websites are user-friendly for me if there is a clear menu bar at the top. Using speech, I can then quickly find the search field."

Iris (18) - almost blind due to an inherited disorder, her retina does not work properly.

Who are you digitally accessible to?

To get a better idea of who you are digitally accessible to, we'd like to share this video with you. What happens when Karin (tunnel vision), Huub (partially sighted and Parksinon) and Marjo (completely blind) try to order a red towel on hema.nl?

HEMA's Digital Accessibility - Ordering towels with a visual impairment

25% of the Dutch population has a functional impairment

This is about 4.5 million Dutch people. Here you can think of:

  • 1.6 million Dutch people with a motor disability

  • 2.5 million people who are low-literate

  • Some 1,1 million Dutch people who are "less gifted" (LVB)

  • 800 thousand people with dyslexia

  • About 700 thousand Dutch people with a colour disorder (colourblind)

  • A half a million Dutch people with a hearing impairment or sight impairment

Read more about

1. Visual impairment

  • Poor vision/blind

  • Colour blind

  • Star

  • Tunnel vision

All about visual impairment

2. Auditory impairment

  • Deaf

  • Hearing impaired

  • Usher's syndrome

All about auditory impairments

3. Cognitive impairment

  • Dyslexia

  • Form of autism

  • Parkinson's

  • "Less gifted"

All about cognitive impairment

4. Motor impairment

There are 1.6 million Dutch people with a motor disability

  • Wheelchair user

  • Temporarily limited by an accident

  • Vibrations in the hands (Parkinson's disease)

All about motor disability

5. Speech disability

Speech impairments can result from impairments to the:

  • Hearing

  • Body

  • Brain

Read all about types of restrictions

The benefits of digital accessibility?

When you take digital accessibility into account, you ensure that everyone has equal opportunities on the internet.

  • You are socially engaged as an organisation

  • You have greater reach

  • It improves the overall user experience.

  • You are more findable (SEO). Google loves digital accessibility!

  • Cost-saving. You avoid repairs!

Wie wij helpen

Government

As a public authority, you want all citizens to be able to use your digital services and to comply with the Digital Government Act. We will help you ensure this.

Cardan for government

Businesses

As a company, you want all your customers to be able to use your (digital) services as well as comply with the European Accessibility Act.

Cardan for companies

Suppliers

Do you create digital services for governments or businesses? Then you will have a lot to do with the WCAG, Digital Government Act and the European Acessibility Act.

Cardan for suppliers

How we help with digital accessibility

Easily choose one of our services.

  • Volledig onderzoek

    Uitgevoerd volgens WCAG-EM, gebaseerd op WCAG 2.2, niveau AA.

  • Deelonderzoek content

    Ideaal als een volledige WCAG audit niet nodig is. Dit zoeken we samen uit.

  • Techniek onderzoek

    Is de content al onderzocht? Kies dan voor een techniek onderzoek.

  • WCAG Quickscan

    Krijg een eerste indruk van de stand van zaken met een kleine steekproef van je website of app.

  • App onderzoek

    Toets jouw app en krijg een rapport voor de toegankelijkheidsverklaring.

  • PDF onderzoek

    Controleer hoe toegankelijk jouw PDF documenten 
zijn opgemaakt.

  • Aanvullend onderzoek

    Perfect voor na een grote update of nieuwe functionaliteiten op je website, app of PDF-document.

  • Help!

    You don't know what choice you have to make? We will help you.

    Get in touch

Getting started with digital accessibility?

Like Carolina, are you ravingly excited by digital accessibility? Or are you just struggling with your hands? Contact us and we will be happy to help you get started.

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Nieuwsbrief
Carolina van Setten