There are plenty of tools for users with disabilities built into operating systems themselves. Here are some tips on how to access and use them.
In-person shopping can be difficult and stressful for people with disabilities for many reasons, from tall checkout counters to non-navigable spaces, but meanwhile, Americans with disabilities are more likely to never use the Internet compared to the total population. About 23% of the population with disabilities say that they never go online, and only about two-thirds of people with disabilities ages 18 to 64 actually have a desktop or laptop computer. It seems like the online shopping experience would be a great help, but a lack of accessibility and training has put that online "counter" out of reach, just like the brick-and-mortar ones. For this reason, we've gathered some website accessibility tools for shoppers with disabilities as well as tips, tricks, and methods for talking to Web developers about specific needs. It doesn't need to be a struggle, and you can have a lot of fun searching for bargains online!
The Internet for shoppers with any kind of disability can be a little bit chaotic, with some websites doing an excellent job at being clean and easy to navigate and others having tiny fonts, strange rules, badly optimized images, or poor usability. But many of these problems can be alleviated on the shopper's end - your end! It's just a matter of making sure your computer's settings are working optimally.
There are plenty of tools for users with disabilities built into operating systems themselves. Here are some tips on how to access and use them.
MacOS Accessibility (For Apple Computers):
If you don't have a computer yet, consider a Mac. Apple often gets a lot of praise for its inclusive, free accessibility tools that are built into its operating systems, like the VoiceOver, Dark Mode, Siri, Switch Control, and Text-to-Speech applications.
The Microsoft team works hard at making the industry's best accessibility tools.
Note that you also could be running KDE on Linux. Linux works very differently than the other two main operating systems, though it does have major tools like sticky keys, magnifiers, and screen readers already installed if you use GNOME. Linux is by its nature customizable, so you may need to find specialized open-source programs for it.
Hit the three-bar icon at the top right of the window or choose "Tools" in the menu bar, choose "Options," and then chose "General" in the tabs. There are a handful of accessibility features there.
While some of the best features of this browser are actually extensions, Google has created several tools for better Web accessibility for people with disabilities.
Microsoft's browsers allow you to customize a preferred zoom level and assign fonts and colors.
Safari has quite a few tools in conjunction with Apple's MacOS features.
One of the cooler aspects of browsers is that they're pretty easy to tweak with extensions or add-ons. Check out our list of some of the more noteworthy ones, but also be sure to check out the full list of extensions for people with disabilities in Chrome and add-ons for Firefox.
Get subtitles and closed captions for online videos for multiple platforms at once.
Get a keyboard with bigger keys that's easier to see and use. Other options are available via Nanopac.
This helps typists who are blind judge the distance between keys with a plastic or gel guard.
For amputees with a prosthesis, this digital wristband reads muscle movements to create cursor movements.
For amputees with a prosthesis, this digital wristband reads muscle movements to create cursor movements.
Apple has developed tactile interfaces for their computers and mobile devices.
Here are some other useful tools to check out. Also, for more cool software for users with disabilities, check out our list of educational tools and resources for college students.
SoftwareDragon Speech-to-Text Software
can be very helpful to those with dysgraphia and other forms of learning disabilities.
takes text and turns it into symbols that are easier to communicate for people with certain types of learning disabilities.
Armed with better operating system and browser features, website disability access is a lot easier to get, but it also depends in part on the usability of the site, the site features, and the checkout process. Online shopping for users with disabilities doesn't have to be complicated, but sometimes, bad design can make it just as difficult to shop online as in person. It's been estimated that roughly half of online stores have poor accessibility due to odd ADA loopholes and a lack of understanding of how screen readers work. We have some information on the website accessibility of users with disabilities that's common now as well as ways to improve one's overall experience.
Here are some Web-surfing tips and things to be aware of while you're shopping around or designing a site of your own.
While a lot get it wrong, many websites have built their own disability tools for online shopping. Also, there's the fact that many third-party websites use accessible payment systems for people with visual impairments, like PayPal. Here's a list of some of the more popular online retailers and their features.
Whether you're saving up to go to college, buying cool stuff for your retirement, or just hoping to get nicer clothing online, going on a spending spree is really easy to do online. But stick to your budget! Shoppers with disabilities can use coupons from CouponFollow.com and Cently to help them save a lot of money online.
While websites weren't exactly a factor when the ADA was passed, courts have made fairly consistent decisions that require compliance in the online world. Most websites use, or should aim to use, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 to help reach ADA compliance. This set of rules is cited frequently by the U.S. Department of Justice. These guidelines require the following:
The site needs to be usable with screen readers.
The site's text needs to have a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1.
The site must be navigable using only the keyboard.
The site must be easy to navigate; for instance, the navigation bar should always stay in the same location.
New guidelines are being worked on and added, and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 adds more zoom requirements, key shortcuts, accidental activation requirements, and target size rules, among other things.
Can you really sue for a bad website experience? So far, judges have been fairly consistent that ADA compliance includes Web accessibility, and they've slapped the wrists of several major companies, including Target as well as H&R Block. Making inaccessible online employment listings is taken particularly seriously.
Of course, usually, it's in the company's best interest to make a site easier to navigate and more search-engine-friendly to begin with. Start by communicating with the website itself and keeping everything in writing.
There may be times where you come in contact with a website that has accessibility issues and you'll need to communicate with the web designer or webmaster. Explaining your experience to them sometimes may turn out to be more difficult a task than anticipated.
First, you can browse these notes from the Web Accessibility Imitative about contacting organizations and websites.
We've also gathered some other resources together for you to send below:
All in all, it's important to not only offer problems but quick and easy solutions, most of which are fairly cheap to do on the company's side. Hopefully, you'll have a positive enough experience to not need to get to the point of contacting webmasters.
Take your time, try some new online tools built for users with disabilities, and enjoy shopping online!
