Myth
The digital content needs of people with disabilities and impairments are fundamentally different.
This myth is true.
The use of digital content is heterogeneous among people with disabilities and impairments. Therefore, a generalization of needs and requirements is not helpful (Kiratli & Lerche 2022):
- Blind people use different screen readers and additional Braille displays to access digital content.
- People with visual impairments use magnification software to read the content. Speech output is also used in some cases.
- People with limited motor skills usually use technical aids to simplify control. Examples are one-hand keyboards or head mice.
- People with cognitive or mental impairments use different aids depending on the severity of the impairment. These can range from software to reduce the density of information (hiding graphics) to human assistance. Easy language also facilitates the comprehensibility of the content.
- People with hearing impairments need subtitles, audio description and sign language to understand the audio track of videos, depending on the type of impairment. Audio transcription is also a helpful measure, especially for audio-only files such as podcasts.
Digital content can be prepared in a barrier-sensitive way so that the different requirements are supported (STUDYasU):
- Clearly structure content.
- Use formatting templates
- Use sans-serif fonts, font size 20 pt and 1.5 line spacing
- Ensure high color contrast between font and background
- Name figures clearly
- Provide relevant illustrations with an understandable alternative text
- Take the two-senses principle into account: With the three senses of sight, hearing and touch, at least two senses should be used.
- Provide videos with at least subtitles and audio description.
Visit us in our Student Office for Barriere-Sensitive Service (STUBBS), to talk with us about "Leichte Sprache" and Barriere-Sensitivity.
Talk
In this video, Niels Luithardt talks about the various needs and requirements of people with disabilities and impairments. Niels Luithardt is blind himself and is actively involved in the accessibility of digital content in Schleswig-Holstein. Niels supports STUDYasU as an external expert.
STUBBS offers and support
The Student Office for Barriere-Sensitive Service (STUBBS) offers and supports you with services for the design of digital barrier-sensitive materials. Click the following button to view them.
Helpdesk opening hours
Out of opening hours (GOT 001.1 & digital), the STUBBS is often staffed – please check the door label and come in :-).
Granted by
StudyasU is granted by Stiftung Innovation in der Hochschullehre (Grant Nr. FBM2020-EA-1050) (August 01, 2021 - July 31, 2024)