What is Reasonable Accommodation?
Reasonable accommodation are activities that organizations and individuals can do to ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to and use of their products, services, and facilities as others.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines reasonable accomodation as any modification or adjustment to a job or work environment that would allow a qualified individual with a disability to perform essential duties of the job or participate in the work environment.
The ADA mandates organizations to make reasonable changes to their websites and web-based applications to make them accessible to individuals with disabilities. This involves ensuring that the website or application is compatible with assistive technologies like screen readers and providing alternate content forms like text-to-speech or braille.
The Importance of Reasonable Accommodation in Web Accessibility
Reasonable Accommodation is essential in web accessibility because it ensures that persons with disabilities can access and utilize websites and web-based applications in the same way that others can. This is especially crucial for persons with disabilities who rely on the internet to obtain information, connect with others, and engage in online activities.
Examples of Reasonable Accommodations
Some examples of fair adjustments in online accessibility include:
Including alternative text for images. Including alternative text for images ensures that persons who are blind or have low vision can grasp the content and purpose of an image. People who use screen readers or other assistive technology to browse the web might also benefit from alternative text.
Using color alone to transmit information can be difficult for persons who are colorblind or have low eyesight, as they may not be able to discern between different colors. It is critical to use alternative forms of transmitting information, such as text or symbols, to guarantee that information is accessible to all users.
Keyboard shortcuts can be useful for those with mobility disabilities or who use assistive devices that rely on keyboard input. Organizations and individuals can help to guarantee that their websites and web-based apps are more accessible to these users by providing keyboard shortcuts.
Offering other content formats. Providing alternative content formats, such as text-to-speech or braille, can assist ensure that persons with disabilities can access and utilise the content on a website or web-based application.