In the UK, 1 in 5 people have a disability which affects how they interact digitally
What is Digital Inequality
We are living in the age of connectivity, and that means more things are right at your fingertips. With one press of the button, one swipe left or right, you open up new worlds in seconds.
In the UK, 1 in 5 people have a disability which affects how they interact digitally:
- vision - like severely sight impaired, sight impaired or colour blind people
- hearing - like people who are deaf or hard of hearing
- mobility - like those who find it difficult to use a mouse or keyboard
- thinking and understanding - like people with dyslexia, autism or learning difficultie
In addition there could be other factors which affect ability:
- location - they could be in a noisy cafe, sunny park or area with slow WiFi
- health - they may be tired, recovering from a stroke or have a broken arm
- equipment - they could be on a mobile phone or tablet
- financial situation - they could have limited funds due to not being able to work
- literacy - 1 in 6 adults in the UK have very poor literacy skills
Your online services must be accessible to everyone who needs it, otherwise you may be breaking the law if you don't. Digital inequality is legislated under The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 which requires you to reach the AA Standards of the Website & Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).