Designing an inclusive world through accessibility

We use websites on a daily basis. In today’s society, they have become an essential source of information that supports our everyday lives.

For example, imagine planning a trip.

From searching for transportation to your destination to booking hotels and completing payments, everything can be done seamlessly on a smartphone or computer. Beyond private services, public procedures—such as registering for a personal identification system, submitting government applications, or obtaining official documents—are increasingly conducted online.

In times of disaster, such as earthquakes, people rely on social media to gather information, search for safe evacuation routes, and use chat tools to check on the safety of loved ones. If web accessibility is not adequately considered, it can lead not only to inconvenience but also to serious disadvantages in everyday life.

To prevent such situations, we are now in an era where designing websites with accessibility in mind is essential from the outset. At the same time, growing awareness of diversity—including LGBTQ communities and developmental differences, which were once often regarded as minority perspectives—is driving a shift toward a more inclusive and compassionate society for all.

Let us look at examples from overseas that highlight the growing importance of accessibility.

In many countries, there has been a rise in cases where customers, frustrated by the lack of accessibility in services, take legal action against companies. One notable example involves a visually impaired individual who filed a lawsuit against a major pizza chain. Due to the poor usability of its website and mobile app, he was unable to place orders or use coupons, which ultimately led to litigation. Similarly, a class-action lawsuit was filed against a large e-commerce platform for failing to adequately address accessibility concerns.

Even for services we use in our daily lives, poor usability can lead to significant criticism. When such issues escalate into legal disputes, companies not only face reputational damage but also incur substantial costs related to litigation and customer support. In a world where convenience is often taken for granted, it becomes clear that users have very little tolerance for inconvenience.

In the United States, a large-scale global conference focused on people with disabilities and the technologies they use in everyday life is held every March: CSUN (California State University, Northridge). The event brings together web service developers and software vendors, reflecting the growing global attention to accessibility.

The official name of this conference is the “CSUN Assistive Technology Conference.” “Assistive Technology” refers to tools and software designed to support individuals with disabilities in various situations—such as difficulties with vision, input, or operation—helping them navigate and interact with digital environments more effectively.

Understanding Information Accessibility

So, what can we—those who design and develop websites on a daily basis—do in response?

To explore this, let us consider the concept of information accessibility, which encompasses web accessibility. Information accessibility is the principle that information resources, such as websites, should be usable by everyone without difficulty. In Japan, it is positioned as a fundamental policy under the Basic Act for Persons with Disabilities. To “consider information accessibility” is, in essence, to pursue a barrier-free approach to accessing information.

While it may not always be visible in our daily lives, there are already many ICT devices and services designed with information accessibility in mind. Examples include communication applications for people with hearing impairments, as well as services that connect sign language users with voice-based users.

As such products and services become more commonplace, they contribute to building a society where individuality and personal identity are respected—regardless of whether one has a disability or not.

What Can We Do in Web Production?

So, what should we actually consider in the production process?

When addressing web accessibility, there are three key standards that serve as guidelines: WCAG, JIS X 8341-3, and ISO/IEC 4050. WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is an international set of guidelines established by an organization that defines standards for the internet worldwide. JIS X 8341-3 is the Japanese national standard for web accessibility, while ISO/IEC 40500 is the international standard aligned with JIS X 8341-3.

Although these frameworks can seem complex at first glance, it is helpful to understand that their core concepts are closely aligned. In the following sections, we will introduce concrete examples of designs that meet these standards—that is, designs that effectively incorporate accessibility considerations.

When images fail to load, alternative text can be displayed in their place. In addition, for users with visual impairments, screen readers can read aloud these descriptions, allowing them to understand the content of the images.

When users with visual impairments or those who find text difficult to read rely on screen readers, inserting spaces or tabs within words can disrupt proper pronunciation and comprehension. To ensure accurate access to information, appropriate handling of text formatting is essential.

For users with low vision or color vision deficiencies, text can be difficult to read when the color of the text and background are too similar. By increasing contrast, differences in brightness and tone make it easier to distinguish information visually.

These examples represent only a portion of the guidelines, but by being mindful of such success criteria, we can create websites that are more accessible and easier to use for a wider range of users.

Understanding accessibility extends beyond web production—it invites us to envision a future society that respects diversity in all its forms. Just as we consider whether a pathway is wide enough for someone using a wheelchair, we can also ask whether a color scheme is easy to read for individuals with color vision deficiencies. By approaching design from these perspectives, it becomes easier to make thoughtful and inclusive choices.

We hope this article serves as a starting point for thinking about accessibility in a more familiar and practical way.