Many blind users rely on refreshable braille displays to access/navigate the web.
By going over the web design choices you should implement to support refreshable braille displays, and speaking with an ADA defense attorney, you can protect your website from ADA web accessibility/claims.
What Is A Refreshable Braille Display?
A refreshable braille display is a device that relies on a line of pins to display text in braille.
Just as an example, if a blind user is reading a blog post on your website, then the text from that blog post is converted into braille.
A blind user can place their hand over the pins on the braille display, allowing them to read the blog post that is on your website.
Many blind people choose to use screen readers and other audio-dependent devices. But, some choose to use refreshable braille displays and, for this reason, your website must support refreshable braille displays.
What Web Design Choices Should You Implement To Support Refreshable Braille Displays?
Design Choice 01: Do Not Rely On Visual Presentation
The most significant design choice you must implement, in order to ensure that your website supports refreshable braille displays, is as follows: do not rely on visual presentation.
Rather than relying purely on images, your website can, and should, offer text and audio. By doing so, anyone who wishes to use your website can do so with relative ease.
Just as an example, if a blind user would like to read a blog post, then they can do so, using a refreshable braille display or screen reader.
On the other hand, if you have a blog post that is, in fact, a series of static images with text inside of them, then blind users may not be able to understand the blog post.
Design Choice 02: Offer Captions And Transcripts
Every video must come with captions. And if possible, a transcript should also be developed.
If a blind user watches your video, then these captions can be turned into braille. This allows those who are blind to understand what is being said, and communicated, within a particular video.
The same basic fact applies to transcripts: if a blind user prefers to read the transcript for a video, then they can do so, as a transcript is available to them.
Outside of the above, these decisions also support those who are deaf and visually impaired, along with a wide range of other disabilities.
Design Choice 03: Develop Effective Alternative Text
Just as your videos must come with captions – and, again, if possible, a transcript – every single one of the images must come with alternative text.
“Alternative text” is text that clarifies the core elements of a particular image.
If you have a cartoon image of a rainbow shining down on a pot of gold, then your alternative text could be “A cartoon of a rainbow shining down on a pot of gold.”
By developing alternative text, those who are blind – or visually impaired in other, no less notable, ways – can understand the images your website relies on.
Speak With A New York ADA Web Accessibility Lawyer Today
If you have been hit with an ADA web accessibility claim/lawsuit, it is of the utmost importance that you obtain legal help. Speak with a New York ADA web accessibility lawyer at The Samuel Law Firm today, and we will help you.
