Esg companies ignore digital accessibility

[muskanhossain]

It is very likely that you have or know people with some type of disability, be it visual, motor, auditory, cognitive, intellectual or multiple. There are different types of disability, namely:

It makes it difficult for a person to carry out certain activities ( activity limitation );
Interact with the world around you ( participation restrictions ).
When we talk about accessibility, we need to understand that it is not a good action, in fact, it is an OBLIGATION in the digital environment . It is Law No. 13,146 of July 6, 2015:

" Art. 63. Accessibility is mandatory on websites maintained by companies with headquarters or commercial representation in the country, or by government agencies, for use by people with disabilities, guaranteeing them access to available information, in accordance with best practices and accessibility guidelines adopted internationally."


There are currently many companies paying attention to ESG, which stands for Environment, Social and Governance, that is: environment, social care and corporate governance/transparency. Whether due to the need to report to investment funds or to the positioning of consumers.

It turns out that not all of them do anything beyond norway whatsapp data institutional disclosure. Here we will address the opportunity of Digital Accessibility. The next time you come across institutional communication with the ESG banner, visit the company's website and check if there is any ease of access on the website.



Is the Digital World a Land of Opportunity and Knowledge?
Remember, digital is the source of knowledge and immediate information in a world without geographical barriers, fast connections and communication resources never seen before. Does this apply to everyone? Think before you proceed.

Did you know that ¼ of the Brazilian population has some type of disability and we are talking about 45,000,000 (45 million) people?


They are generally independent people with their own lives, needs, who consume and try to do the best they can with the resources and time available, that is, just like the rest of us.

Yes, there are initiatives and good will, but the level of knowledge applied to the reality of people with disabilities is still low. Less than 1% of websites are accessible.
In Brazil, we have 35 million people with visual impairment, 6.5 million of whom have low vision or blindness .
Remember that many limitations can be overcome by applying an inclusive vision to the digital world. This has a liberating effect on autonomy and self-esteem.

It is recommended that the W3C /WCAG 2.1 guidelines be applied to all platforms and content and information distribution points, including websites, apps, videos, stories, social media posts, podcasts and anything else that can be shared.


ESG. Visually impaired person using laptop

Visually impaired person using a laptop with the aid of headphones to listen to content and images on a website. (Image generated via AI.)



Advantages of Digital Accessibility
It is everyone's right;
It's good for image;
Expands the market since accessible websites are still few;
It's not complicated, but it requires attention and commitment;
You communicate and have a daily purpose;

Before You Begin
If you're working on developing a new website, prioritize accessibility early on.

Invest in team training and learn about accessibility guidelines and laws. Talk to the marketing team about including people with disabilities in personas and content strategies.

Embrace digital accessibility, hire people with disabilities : they will be your best feedback on the quality of the work performed.

Check out this exclusive content for the 9 Strategies for Success in Digital Presence and apply the approaches discussed here to each of them.
Learn more about the importance of Branding and the value of brands for companies and consumers. Read this exclusive content:

Branding and Strategic Brand Management .
Branding: Brands, Attraction and Engagement .

How to start?
The inclusion of an avatar in sign language would already be a leap forward in quality and digital accessibility. Hand Talk is an excellent option.

The Federal Government also provides a set of free, open-source tools that translate text, video and audio content from Portuguese into Libras.



Screenshot. Marketing Ways website displaying accessibility avatar in libras.



It allows devices such as cell phones, computers, tablets, notebooks and web platforms to be more accessible for deaf people.

If you can't afford to include an avatar, at least share the information on your website. Be a facilitator . Talk to your Dev.


NEVER use reference expressions such as disabled, people with special needs, people with disabilities… the correct term is person with disability.


Simplification and objectivity make all the difference. Avoid very long sentences or paragraphs , remember that the content will be translated or spoken and generally the listening speed is quite fast for users.

Use direct order, common words, avoid figures of speech, as the user may not know what it is about.

Hyperlinks must be applied to relevant content, do not use neutral language on the web , this is harmful to translation and you would be harming millions of people who depend on the use of content reading software.

The use of images should represent informative content , unlike illustrative images with no direct function. They should be ignored by assistive technology resources. Pay attention to what really matters.