Keep Your Website Accessible to the Hearing Impaired
The hearing impaired have a restricted experience when using the web. Many of the audio tools, resources, and cues we take for granted are inaccessible to people with a hearing disability. Some sites seem well designed, with embedded multimedia content and interactive features, but they often overlook accessibility characteristics for deaf people, transcripts, and visual alerts. Without these, the hearing impaired don’t receive essential information, limiting their ability to engage with content and fully participate in online activities.
Incorporate aspects like subtitles for the deaf and assistive technologies to keep your website accessible to people with hearing disabilities. Whether you operate a business or nonprofit organization, a more user-friendly experience will ultimately bring more eyes and engagement to your brand. Maintain the functionality of accessibility features with a comprehensive audit by WebAccessible.Biz.
What Challenges Does the Hearing Impaired Experience Online?
It’s difficult to understand how restrictive most of the web is for anyone who is hard of hearing unless you also have a hearing disability. Many web pages that appear beautifully designed are constructed in a way that relies heavily on audio dissemination of content and information. Some common restrictive characteristics include:
Inaccessible Audio Content
Audio is a popular method for disseminating content and information. Podcasts, videos, and webinars are used for everything from selling products to entertainment. Products and services may also rely on audio to give instructions, customer reviews, and interviews.
Lack of Subtitles for the Deaf
Many videos lack captions or suitable subtitles for the deaf. Consequently, visitors can only access some of the information presented, limiting the site’s reach and appeal.
Poorly Designed Transcriptions
Some websites have audio/video content with limited or inaccurate transcriptions. Either will cause a poor browsing experience, less engagement, and a shorter reach.
Live Audio Events
Webinars, video conferences, or live-streamed events can be very restrictive to people with hearing disabilities. Real-time sign language interpretation or captioning is necessary to make these events accessible.
Inaccessible Alerts or Notifications
Some websites use sound-based notifications (e.g., beeps or chimes) for alerts, messages, or interactions. Hearing-impaired individuals don’t get the full context if these sounds are not paired with a visual alert.
Inaccessible Video Conferencing Tools
Tools like Zoom, Teams, or Skype may not offer built-in, easy-to-use captioning options or support for interpreters, which can limit participation for those with hearing impairments.
How Can I Make My Site Accessible for Everyone?
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) were established by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) to help developers make the web more inviting to everyone, including those with a hearing disability. WCAG guidelines will help you make your public website compliant with The American Disabilities Act (ADA). ADA compliance offers several benefits, including protection against lawsuits, creating a more enjoyable online experience for all visitors, and strengthening how consumers trust your brand.
Captions and sufficient subtitles for the deaf are necessary to provide accessibility and a good user experience. The WCAG guidelines rate websites based on these features and their accessibility to assistive technologies.
Good captions and subtitles should feature these characteristics to create the best UX for the most people:
Accuracy and Synchronization:
Text should appear as dialogue is spoken to provide a positive and non-confusing experience. Delayed or early cations make the video hard to follow and disrupt the flow.
Inclusion of Non-Speech Sounds:
Sound effects act as cues and convey atmosphere in a visual scene. The noises in the background can be crucial to understanding the content and emotions being expressed. Good captions should include relevant non-verbal sounds to give all viewers a similar experience.
Readable Font and Text Style:
Text and fonts should be easily read. Size and style should be well thought out to ensure fast scan-ability. Contrast with the background is essential to provide visibility. Captions should also be placed on the screen so that they don’t obstruct the action in the video but are still easily read.
Customization Options:
You should allow users to change caption settings, including language, size, color, and more, according to their preferences.
Real-Time Captions for Live Content:
Webinars, video conferencing, or any live streams need real-time captions to be accessible to people with hearing disabilities.
Cross-Platform Functionality:
Captions should work across different platforms and be available for all multimedia content, including embedded videos, podcasts, and webinars. Ensure captions work with screen readers and other assistive technologies.
Support for Sign Language:
Some users prefer sign language over written captions.
By incorporating these features into captions and subtitles, websites can ensure they meet the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing, providing a richer, more inclusive online experience.
Scan Your Site Today
People who are hearing impaired are restricted online, but groups like the WAI are trying to change that. WCAG guidelines have established principles for web design to ensure compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act. Providing high-quality captions and subtitles will allow people with disabilities to access and understand your content. Making your online space open to everyone isn’t only the right thing to do. Providing a better experience for everyone increases the appeal of your brand, ultimately reaching more customers and strengthening your bottom line. Ensure your site is accessible with a comprehensive scan from WebAccessible.Biz.