Policy Arm of World’s Largest Computing Association Urges Baseline for Accessibility-Driven Technology Development

The Association for Computing Machinery’s global Technology Policy Council has released “TechBrief: Advancing Accessibility in the Digital World.” It is the latest in a series of TechBriefs —short technical bulletins that present scientifically grounded perspectives on the impact and policy implications of specific technological developments in computing.

“TechBrief: Advancing Accessibility in the Digital World,” co-authored by US and European experts, recognizes access to technology as an essential need for people with disabilities. The new policy document outlines how accessibility has not been sufficiently integrated into the lifecycle of technology development. Inaccessible technology denies people with disabilities equal access to information, services, programs, and activities. Importantly, the ACM experts present several measures to address the problem.

“The World Health Organization estimates that 1.3 billion people,16% of the global population, have a significant disability,” explained Sarah Horton, a UX and accessibility expert currently working at Harvard University and co-lead author of the new ACM TechBrief. “Despite requirements in policies and legislation around the world, there are still widespread barriers to digital accessibility. In the ACM TechBrief, we argue that these barriers are driven by lack of awareness, knowledge, and prioritization among policymakers, organizations, and professionals. This TechBrief emphasizes that an accessible digital world is achievable with the right commitments and actions.”

“Our primary audience for this TechBrief are people in the policymaking space,” added Ari Schlesinger, Assistant Professor, University of Georgia, and co-lead author of the new ACM TechBrief. “We’ve emphasized the idea of a ‘baseline’ because a first step for improved digital accessibility is to harmonize international accessibility standards. Several countries have requirements for digital accessibility, but these frameworks are negatively impacted by inconsistency and ambiguity. For example, in some countries, accessibility legislation applies only to public sector organizations, while in other countries legislation covers both public and private sector organizations. There are also differences in covered technology: some requirements are limited to websites, while others extend to mobile apps, kiosks, and other technologies. Through increased consistency and clarity, policymakers can help us move away from this ad hoc approach to accessibility.”

The new TechBrief also recognizes the importance of education for the next generation of computing professionals. The ACM experts point out that universal standards would improve accessibility education and professionalism. Students from different countries, whether they plan to pursue careers in industry or academia, should be developing the same core competencies.

Key recommendations of “TechBrief: Advancing Accessibility in the Digital World” include:

• Accessibility requirements should be based on international standards, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and EN 301 549.
• Accessibility should be included alongside requirements such as security and privacy as a core quality of computing technologies.
• Accessibility considerations should be fully integrated from design through development and deployment.

ACM’s TechBriefs are designed to complement ACM’s activities in the policy arena and to inform policymakers, the public, and others about the nature and implications of information technologies. Earlier ACM TechBriefs have covered topics such as tech abuse, generative artificial intelligence, climate change, facial recognition, smart cities, quantum simulation, and election auditing. Topics under consideration for future issues include AI in the workforce, blockchain, and more.

In addition to Sarah Horton and Ari Schlessinger, the authors of “TechBrief: Advancing Accessibility in the Digital World” are David Sloan, Shiri Dori-Hacohen, Peter Smith, Mark Greenfield, Sarah Granger, and John Murray.

ACM’s global Technology Policy Council sets the agenda for ACM’s global policy activities and serves as the central convening point for ACM’s interactions with government organizations, the computing community, and the public in all matters of public policy related to computing and information technology. The Council’s members are drawn from ACM’s global membership. It coordinates the activities of ACM’s regional technology policy groups and sets the agenda for global initiatives to address evolving technology policy issues.

ACM, the Association for Computing Machinery, is the world’s largest educational and scientific computing society, uniting educators, researchers, and professionals to inspire dialogue, share resources, and address the field’s challenges. ACM strengthens the computing profession’s collective voice through strong leadership, promotion of the highest standards, and recognition of technical excellence. ACM supports the professional growth of its members by providing opportunities for life-long learning, career development, and professional networking.