Electronic Accessibility
The term “e-accessibility” refers to the accessibility of content and services on the Internet. It includes the design and development of these so that they can be used effectively by all people.
That is the extent to which users, regardless of their limitations due to disability, are provided with ways to effectively complete a task in multiple contexts of use, without exclusion.
People with disabilities (such as blindness, deafness, motor disability) or learning disabilities (such as dyslexia) who face difficulties in using a computer and accessing the internet often use assistive technologies that enhance the quality and consistency of computer tasks. These technologies can provide alternative ways of receiving information (e.g. speech-to-text), modified presentation of content (enlarged fonts and colors), or alternative interaction with the computer (mouse control with eye movement, special keyboards, etc.).
However, the use of assistive technology becomes impossible when the design, development and content of the Internet are not offered in such a way that it is compatible and editable by them. An example in relation to the design and development of websites may be that for people with upper limb motor disabilities, using a mouse may be difficult, so a website that provides navigation exclusively with a mouse and not with other methods such as the keyboard, excludes access to them. Another example is the inclusion of images or graphics for which alternative text is not provided. Thus, for a person with blindness who uses text reading software, access to the content is not possible.
Our Service Activities Include:
- Identifying assistive technology needs based on each student’s disability
- Proposing personalized solutions for students with disabilities
- Procuring assistive technologies
- Creating accessible computer workstations
- Collaborating with disability associations, organizations, research centers, and higher education institutions to exchange materials, tools, experiences, and know-how
- Organizing informational seminars and awareness events
- Publishing informational brochures
Legal Framework
There is a comprehensive legislative framework that defines the obligations of the state and universities to provide every possible form of assistance to individuals with disabilities. The requirement for equal treatment is a constitutional mandate.
More specifically:
- The failure to implement electronic accessibility constitutes direct discrimination against people with disabilities—either as beneficiaries or as employees and prospective employees, based on the requirements of Article 10 “Reasonable Adjustments” of Law 3304/2005 (Government Gazette No. 16/Α΄- 27/01/2005).”
- Directive (EU) 2016/2102 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 October 2016 on the accessibility of the websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies
- New Websites published after September 23, 2018 must be accessible from September 23, 2019 onwards.
- Older Websites published before September 23, 2018 must be accessible from September 23, 2020 onwards.
- The accessibility of the content of public websites is a legal obligation in our country: article 5 A (2) of the Constitution, article 9 of Law 4047/2012, article 64 of Law 4488/2017.
- Additionally, Higher Education Institutions have a legal obligation to ensure accessibility for all students with disabilities or learning difficulties and their staff: articles 7.2.c, 8.2.e, 13.2.ld, 34.3, 48.14 of Law 4485/2017.
Standards and International Guidelines for Electronic Accessibility
Access to information has been recognized by the United Nations as a fundamental human right. As previously mentioned, legislation and directives have been developed by the European Union and national legal frameworks. On a technical level, standardized guidelines for the design and development of electronic accessibility have been established based on the principles of Universal Design / Design for All, in order to overcome barriers and technical difficulties and to ensure equal participation of as many people as possible in the Information Society.
The main principles, guidelines, and standards originate from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), which promotes accessibility issues. More specifically, from the WAI (Web Accessibility Initiative) of the W3C. The WAI seeks to find solutions for web accessibility for people with visual, auditory, physical, cognitive, and neurological disabilities.
WAI has developed a series of standards and guidelines aimed at promoting accessibility and establishing technical specifications for electronic services. Some of these include:
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 1.0 and 2.0
- Authoring Tools Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG)
- User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG)
- XML Accessibility Guidelines (XAG)
- Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA)
Electronic accessibility results from the harmonized operation of various types of technologies such as operating systems, device types, browsers, assistive technology, etc. Thus, the above guideline standards concern various thematic areas of technology.
Website Accessibility – WCAG 2.1 Web Accessibility Standard
- Visual impairments
- Hearing impairments
- Motor disabilities
- Cognitive, learning and neurological disabilities
- Speech and language disabilities
- Perceivable – Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive.
- Operable – User interface components and navigation must be operable.
- Understandable – Information and the operation of the user interface must be understandable.
- Robust – Content must be robust enough that it can be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies.
- Accessibility Insights for Web