WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 18, 2023) — The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) released this week a new study, which finds key barriers to digital inclusion for people who are blind or have low vision remain significantly high and pervasive.
“While the explosion of digital content over the past 15 years has brought so many opportunities to improve the lives of millions of people who are blind or have low vision, it is disheartening that these opportunities continue to be shadowed by the high prevalence of inaccessible online content and lack of accessible functionalities,” said Eric Bridges, AFB President & CEO. “Without a firm commitment from the public and private sectors for digital accessibility, we are going to continue to see the accessibility gap widen across the internet in this post-pandemic world when everything has shifted online.”
The AFB study, which is part of its ongoing work on digital inclusion for people who are blind, have low vision, or are deaf-blind, examined the prevalence of obstacles encountered across a wide range of online services, social networks, and other web and mobile applications. Overall, 21% of participants stated they encountered at least one obstacle to accessibility each day on the web, while 24% experience similar daily issues on mobile applications. At least four out of five participants experience some kind of accessibility barrier on either web or mobile platforms in categories pertaining to online shopping and food delivery, education, job seeking, and travel.
These obstacles prohibited users who are blind or have low vision from being able to perform simple tasks such as accessing information or completing online forms. Because of these barriers, just shy of 80% of participants indicated frustration with the loss of their independence as a result of the obstacles, and 40% chose to take their business elsewhere.
“It’s quite clear that content and application developers in sectors like travel, education, e-commerce, and other vital services have a lot of work ahead of them,” said Stephanie Enyart, AFB Chief Public Policy & Research Officer. “Their failure to create accessible and inclusive content not only dismantles the promise of equal opportunity on the internet that our courts have said is protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act, but it also diminishes the ability by businesses to attract and retain customers, which is just bad business practice.”
The American Foundation for the Blind will take up these barriers to digital inclusion during its annual leadership conference, held April 20th - 21st in Arlington, Virginia. The AFB Leadership Conference convenes policymakers, business leaders, advocates, and the public to discuss the challenges and collaborate on opportunities that exist to create a world of no limits for people who are blind or have low vision. Click here to access the report's executive summary and complete findings.
About the American Foundation for the Blind
Founded in 1921, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is a national nonprofit that creates a world of no limits for people who are blind or have low vision. AFB mobilizes leaders, advances understanding, and champions impactful policies and practices using research and data. In addition to publishing the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, the essential professional resource for information about visual impairment in the field, AFB is also the proud steward of the accessible Helen Keller Archive, honoring the legacy of our most famous ambassador. To learn more, visit www.afb.org.
