by David Larson, Lainey Feingold
I Introduction
Digital accessibility is about making sure people with disabilities can use and interact with technology. Digital accessibility ensures participation of people who use computers and mobile devices but cannot see a screen, hear a video, hold a mouse, or have other disabilities impacting how technology is used.
The promise of online dispute resolution (ODR) depends on accessibility. Without it, ODR cannot meet the needs of its stakeholders. Why? Because accessibility and ODR have one very important thing in common: they are both about serving the needs of people.
Accessibility allows ODR systems to reach the greatest number of people possible.
Websites, mobile applications, software platforms and other technologies are accessible when developed and designed to internationally recognized accessibility standards. But design and development are not enough. A host of best practices related to business processes, training and more exist to bake accessibility into systems.