Before digging deeper, let’s establish what we mean by an “interactive” chart. With interactive charts, users can change the chart’s appearance via different controls. For example, a page used for tracking site traffic—where changing the date range alters the view—is an interactive chart. However, a page that displays student grades that a user cannot manipulate is a static chart.

Below are some best practices for making your interactive charts accessible and ensuring all users, including those with disabilities, can interact with and understand the information.

Choose chart libraries with built-in accessibility features

Accessible chart libraries are typically designed to support the needs of people with disabilities by default, and they approach accessibility with an emphasis on customization and keyboard operability. For example, Highcharts, Recharts, and Google Charts all allow for customization and accessibility support.

Ensure seamless keyboard navigation of interactive elements

To customize data visualization, interactive charts rely on interactive elements such as buttons, sliders, and data points that describe data at a given point using tooltips. These interactive elements must be operable and focusable using the keyboard alone. It is also essential to have a clear, visible focus indicator for these interactive elements so that keyboard-only users know where their focus is placed and can follow the tab order.

Tab order refers to the sequence in which elements on a webpage, form, or software interface are selected when navigating using the tab key. Tab order helps users, especially those using keyboards or assistive technologies, move through interactive elements in a logical and intuitive order. For example, in the image above, we can see the numbering elements that depict how the focus should move for keyboard-only users.

Enhance screen reader compatibility

Any information that a visually sighted user can get from a chart must include text alternatives that describe the relationships between different data points and any other information that a sighted user receives. All the interactive elements need names to let screen reader users know what the elements are and what they do. You should always prioritize using native HTML elements. However, if you use custom elements, you can use ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) to provide roles, properties, and states to describe the chart structure, interactive elements, and data to screen readers.

You should also make sure each interactive element and image includes the following to allow screen readers to understand the presented data:

• Descriptive titles and labels for all chart elements
• Summaries or descriptions of the chart’s purpose and main insights
• Accessible tooltips and data values that are navigable via keyboard and readable by screen readers

Address color contrast and use of color alone to convey information

Colorblind users may not be able to understand the intent of the data in your chart if the patterns only use colors. So, you need to be aware of contrast ratios between foreground and background colors. 3:1 is the minimum contrast ratio, but 4.5:1 will provide even greater usability. When presenting text against a background, WCAG guidelines require 4.5:1.

You can also use different patterns to show data instead of relying on colors as the sole method. For example, interactive charts with data labels can deliver a clear understanding to all users about what each bar in a graph represents. If that’s not possible, you should at least provide a text alternative for each part of the graph so that colorblind or low-vision users can still have the same “aha” moment as other users.

Conclusion

By following these best practices, you can ensure that your interactive charts are accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. Start evaluating your charts for accessibility today, and remember that inclusivity is essential for effective data communication.

If you’d like support for remediating charts and making them accessible to all your users, please contact Deque today!

The post How to make interactive charts accessible appeared first on Deque.

In my short video below, I talk about some of these stories, highlighting those that particularly struck me, exploring their significance, and explaining why I recommend that you check them out.

Do you have a story you think we should read? Please share it on social and make sure to tag us! You can also leave a comment on this post.

Featured articles

With the presidential election cycle in full swing here in the US, it was recently revealed that the US Department of Transportation has been investing billions of dollars into accessibility-related efforts. As reported in USA Today by Zach Wichter, the efforts are paying off.

Also on the political theme, a recent article from The 19th showcases How the DNC is prioritizing accessibility for all at this year’s convention.

Those are just two of the election-related stories you can delve into this week. I will talk about more of them in the video, and you can find links below as well.

On the global stage, the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics are now complete, but the messages of empowerment and achievement are still very much with us all. This is due in part to the success of Apple’s “The Relay” video, which has already notched more than 20 millions views on YouTube alone. Combining stirring music, powerful imagery, and a hypnotically repeating “all you children gather ‘round” mantra, it’s an inspiring reminder that athletes everywhere “train the same way, practice the same way, sweat the same way.”

Below, I’ve gathered some additional links to compelling stories that I think are well worth exploring:

“Calm on set”: How Venice title ‘My Everything’ has helped to pioneer accessibility practices on set.
“I couldn’t believe the job I was doing didn’t exist already,” says Margault Algudo-Brzostek, France’s first ‘accessibility coordination manager’, on Venice premiere My Everything and French summer hit A Little Something Extra, which both star several actors with disabilities.

Big Ocean breaks barriers as the first K-pop group whose members are hard of hearing
The three South Korean musicians use hearing aids and cochlear implants and mix sign language with dance moves, reaching out to deaf and hard of hearing K-pop fans around the world.

A visionary approach: How a team developed accessible maps for colorblind scientists
Researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory recently published a paper in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society detailing their work to create CVD-friendly colormaps that highlight important characteristics of clouds and precipitation.

More Than 1 in 4 Americans Over 50 Are Now Caregivers
More than 1 in 4 Americans 50 or older are now caregivers, looking after at least one family member or friend who has a health problem or disability, a new poll has found.

CBC research finds that kids like all kinds of captions
Canada’s public broadcaster and McMaster University’s CanChild research center recently teamed up to study optimizing captions for kids with disabilities. And they have found that while comprehension doesn’t change much depending on the style, children do have their favorites.

This week’s recommended read

If you read just one article this week, I recommend this one, as the findings are pretty remarkable:

The Cost of Inaccessibility: Businesses Lose More Than $6.9 Billion Annually
If you think it is costly to design accessible and inclusive websites, just think about how much inaccessibility will cost your business. Web accessibility is not only an ethical choice. It is a smart business move that doesn’t require excessive time or resources.

Statista reveals that about 13.5% of the U.S. population has a disability. This represents a huge untapped market if your digital properties are not accessible. Pure play ecommerce retailers are estimated to lose over $6.9 billion in annual revenue for non-compliance to accessibility standards.

Bonus content!

And here’s a bonus for you! Go check out Simon Eyles’ new inclusive stock photography library Disinfluencer. It’s a brilliant and brand-new inclusive stock photography library of wonderful images of people with disabilities. As a social enterprise, it’s genuinely supporting true, authentic inclusivity.

Conclusion

Thank you for joining me for Accessibility Reads, and please stay tuned for our next edition. In the meantime, please visit deque.com to learn more about how we’re advancing digital accessibility and inclusion across the globe.

Is your business ready to take your digital accessibility efforts to the next level? Schedule a free strategic consulting session today!

The post Accessibility reads: Friday, September 13 appeared first on Deque.

Sign up for a 14-day free trial to try out the new features now, or register for our webinar to learn more.

Jira integration: Instantly add accessibility issues to Jira

Your development teams and accessibility program managers need to track issues directly in systems like Jira, but manual data transfer adds unnecessary work, slows remediation, and disrupts ticket standardization.

The new Jira integration allows your teams to instantly send accessibility issues directly from the axe DevTools Extension to Jira. This integration keeps accessibility issues in sync with other development tasks, reducing manual work, helping to track progress, and speeding up remediation.

This is just the beginning—we have additional integrations planned to enhance collaboration between your development and accessibility teams further, driving productivity and smoother workflows.

Request Early Access to the new Jira integration

Auto replay: Turn your Intelligent Guided Tests into automated  workflows

Creating accessible software can be complex and time-consuming. That’s why the axe DevTools Extension was developed to provide 80% or more of accessibility testing coverage with automated testing and semi-automated Intelligent Guided Tests (IGTs).

When you run an IGT for the first time, we streamline the manual testing process by asking simple questions about your application and completing complex accessibility checks. This helps your dev teams catch accessibility issues early. However, configuring the IGT does take time. Now, we’re introducing even more automation to make iterations fast and easy.

Auto replay transforms your semi-automated IGT into a fully automated workflow, boosting efficiency and saving you time as you iterate—testing and retesting your webpage for accessibility issues until they’re fixed.

Once you’ve completed an IGT, auto replay automatically retests the page or partial page, applies your initial answers, and detects any changes—allowing the test to run faster while only asking additional questions if follow-up information is needed. The IGT will then provide updated test results based on the latest version of your webpage.

Watch a video of auto replay in action:

Keyboard trap detection: Automatically identify and eliminate blockers on your webpages

Keyboard traps prevent users who navigate with a keyboard from accessing and interacting with webpages. When users become “trapped” while navigating with the tab key, they are prevented from moving forward or backward in the interface. From an accessibility perspective, keyboard traps are critical blockers that must be urgently addressed.

Until now, catching keyboard traps required costly and time-consuming manual testing by an accessibility expert. If issues made it to production, the impact was even more significant—not only frustrating users who couldn’t complete their tasks but also leading to higher remediation costs, potentially even requiring code rollbacks.

Coming next week, Deque will make keyboard trap detection available in the keyboard IGT. Your dev teams will be able to easily identify and remove keyboard traps, such as getting stuck in a search form field or creating tab indents instead of navigating out of a text field. This semi-automated workflow will enable your teams to fix these critical issues without needing accessibility experts, lowering costs and boosting productivity.

Deque continues to innovate in the field of web accessibility, making it easier for dev teams to create inclusive and accessible digital experiences. With the introduction of our Jira integration, auto replay, and automated keyboard trap detection, your teams can become more efficient and reduce their reliance on manual testing.

Try these new features today with a 14-day free trial and take a step toward making the web more accessible for everyone.

The post Deque introduces three new features to advance accessibility test automation appeared first on Deque.

All of us at Deque are so honored to be a part of this mission, and we are incredibly excited to announce that the fifth annual axe-con conference will return next year on February 25-27, 2025!

Axe-con is the world’s largest digital accessibility conference. Last year, over 30,000 people registered to attend, representing more than 12,000 organizations. We hosted over 75 expert presenters, and today, we’re elated to announce our first 2025 keynote speaker, Alice Wong!

Alice Wong is a disabled activist, writer, editor, and community organizer. She is the founder and director of the Disability Visibility Project, an online community dedicated to creating, sharing, and amplifying disability media and culture. Alice’s activism has been celebrated by Time Magazine and Marie Claire, and her 2022 memoir was one of USA Today’s “Must-Read” books. Alice is the recipient of multiple awards, was named a Disability Futures fellow by the Ford Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and was appointed by President Barack Obama to be a member of the National Council on Disability.

Needless to say, we can’t wait to have Alice at axe-con 2025! And please stay tuned for more exciting announcements.

In 2025, Deque will continue to host our conference as a free and virtual event, and we welcome developers, designers, business users, and accessibility professionals of all experience levels to join us for a unique conference experience focused on building, testing, and maintaining accessible digital experiences.

Past events have featured an extraordinary gathering of speakers, with last year’s guests including Rumman Chowdhury, responsible AI fellow, Harvard University, cofounder and CEO of the nonprofit Human Intelligence; Jonah Berger, international bestselling author, Wharton School marketing professor; and Shane and Hannah Burcaw a.k.a. Squirmy and Grubs, interabled YouTube couple and disability rights advocates.

When experts and advocates like these join the global Deque community for axe-con, something truly magical happens:

“The way the community comes together is truly a force to be reckoned with. We’re humbled to have such incredible digital accessibility activists and change agents join us from around the globe to share and connect with one another. Advances in technology and the expansion of compliance requirements in WCAG 2.2, and the European Accessibility Act, have finally put digital accessibility on the main stage.”
—Preety Kumar, Founder and CEO at Deque Systems.

According to a survey taken by Deque following axe-con 2024, 99.6% of attendees said they would join again for 2025, and 96% said they would recommend axe-con to a colleague. For this year’s event, we’ve got even more in store, including the axe Awards! These will be awarded to individuals and organizations who have achieved incredible results in the digital accessibility field. We’ll also be coordinating “watch parties” for folks around the globe who want to assemble together to participate.

Axe-con covers a lot of ground. Past sessions have touched on everything from Responsible and Ethical AI to Driving Accessibility Transformation Through Policy. But axe-con is about more than just technology or policy. It’s about people. It’s about every single one of you who is working to advance this cause, drive this mission forward, and change the world.

Please join us for axe-con 2025, and let’s make history! Learn more and register today.

One last reminder: axe-con is community-powered, and representation matters. Everyone is welcome to submit an application to present at axe-con 2025. If you’re interested in sharing your passion, advocacy, and expertise, submit today.

The post Clear your calendars for a digital accessibility extravaganza. Axe-con 2025 is coming! appeared first on Deque.

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) becomes national law in all 27 European Union (EU) member states on June 28, 2025. If you do business in the EU and you don’t have a sustainable digital accessibility program in place by the deadline, you risk enormous fines, service suspensions, and further legal action. If you’re not 100% certain whether or how the EAA applies to your business, don’t wait. The stakes are too high. Get expert guidance, put a plan in place, and make the deadline. Because you’re ultimately choosing between investing a reasonable amount to get compliant now or paying an enormous amount later because you delayed.

That’s not going to be my whole post, however, because I don’t want to just scare you. Instead, I want to help you. And the good news is, Deque can help. But before we get into how, let’s take a step back and try to fully understand the situation.

If you’re currently doing business in any European Union countries and utilizing any digital channels or materials, you’ve almost certainly heard about the European Accessibility Act (EAA). You’re also hopefully aware of the first compliance deadline, which is June 28, 2025. It’s a real milestone, as this legislation will become national law in all 27 EU member states.

While the deadline may be clear, however, what exactly will be required of your business may be harder to understand. If that’s the case for you, that’s ok. You’re not alone.

As with any new laws and regulations, there are inevitably ambiguities, misinterpretations, and gray areas. That’s certainly been the case with many digital accessibility laws and regulations established in recent years.

It’s also very common for organizations to wait until close to the deadline before taking action. Sometimes that’s intentional. A business may want to see if any of those gray areas are resolved before they commit to a plan. It may also just be a natural resistance to change or the result of slow-moving internal processes.

With the EAA, one of the most significant areas where businesses desperately need additional clarity is understanding the impact if they are not based in the EU but do business there.

For example, I’ve been talking with many North American organizations that have been practicing accessibility for some time and are already in compliance with legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). What these organizations are currently trying to determine is how to effectively bridge the gaps between what they’re doing for North America and what they’ll need to do for the EU, particularly for content that is utilized in both regions. Fortunately, Deque has already done a lot of work to simplify this mapping for our customers.

However, there is another pressing issue that needs to be addressed!

In many cases, I’m hearing from organizations that they consider themselves out-of-scope for EAA based on initial guidance they’ve received from their legal teams. In other words, they’re operating under the assumption that EAA does not apply to them. However, as I take an in-depth look into these situations, what I’m seeing is that they clearly are in scope—their legal guidance was either incomplete or inaccurate.

This is concerning. Mistakenly ruling your business out of scope for EAA could lead to serious legal and financial consequences, not to mention operational chaos, as teams are left with an insufficient ramp to build the processes needed to meet conformance.

Deque is actively working in partnership with legal teams in the EU and the US to help clarify scope expectations so we can communicate them to our customers. We’re also sharing insights through public channels. For example, in June of 2024, Deque presented an EAA-focused webinar featuring Otto Sleeking, a technology and data lawyer with the international law firm Taylor Wessing. We addressed many of the most pressing questions about the EAA during the webinar. We also followed up by publishing additional responses to many of the most common questions that emerged during the Q&A. You can register to view this free webinar on demand, and you can read our European Accessibility Act (EAA): Top 20 Key Questions Answered post to get even more expert guidance.

One of the most frequently asked questions has to do with exceptions and exemptions to the EAA. At this time, we have concretely determined that microenterprises (defined as small businesses with fewer than 10 employees and/or less than €2 Million annual turnover or annual balance sheet total that provide services) are exempt. Other than that, we don’t believe there are any clear-cut cases that exist, and the exception list is very small.

There is, however, the “disproportionate burden” clause. This clause does provide an avenue of limitations for reasons of proportionality. For example, if the cost of compliance is determined to be too high, an exception could be granted. However, evidence of burden would have to be clearly documented and demonstrated, which is likely not an easy assessment to complete.  Even with the assessment completed, the organization would still need to depend on the relevant national authorities to follow up with any investigations and make a final determination. If the national authorities are not notified in advance of this situation or they judge the disproportionate burden differently, fines and other penalties could apply.

To understand what this could mean in actual practice, you have to remember that if you’re doing business in the EU and you’re not EAA-compliant, each country can separately fine you for digital inaccessibility. In other words, you could be paying fines per country! In Croatia, we’ve seen estimates that suggest fines will be comparatively low, ranging from €2,000 to €50,000. Whereas in France and Germany, we’ve been informed that penalties could reach as high as €250,000 and €500,000, respectively. And it’s not just the fines. In countries such as Austria, Belgium, and Hungary, it appears that non-compliance could lead to potential service suspensions. Some countries even define jail time. These are all still estimates, of course, and we’ll continue to adjust as we learn more. But what does seem clear is that fines are likely to be substantial.

With the stakes being this high, you simply can’t afford to be wrong about how EAA applies to your business. When in doubt, choose compliance.

One thing that is sure: whether your organization resides within the European Union or in North America—or anywhere else in the world!—June 28, 2025, is the date when all newly marketed products and services covered by the EAA must be accessible prior to launch. Which means you’ll need a sustainable digital accessibility program in place by this deadline. And while existing code and content do not need to be remediated until afterward, you will need to be able to generate clean content and code as of June 29, 2025, and prove its conformance.

Your business will need to:

1. Understand EAA applicability. To what extent do you have risk?
2. Understand the current state and capabilities of your existing digital accessibility program.
3. Have a strategic plan to scale rapidly.
4. Have a process in place to ensure consistently clean content and code.
5. Start planning for remediation assessments and workflows.

I know this is a lot to take in. But the deadline is real, the consequences for missing it are serious, and the clock is ticking.

Fortunately, you have a partner in Deque. We have the expertise, and we can support you in creating a concrete, scalable plan.

Ultimately, it’s a choice between acting now (and investing a reasonable amount of budget to be ready by the deadline) or delaying and paying a much heavier price later.

The choice is clear. Contact Deque today to build your roadmap to EAA compliance.

The post When it comes to EAA compliance, to delay is to pay appeared first on Deque.

These are also the factors that influence which banking institutions people with disabilities choose to do business with. With over 2.7 crore people with disabilities in India, the need for digital accessibility in banking is both a legal requirement and a moral imperative. This article will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of why digital accessibility in the Indian banking sector is crucial and will include key statistics and an overview of current laws and regulations to help you recognize the significant benefits of implementing inclusive practices.

Why digital accessibility matters

Approximately 2.7 crore people living in India have a disability. This is a significant portion of the population that banks cannot afford to overlook. Making banking services accessible not only helps people with disabilities but also opens up a potential market worth $8 trillion globally, as highlighted by the Global Economics of Disability Report.

Key statistics

A survey by the Click-Away Pound Report found that 71% of customers with disabilities will leave a website that is not accessible. This means banks are potentially losing a substantial number of customers simply because their digital services are not user-friendly. These customers don’t stop banking; they go to another bank that is accessible.

These numbers underscore the everyday challenges millions of people in India face when accessing digital banking services. Barriers such as poor website navigation, non-compatible mobile apps, and inaccessible ATM interfaces create significant obstacles for those with disabilities. These issues need to be addressed urgently to foster a more inclusive society. By prioritizing digital accessibility, banks can ensure that all individuals can navigate their financial lives confidently and easily, regardless of their abilities. Additionally, improving accessibility opens up significant market opportunities by attracting a broader customer base—including people with disabilities—and helps banks avoid legal risks associated with non-compliance to accessibility regulations. 

Regulatory framework and guidelines

India has laws and guidelines to promote digital accessibility in banking. To avoid legal issues, banks must understand and follow these regulations. Compliance with these laws ensures banks meet their obligations and build customer trust. Expert consulting can help banks navigate these regulations effectively, ensuring full compliance and improving their digital accessibility efforts.

• Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act): This law mandates accessibility standards across various sectors, including banking. The Ministry of Finance has issued “Accessibility Standards and Guidelines for the Banking Sector” to ensure inclusive services.
• RBI Guidelines: The Reserve Bank of India has issued guidelines to enhance banking accessibility, such as accessible ATMs, ramps for wheelchair users, and screen reader-compatible services.
• Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Guidelines: BIS has developed standards to ensure digital banking services are accessible, aligning with the RPwD Act.
• Accessible India Campaign: Launched by the government, this campaign aims to make all government websites and apps accessible to people with disabilities by 2025.
• Information Technology Act, 2000: This act includes provisions for making electronic and digital services accessible to all.
• GIGW Guidelines: The Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW) ensure that government websites, including those in the banking sector, follow international best practices in web accessibility, usability, and user-centric design, making them accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.

Benefits of digital accessibility

Investing in digital accessibility in banking offers numerous benefits:

• Increased market reach: Accessible digital platforms allow banks to attract a broader customer base, including people with disabilities. This expands the market and opens up new revenue streams, tapping into an underserved demographic with significant financial potential. Customers who encounter inaccessible sites and apps will not stop needing banking services; instead, they will take their business to banks that prioritize accessibility. By ensuring their services are accessible, banks can retain these customers and avoid losing them to more inclusive competitors.
• Compliance with regulations: Adhering to accessibility guidelines helps banks avoid legal issues and ensures compliance with national and international standards. This proactive approach mitigates the risk of litigation and aligns with evolving legal frameworks promoting inclusivity.
• Enhanced user experience: Accessible digital platforms are easier for everyone to use, leading to increased customer satisfaction. By removing barriers, banks can create seamless, intuitive experiences that benefit all users, regardless of their abilities. These positive experiences encourage repeat usage, leading to higher customer retention and loyalty over time. When customers find banking easy and enjoyable, they are more likely to use the services frequently and for longer periods, enhancing both customer acquisition and retention.
• Positive brand image: Demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity and accessibility enhances a bank’s reputation. Customers appreciate businesses prioritizing social responsibility, and an inclusive approach can foster loyalty and trust. Increasingly, consumers choose brands that align with their values. A strong commitment to accessibility signals that a bank values inclusivity and social responsibility, attracting and retaining customers who prioritize ethical business practices. This alignment with consumer values not only builds trust but also differentiates the bank in a competitive market.
• Technological advancements: When you bring in advanced digital accessibility tools, you’re leveraging the power of transformational technologies like AI and machine learning to accelerate innovation, drive positive change, and deliver business value. Technologies like AI and machine learning can enhance accessibility features, such as real-time text-to-speech conversion for visually impaired users.

Challenges and opportunities for achieving digital accessibility

Ensuring digital accessibility in the banking sector presents several challenges but also offers ample opportunities:

Lack of awareness and understanding

• Challenge: Many banks are unaware of the importance of digital accessibility and the needs of people with disabilities. This lack of awareness can lead to the exclusion of a significant portion of the potential customer base.
• Opportunity: Raising awareness can lead to the development of inclusive services, attracting and retaining more customers and enhancing market reach. Awareness campaigns and training can highlight the value of accessibility, promoting a culture of inclusion and improving customer satisfaction.

Technical challenges

• Challenge: Implementing digital accessibility requires significant technical adjustments, such as updating legacy systems and ensuring compatibility with assistive technologies.
• Opportunity: Overcoming these challenges can position a bank as a leader in innovation and accessibility, providing a competitive edge. Investing in modern, accessible technology can attract tech-savvy customers and those with disabilities, expanding the customer base.

Design and usability issues

• Challenge: Creating user-friendly and accessible designs involves careful consideration of various factors.
• Opportunity: Addressing these issues not only meets accessibility standards but also improves the overall user experience, benefiting all customers. Enhanced usability can lead to increased customer satisfaction, loyalty, and more frequent use of banking services.

Continuous improvement and testing

• Challenge: Digital accessibility is an ongoing process that requires regular testing and updates.
• Opportunity: Regularly testing platforms for accessibility issues and making continuous improvements based on user feedback and technological advancements keeps the bank responsive to customer needs, fostering customer trust and retention. This iterative process ensures that the bank stays ahead of regulatory requirements and industry standards.

Integration of assistive technologies

• Challenge: Integrating assistive technologies into digital platforms can be intensive.
• Opportunity: Successful integration leads to a more inclusive environment, broadening the bank’s customer base and opening new revenue streams. Embracing technologies like AI-driven accessibility tools can enhance the banking experience for all users, showcasing the bank’s commitment to innovation.

Training and development

• Challenge: Investing in staff training to understand and support accessibility requirements is crucial, but it requires executive buy-in and strategic planning.
• Opportunity: A well-trained team can effectively implement and maintain accessibility standards, enhancing the bank’s reputation for inclusivity. Continuous education programs can keep staff updated on best practices, ensuring consistent delivery of accessible services.

Feedback and iteration

• Challenge: Establishing channels for receiving feedback from users with disabilities and making iterative improvements are essential, but these channels need to be monitored and managed, and interactions need to be helpful and positive.
• Opportunity: Engaging with customers through feedback channels helps banks stay attuned to the needs of all customers, fostering loyalty and trust. This ongoing engagement can lead to better-designed products and services, improving the overall customer experience.

By addressing these challenges with a comprehensive approach that combines technical solutions, regulatory compliance, user-centered design, and a commitment to continuous improvement, banks can create inclusive digital experiences that benefit all customers. This balanced approach not only addresses immediate challenges but also leverages opportunities for growth, innovation, and enhanced customer loyalty.

Conclusion

Imagine a future where your bank not only meets regulatory requirements but also stands at the forefront of digital innovation and social responsibility. This isn’t just about compliance—it’s about capturing a market that is eager to engage, ensuring no customer is left behind, and setting a new standard in financial services. Leadership in accessibility translates to enhanced customer loyalty, a broader customer base, and a stronger market position. The numbers are clear: inclusivity is not just the right thing to do—it’s a smart business strategy.

Ready to make your banking services more accessible and inclusive? Contact Deque today for a comprehensive digital accessibility audit.

The post Insight into the current state of digital accessibility in the Indian banking sector appeared first on Deque.

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve had at least three customer conversations that were triggered by an article in the Wall Street Journal titled The Law Firm Hitting Businesses With Thousands of Disability Suits.

If you have a Wall Street Journal subscription, you can review the article yourself. But if not, what I can tell you is that it’s very understandable why any business owner who reads it would feel concerned. One single law firm alone filed more than 1,000 digital accessibility cases in the US just last year!

When you examine these lawsuits, it’s very clear that there’s a kind of “cut and paste” approach being used, with the goal being to file as many lawsuits as possible in hopes of securing quick financial settlements.

While many digital accessibility lawsuits can be well-intentioned, the kinds of actions described in this article are not helpful. They’re not making the web more accessible and inclusive to all, which is what really matters. And they’re actually wasting money that could be spent on improving digital content.

I’m particularly troubled by the possibility that lawsuits of this kind could come to be perceived as a “necessary evil.” If a lawsuit is demanding a quick financial settlement, companies may look at the situation and think that it will ultimately be cheaper to settle the lawsuit than to put in the work to make their content accessible.

This is problematic for many reasons, the main one being that it’s not true!

I conducted a study several years ago, looking at Fortune 50 companies that had been through a digital accessibility lawsuit process. My goal was to examine in minute detail the level of effort and cost it took to handle one of these predatory lawsuits, with a particular focus on those lawsuits that were settled quickly for a fairly low amount.

I expected there to be hidden costs that would add up, but even so, I was still surprised by the results.

When we calculated the final total costs that the average company spent on all the actions required upon receiving a lawsuit—which included securing external counsel who were experts in the digital accessibility field and licensed—we found totals of up to $350,000 or more!

(You can learn more about the results of this study in this Deque webinar: The Real Cost of Accessibility Complaints and Lawsuits)

One of the examples cited in the Wall Street Journal article involves a lawsuit filed against a small electric bike company. The proposed settlement was for $4,950. But to get to that negotiated number, the electric bike company had to pay approximately $46,000 in legal fees! That’s more than double the cost of simply fixing the content in question. Updating their websites only cost $13,000.

When I read this, it all felt very familiar. Over the years, I’ve collected so many similar stories where the legal fees and administrative costs were exponentially higher than the settlements themselves. The notion that settling will save money is a fallacy, and so is the notion that getting and staying accessible now will be more expensive than dealing with any legal issues later.

As the Wall Street Journal article makes clear, lawsuits aren’t going away. In fact, they’re becoming more and more common. Some companies even get targeted more than once. Continuing to pay out to try and settle just isn’t feasible. Your company will always be on the defensive and always paying out more than it needs to.

Fortunately, there’s a better way.

The best defense is a good offense. Don’t wait to get sued, and then sued again. Don’t pay out more than you have to as you defend your organization against predatory lawsuits that impose high hidden costs under the guise of quick settlements. Instead, invest in digital accessibility now and avoid future lawsuits altogether. You’ll pay less overall, and the benefits to your company will last for the long term. Plus, you’ll be doing the right thing by making your content more inclusive and accessible to all, which is the real goal!

The post When it comes to digital accessibility lawsuits, the best defense is a good offense appeared first on Deque.

For people with disabilities, having this kind of positive experience is made possible when someone has done the work of making the form accessible.

As an accessibility expert, when I fill out an online form, I’m always thinking about the experience. How easy were the instructions to follow, and how clear and straightforward was the process? Would someone with a visual or motor disability have the same experience I did?

Just the other day, I tried to fill out a form on a travel site. I was amazed by the quality of the experience. Using an assistive device, I was able to fill in all the details on that travel site within five minutes without any confusion or errors along the way.

Do you know what made this possible?

It was because the form had descriptive labels that were consistent and present at all times. The form marked all of the mandatory fields, provided instructions that were easy to follow, grouped relevant form fields that clearly defined the purpose of those fields, and used minimal placeholders that gave necessary hints. Above all, the form communicated the role, name, and state of the form controls to the assistive technology that I was using.

In this post, we’re going to learn some techniques for how to create these kinds of accessible experiences. But before we get started, I recommend reading two of our previously published posts on this topic:

1. The Anatomy of Accessible Forms: The Problem with Placeholders
2. The Anatomy of Accessible Forms: Required Form Fields

In today’s post, we will go through all the ingredients of creating an accessible form that provides the best user experience for all users. We will go through each aspect of creating an accessible form, understand why a particular step is important, and how it affects people with disabilities or users in general.

Use native HTML

The first rule for creating a truly accessible form is to use native HTML form controls as much as possible. Most of them are accessible by default with all assistive technologies, and they are semantically correct.

Let’s look at some examples of native form elements:

<input type=”text”>

<input type=”radio”>

<input type=”checkbox”>

<button>Submit</button>

Since we’re using the native HTML controls, the name, role, and state of the elements are exposed by default to all assistive technologies. If we create a custom control using WAI-ARIA techniques, however, all of these elements need to be provided manually using various ARIA attributes like aria-label, aria-checked, and role= “radio.”

Provide a visible label

The next step in the process is to provide visible labels for each form control. Without visible labels, form controls are not usable to any user, let alone a person with a disability. A visible label is simply text that is in close proximity to the form control that it is representing.

<strong>First Name</strong>

<input type=”text”>

<strong>Terms & Conditions</strong>

<input type=”checkbox”>

In the example code above, I have used a strong tag to highlight the labels so that users can distinguish them easily.

Since we are talking about visible labels, we should also address placeholder attributes.

For some input types, we can use the placeholder attribute—but this is not the same as providing a visible label! The placeholder disappears once the user inputs data into the form. To learn more about the pitfalls of using placeholder attributes, you can read The Anatomy of Accessible Forms: The Problem with Placeholders.

Include programmatic labels

Now that we have understood why we need visible labels and, we also need to associate them programmatically to their form controls. Without the programmatic association of the labels, assistive technology users cannot identify the purpose of the form field.

When a user’s focus moves into a text field, it is read out as “edit field” without notifying the accessible name provided to it. To make sure that the visible accessible name is notified to the users we need to programmatically associate the visible label with a form field.

<label for=”firstname”>First Name</label>

<input type=”text” name=”firstname” id=”firstname”>

<label for=”lastname”>Last Name</label>

<input type=”text” name=”lastname” id=”lastname”>

In the above example, we have used the “for and id” method to associate the form field with its visible label. While there are multiple ways to achieve the programmatic association, using the id method is recommended.

Provide descriptive labels

Now that we have provided visible labels and associated them with their respective form fields, the next step is to check if the form labels are descriptive enough. Will the user be able to read through the label, understand the purpose, and perform the successful action? For example:

<label>Name</label>

<input type=”text”>

<input type=”text”>

In the above example, we can see that for both form fields, the visible label is “name.” This is not descriptive enough for the users to take necessary action. Each form field should contain its own visible label and it should be descriptive. We can improve the example above by providing visible labels for both form fields and specifying where the first name and last name should be entered:

<label for=”fname”>First Name</label>

<input type=”text” name=”firstname” id=”fname”>

<label for=”lname”>Last Name</label>

<input type=”text” name=”lastname” id=”lname”>

Group form controls

Sometimes, there will be a set of form controls that belong to a group and are provided with a group-level visible label to provide context. The group-level visible label conveys the necessary information to the users so they can take action. Let’s understand this with an example:

<p>Do you have a passport</p>

<input type=”radio” name=”passport” id=”yes”>

<label for=”yes”>Yes</label>

<input type=”radio” name=”passport” id=”no”>

<label for=”no”>No</label>

In the above example, we can see that “do you have a passport” is the primary group level visible label for the set of radio buttons. But when assistive technology users navigate to these radio buttons, they miss the key information provided by the primary group level visible label because it doesn’t receive keyboard tab focus.

In addition, the elements “Yes” and “No,” when read out alone by assistive technology, don’t make sense. To help with this problem in HTML, we use fieldset and legend attributes to help us bind the group-level form controls. These attributes will be announced to assistive technology users as expected. Here is the same example with fieldset and legend:

<fieldset>

<legend>Do you have a passport</legend>

<input type=”radio” name=”passport” id=”yes1”>

<label for=”yes1”>Yes</label>

<input type=radio” name=”passport” id=”no1”>

<label for=”no1”>No</label>

</fieldset>

In the example above, we can see that fieldset is binding the form controls inside a group and the legend attribute is used as the primary group level visible label that will be exposed when the assistive technology user moves the focus to the first radio button either in tab or shift+tab navigation.

Provide instructions

Some of the form fields need additional instructions to fill the data successfully. These instructions must be available to the users at all times like visible labels. We can bind the instruction to the form fields using an aria-describedby attribute.

<label for=”dob”>Date of Birth</label>

<input type=”text” aria-described=”dob1” id=”dob”>

<span id=”dob1”>MM/DD/YYYY</span>

In the above example, the instruction is provided below the form field and is bound using an aria-describedby to the text field. If the instruction is not bound to form fields, then assistive technology users who use the tab key navigation might miss the key information.

Identifying form inputs purpose

Accurately entering information into form fields can be difficult, especially for people with cognitive disabilities. The purpose of a text field that is collecting the data specific to the user can be programmatically identified using the HTML autocomplete attribute. This technique can also help to personalize the interface by replacing or augmenting form input labels with words from a defined vocabulary, or even graphical symbols.

<label for=”fname”>First Name</label>

<input type=”text” name=”firstname” id=”fname”> autocomplete=”given-name”>

In the above example, the autocomplete attribute on the input form field helps the user agent to recollect the first name. This makes filling out forms easier and less likely to result in errors, especially for people who may have trouble accurately remembering, reading, or typing information.

Provide accessible name

Some form fields might need a programmatic name to help understand the purpose of the field better and perform actions apart from visible text labels. However, we need to ensure the programmatic name does not override the visible text label completely. We want it to complement and enhance the user experience, especially for speech-input users who attempt to use the visible text label as a means of navigation or selection when interacting with form fields:

<label for=”bday”>Date of Birth (MM/DD/YYYY)</label>

<input type=”text” aria-label=”Birthday” id=”bday”>

In the above example, the user not only doesn’t get important instructions, but they’re likely to be confused about what the ideal input is for this form field. We have to include the visible text label as part of the accessible name, and it’s a best practice to start with a visible label.

<label for=”search”>Search</label>

<input type=”text” aria-label=”Search by City, State or Zipcode” id=”search”>

In the above example, the accessible name complements the visible text label and helps users to better understand the purpose of the form field and what information to enter.

Summary

Following the best practices above will enable you to create a form that is usable and accessible to all users. And remember, native HTML is the key to creating positive user experiences!

The post The anatomy of accessible forms: Best practices appeared first on Deque.

Our first post in the series, An introduction to the European Accessibility Act (EAA), provided an overall look at the EAA’s scope, and in our follow-up, How the European Accessibility Act (EAA) will impact product accessibility, we took a deeper dive into the EAA’s impact on how products are offered.

In today’s post, we’ll delve into implications, risks, and strategies for service providers.

Services

The EAA significantly impacts how services are provided under its regulations. To maximize accessibility for individuals with disabilities, the EAA emphasizes providing information about the service’s operation and any products used in its delivery, ensuring compatibility with assistive technologies. This includes details about product accessibility features and their interactions with the service. Furthermore, the EAA mandates that service providers make their websites, online applications, and mobile-based services accessible.

General requirements related to services

Section III of Annex I outlines general accessibility requirements for all services covered by the directive, such as:

Information about the service

The directive emphasizes the importance of making information about the service and its accessibility readily available throughout provision of the service. This includes details about how it operates, information about the functioning of the service, any products used in its delivery, and specific accessibility features. This information should be presented in various formats to cater to different needs and be easily accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Note: While the directive doesn’t specifically describe promotional marketing websites in these general requirements, content within the sales funnel journey could be considered an aspect of the provision process of a service.

Compatibility and assistive technologies

Service providers are obligated to ensure compatibility with various assistive technologies that individuals with disabilities might use. This includes screen readers, alternative input devices, keyboard only navigation, and other tools facilitating access to digital content and functionalities.

Accessibility of digital platforms

A key requirement is ensuring the accessibility of websites, online applications, and mobile device-based services. These platforms, particularly those within the categories detailed in the following sections, should be designed and developed in a way that makes them perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for users with disabilities.

Accessible support services

The directive also highlights the need for accessible communication channels for support services related to the provided e-commerce services. This encompasses making help desks, customer support, training materials, self-serve complaint and problem reporting, user journey flows, and other resources accessible to ensure individuals with disabilities can easily seek assistance and information.

Television and streaming services

Television and Streaming Services, particularly those offering features such as subtitles, audio descriptions, and sign language interpretation, are considered “services providing access to audiovisual media services.” The EAA emphasizes the importance of providing information about the accessibility of television and streaming services clearly and accessibly.

The directive mandates that these services, along with their associated consumer terminal equipment like smart TVs and streaming devices, must adhere to specific accessibility standards.

E-commerce services

The EAA defines “e-commerce services” as services provided at a distance through websites and mobile device-based services. These services are initiated electronically at the request of a consumer and aim to facilitate a consumer contract. The directive clarifies the following:

• “At a distance” implies the service is delivered without both parties physically present.
• “By electronic means” signifies electronic equipment is used for the initial transmission and reception of the service.
• “At the individual request of a consumer” means the service is provided upon individual demand.

Broad applicability of “e-commerce”

The EAA’s definition of “e-commerce services” is expansive, encompassing “services provided at a distance, through websites and mobile device-based services by electronic means and at the individual request of a consumer with a view to concluding a consumer contract.”

This definition would be applicable to almost any type of website or mobile application facilitating almost any kind of transaction. Examples include:

• Purchasing goods in an online store
• Bidding on an item through an auction site
• Booking accommodations
• Signing a utility contract or paying a bill
• Enrolling in a course or training program

Information accessibility is crucial

Regardless of the specific type of e-commerce service, the EAA emphasizes making service content accessible to users with disabilities. For instance, product descriptions, auction details, reservation systems, course information, and contract terms should all be designed and presented to be perceivable, operable, and understandable to individuals with varying abilities.

Core functionalities must be accessible

The EAA’s focus on compatibility with assistive technologies is particularly relevant. Because of this, some core functionalities have been called out in more detail and may need some special scrutiny. For example:

• E-commerce sites: Users relying on screen readers should be able to navigate product listings, input payment details, and complete purchases.
• Auction sites: Bidding mechanisms must be accessible, potentially requiring alternative input methods or text-to-speech functionalities.
• Transportation Services: Booking platforms for flights, trains, and other transportation must ensure individuals with disabilities can access and use reservation systems effectively.

Banking services

The EAA directly addresses the accessibility of consumer banking services as a key area of focus. And  defines “consumer banking services” to include:

• Credit agreements: This encompasses consumer credit products and extends to products like personal loans and mortgages.
• Investment and insurance services: The directive incorporates various financial services, including investment services, portfolio management, investment advice, insurance-based investment products, and more.
• Payment services: Services such as executing payment transactions, operating payment accounts, and money remittance.
• Payment accounts: Services that are linked (or associated), such as access to checking account information, account switching, and access to basic account features, are considered to be in scope.
• Electronic money: The directive covers electronic money services, which includes issuing electronic money. This is relevant to aspects like pre-paid cards and digital wallets.

Key accessibility requirements for banking services

The directive sets out overarching accessibility obligations that apply across consumer banking. Here’s a breakdown:

Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust
The EAA mandates that consumer banking services, including their digital interfaces (websites and mobile applications), must adhere to the four principles of accessibility known as POUR:

• Perceivable: Users must be able to perceive the information being presented (it can’t be invisible to all of their senses).
• Operable: Users must be able to operate the interface (the interface cannot require interaction that a user cannot perform)
• Understandable: Users must be able to understand the information as well as the operation of the user interface (the content or operation cannot be beyond their understanding)
• Robust: Users must be able to access content robust enough that it can be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies, and the content should remain accessible even as technologies advance.

Accessible identification and security
Identification methods, electronic signatures, security features, and payment services within consumer banking must also comply with these four accessibility principles.

Example: A bank’s online platform should enable a blind customer to use their own assistive technology like a screen reader to navigate authentication steps, electronically sign documents, and authorize transactions securely.

Understandable information
The EAA emphasizes that information provided in consumer banking services must be understandable, adhering to a specific language complexity level (Level B2 — upper-intermediate) defined by the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Example: This could mean presenting financial product terms and conditions in a clear and concise manner, avoiding jargon or overly technical language that could be challenging for some users to understand.

Passenger Transport Services

For passenger transport services by plane, bus, train, and water, there is existing EU law relating to passenger rights that already covers some aspects of accessibility in transport. The directive builds upon these existing regulations, introducing additional requirements to further enhance accessibility for all passengers. The EAA highlights several key areas where accessibility should be improved.

Websites and mobile applications

Operators of these transport services are obligated to make their websites and mobile apps accessible, ensuring individuals with disabilities can easily access information, book tickets, and manage their travel arrangements.

Electronic ticketing

Electronic tickets and electronic ticketing services must be designed with accessibility in mind, allowing passengers with disabilities to purchase and use tickets independently.

• Electronic tickets are systems where the right to travel, in the form of single or multiple travel tickets, travel subscriptions, or travel credit, is stored electronically on a physical transport pass or other devices rather than a paper ticket.
• Electronic ticketing services are systems where passengers buy tickets, including online using an interactive computing device. Tickets are delivered electronically so they can be printed or shown on an interactive mobile device when traveling.

Real-time travel information

This encompasses providing accessible real-time travel information through various channels, including websites, mobile apps, and interactive information screens. This includes details like timetables, delays, platform changes, connecting services, and accessibility features of vehicles and infrastructure. Delivery of this real-time travel information should maximize its use by persons with disabilities.

Interactive self-service terminals

Interactive self-service terminals located within the EU and used for passenger transport services must comply with accessibility requirements. These terminals are often used for purchasing tickets, checking in for travel, and accessing travel information.

Conclusion

The implementation of the EAA presents challenges and opportunities for both product and service providers, and while it represents a powerful shift toward societal inclusivity, there are very real regulatory and legal implications that businesses need to address in order to achieve compliance and avoid risk.

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is now transposed into national law in most EU member states and will come into effect on June 28, 2025. If you’re an EU-based organization or do business within the EU, Deque can help ensure you meet EAA requirements:

• Get in touch with your local Deque team
• Measure current compliance with an accessibility audit
• Create a strategic roadmap with industry experts
• Catch accessibility issues for free with axe DevTools browser extension

Choose Deque as your EAA compliance partner, and together, we can help create a world where everyone can thrive.

Additional resources

Read answers from our experts to many of the most important EAA questions here:
European Accessibility Act (EAA): Top 20 Key Questions Answered

Watch our recent EAA webinar, please visit:
Countdown to enforcement 2025: Navigating the European Accessibility Act 

Find official language of the directive here:
European Accessibility ACT (EAA)

Sections of the EAA referenced in this post include:

• Section III of Annex I
• Annex I Section 1
• Article 3
• Paragraph 42
• Directive 2008/48/EC
• Directive 2014/17/EU
• Annex I of Directive 2014/65/EU
• Directive (EU) 2015/2366
• Directive 2014/92/EU
• Directive 2009/110/EC
• Paragraph 32
• Paragraph 33
• Chapter 1 Article 3
• Annex I Section 4

The post How the European Accessibility Act (EAA) will impact the way services are provided appeared first on Deque.

34 years later, it’s a date known around the world, because the ADA literally changed the world. We see its ongoing influence everywhere, perhaps most notably in the European Accessibility Act (EAA), a sweeping piece of legislation that will become national law in all 27 EU member states next year.

In 1998, when Tony Coelho testified at the 1998 ADA hearings, he concluded with these powerful words:

“That’s what this bill is all about. 36 million Americans deciding it’s time for us to stand up for ourselves. To make a difference. To say that we want our basic civil rights. We deserve it. Give us an opportunity to do what we can do. Don’t keep telling us what we can’t do.”

Today, in 2024, Tony Coelho is every bit as impassioned about inclusion and disability rights as he was when, as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, he was the act’s primary sponsor.

Glenda Sims, Deque’s Chief Information Accessibility Officer, recently had the opportunity to chat with Tony to discuss his life, his work, where we are today, and what he sees coming next. And, of course, the 34th anniversary of the ADA!

You can see footage from this exclusive interview here:

Tony’s passion is rooted in his personal experience. His willingness to be open and vulnerable before Congress, to share his journey with epilepsy and how it shaped his life, humanized the ADA effort and made clear it was something much bigger than politics.

In his testimony, he shared how, because of his epilepsy, his relationship with his parents suffered. Deeply religious Catholics, they genuinely believed he was possessed by the devil. He described how he went from being a high achiever with a promising career path ahead to having his driver’s license taken away, losing his insurance, and being unable to get a job. He had wanted to be a priest, but canon law prevented it, because of his epilepsy. He expressed that he became suicidal. He explained how he felt that “the light of opportunity and hope” had gone out around him. And he talked about how that light was lit again, “because some people believed.”

Tony’s faith continues to sustain him, and he describes his ongoing work as his “passion and ministry.” He is a visionary who recognized early on that the next frontier for disability advocacy was going to be the internet, and he welcomed the Justice Department’s April 2024 “final rule” under Title II of the ADA that ensures the accessibility of web content and mobile applications for people with disabilities.

Glenda Sims, Deque’s Chief Information Accessibility Officer, recently wrote about Title II for the Deque blog, and one of the questions she asked Tony was whether he sees a new inflection point emerging today, similar to the one that led to the signing of the ADA in 1990.

Tony’s response shows us that behind every inflection point, there is an ongoing journey:

“When I say my passion and my ministry, I mean that. Because we did the ADA. And then, ten years later, we had to do the ADA Amendments Act to cover epilepsy and a lot of other disabilities that the Supreme Court said weren’t covered by the ADA. And then, we worked on trying to get federal contractors to hire people with disabilities. I did that with Obama. And then I realized that the sight-impaired, hearing-impaired, physically-impaired communities couldn’t access the internet. So I then started working on that during the Obama Administration as well. But it took us 13 years, and finally, with President Biden, we got an executive order.”

Tony also explained how success is made possible through community:

“So it is now the next chapter in this effort. The great thing about this, is that, with the ADA Amendments Act, the total community came together. 300 different disability organizations joined the sight, hearing, and physically-impaired communities to get that done.”

When it comes to digital accessibility and the internet, Tony understands how real-world requirements, such as those encoded in Title II, can drive transformational results. “Companies that develop software for state, local, and federal government, that’s a huge market. And they’re not going to have one accessible product and one inaccessible product—they’re just going to have one!” And because software providers generally have global customer bases, those accessible products being created to comply with Title II are also going to be the same products used by businesses worldwide. “So I think this decision will have a world impact,” says Tony. “It is huge. It is really important, and it brings all of us together at the same level.”

Glenda closed out her interview with a final question: “What message do you want to leave with future disability advocates?”

Tony didn’t hesitate:

“Believe, but pursue. Don’t ever give up.”

~

All of us at Deque are grateful to Tony for taking the time to chat with Glenda. We are grateful for his work, and we join him, along with the millions of people across the world whose lives have been positively impacted, in celebrating the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act!

As Tony knows from firsthand experience, success is a journey that happens through community. Deque was founded in 1999, and for a quarter of a century, we have been proud members of the community that Tony highlights—the global community of individuals and organizations who believe in the rights of people with disabilities and who are working to ensure equal access for all.

Even as we look back and celebrate July 26, 1990, and even as we look ahead to celebrating milestone dates like June 28, 2025, when the EAA takes effect, we know there is still work to be done. We are inspired to continue our journey by Tony Coelho, and by everyone who believes in this mission.

The post Believe, but pursue: Our interview with Tony Coelho, celebrating the 34th anniversary of the ADA appeared first on Deque.