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How Well Do You Know Accessibility (Answer Key)
Based on how you answered the technical or non-technical question, you were provided a select set of questions to answer. Below is an answer key for all possible questions.
General Disability Questions
Which of the following are examples of categories of disabilities? (Select All That Apply)
Visual
Auditory
Speech
Cognitive
Mobility
Psychological
Seizure
Deaf-blind
Multiple/compound
Answer:
Each of the above options is an example of a category of disability.
Summary:
Depending on which model of disability you look at, you may see as many as 13 categories of disability. We encourage you to explore each of the models and gain familiarity with each of them as it is important to understand the different perspectives that surround persons with disabilities.
Here are a few examples of the above categories and specific disabilities within them:
Visual, low vision, color blindness, blindness,
Auditory, hard of hearing, deaf
Speech, mutism, apraxia, stuttering, cluttering
Cognitive, attention deficit, autism, dyslexia
Mobility, amputation, paralysis, cerebral palsy
Psychological, bipolar, schizophrenia, personality disorders
Seizure, photosensitive
Deaf-blind, a combination of visual and auditory disabilities
Multiple/compound, a combination of two or more disabilities
Learn More Link
Models of Disabilities: Types and Definitions by Disabled World
All disabilities are permanent. (True or False)
Answer:
False.
Summary:
Not all disabilities are permanent. A broken arm or a sprained ankle is considered to be a mobility impairment although it heals and can be used once healed. Likewise, something that impacts your sight, sound, speech, or any other part of your body for any amount of time is a disability. Almost every person in the world experiences a disability at some point in their life whether it be from a sports accident, aging, illness, or genetics. A disability becomes permanent when it can not be corrected with rehabilitation, surgery, or other measures.
Learn More Link
The Difference Between Temporary Disability and Permanent Disability by Young Mark and Associates Law Firm
All disabilities are visible or have visible indicators. (True or False)
Answer:
False.
Summary:
Not all disabilities are visible which leads to the term invisible or hidden disabilities. At first glance, you typically wouldn’t notice that most people have a disability like low vision, hearing loss, cognitive impairments, or learning difficulties. And in most cases, you would never know unless the person told you or you picked up on it from other clues such as a low vision person holding their phone close to their face or using a text speech software on their device.
Learn More Link
Invisible Disabilities: List & Information by Disabled World
Visual disabilities, like many other categories of disabilities, are based upon a spectrum. (True or False)
Answer:
True.
Summary:
Disabilities are commonly talked about and based around their severity. For example, someone with low vision has some working vision while someone who is blind has little to no working vision. Other people believe that disabilities are either present or not, when in reality, they are present in a wide range of severities. The severities are often defined as mild, moderate, and severe.
Learn More Link
Is Disability a Spectrum? by Disability Wisdom Consulting
Cognitive disabilities are more common in children and often go away with age. (True or False)
Answer:
False.
Summary:
While many cognitive disabilities are discovered when children are young, the assumption that they go away and are more common in younger people are not entirely true. In fact it is quite the opposite, as age related disabilities include cognitive disabilities. Alzheimer’s and dementia are examples of age related disabilities while impairments related to focus, attention, and comprehension are commonly discovered in children.
Learn More Link
Percentage of people in the U.S. with a cognitive disability as of 2018, by age by Statista
An accommodation that works for one person with a disability is not always guaranteed to work for another person with the same disability. (True or False)
Answer:
True.
Summary:
When it comes to accommodating people with disabilities, it is not a one size fits all system. Personality and preferences should be considered when trying to properly accommodate a user, a team member, or an employee. Someone with a visual disability may not be tech savvy enough to use a screen reader, but they should still be able to access the information in a way that fits their preferences.
Learn More Link
SCREEN MAGNIFIERS ARE NO LONGER THE ONLY OPTION FOR LOW VISION USERS: WHAT ARE THEY USING? by Converge Accessibility
Unemployment rates are higher among people with disabilities than any other minority. (True or False)
Answer:
True.
Summary:
People with disabilities have historically had a harder time getting gainful employment. While this is widely known, it is even more shocking when you dive into some of the numbers and age groupings. In most cases, people with disabilities have a nearly doubled unemployment rate as compared to people without disabilities. While there are many factors to consider, the numbers show a real issue when it comes to the workforce representation among people with disabilities.
Learn More Link
Disability Employment Statistics by U.S. Department of Labor
When it comes to accommodating someone with a disability in the workplace, it is only the responsibility of management. (True or False)
Answer:
False.
Summary:
Accomodations in the workplace are referred to as reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodations are typically set by the organization/employer. However, the accommodation is not just a matter of making sure the employee can complete the work, it is also about ensuring that the employee has a good working environment and feels safe, satisfied, and comfortable at work. This includes everyone in the organization, not just management or the top level executives.
Learn More Link
Reasonable Accommodations in the Workplace by ADA National Network
Disabilities are more prevalent in the elderly compared to children. (True or False)
Answer:
True.
Summary:
It is no secret that as people age, they tend to have a harder time hearing, seeing, and getting around. As age increases, the presence of disabilities and multiple disabilities increases. The most common disabilities among elderly people are related to the senses and cognitive impairments. 10 percent of people 21-64 years old have a disability, which is significantly lower than the 24 percent among ages 65-74, and an even larger jump to 40 percent among ages 75 years and older.
Learn More Link
Percentage of people in the U.S. with a disability as of 2018, by age by Statista
Ageing and disability by United Nations
Disabilities can lead to other life factors. Which of these are more common among people with disabilities? (Select All That Apply)
Obesity
Smoking
Diabetes
Violence
Depression/Anxiety
Substance Abuse
Answer:
All of the above.
Summary:
While it may not be obvious at first thought, disabilities impact more than just one's ability to move, see, hear, smell, taste, or think, it impacts all aspects of life. The most studied aspects are health related such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Other areas like being a victim of crime, using tobacco or illicit drugs, and having depression/anxiety have also been linked as a higher percentage among people with disabilities.
One of the most common topics is access to employment. People with disabilities often have a harder time finding gainful employment, moving upwards in positions, or getting proper education/training. As a result, many people with disabilities are in lower income settings which can be directly tied to many of the previously mentioned factors.
Learn More Link
Disabilites and Health Related Conditions by Center of Disease Control and Prevention
History Questions
Why was the Americans with Disabilities Act signed in 1990? (Select All That Apply)
To eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities
To ensure that people with disabilities had equal opportunities
To ensure that people with disabilities could live independently
To make sure that people with disabilities could participate in American life
Answer:
All of the above are goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
Summary:
The Americans with Disabilities Act was put in place to eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities and to ensure they had equal opportunities and access to American life. Since becoming law, many other amendments, regulations, and guidelines have come out to provide a more accessible world for people with disabilities. However, there is still plenty of work to be done.
Learn More Link
An Overview of the Americans With Disabilities Act by ADA National Network
General Accessibility Questions
All websites are accessible to people with disabilities. (true or false)
Answer:
False.
Summary:
Over the last 3 years, one million of the top web pages have been analyzed to test how accessible they were. From the analysis, more than 51.3 million distinct errors have been detected. Some elements like forms, buttons, menus, and images are among the most common to have accessibility issues.
Learn More Link
The WebAIM Million by WebAIM
Every blind person knows how to read/write in braille. (True or False)
Answer:
False.
Summary:
Fewer than 10 percent of blind users actually know how to read and write in braille. This may be surprising, but in many cases, children are not being encouraged, nor presented the opportunity/resources that would allow them to do so. The issue may not be that blind people don’t care to learn braille, it may be that finding someone to instruct/educate is impossible to find.
Learn More Link
Fewer blind Americans learning to use Braille by NBC Universal
How many different forms of sign language are there around the world?
100 types of sign language
200 types of sign language
300 types of sign language
400 types of sign language
Answer:
300 types of sign language.
Summary:
There are roughly 300 different types of sign language currently being used around the world. This number may seem high, but in comparison to the 7,00 languages in use around the world, it is not as high as some might think. In the United States, the most common form of sign language is American Sign Language (ASL). As you travel around the world, you might encounter British Sign Language (BSL), Japanese Sign Language (JSL), or some other type. This is important for communicating effectively in different countries, regions, or cultures.
Learn More Link
Sign Language Alphabets From Around The World by AI Media Access
Which of the following are examples of products designed with accessibility in mind? (Select All That Apply)
Automatic Doors
Fire Alarms
Doors with Windows
Elevators
Microwaves
Answer:
All of the above.
Summary:
When thinking about a lot of the everyday products in use, many of them have some level of accessibility in their design. Many of those features pertain to the five senses of a person: sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell. A good rule of thumb is to include as many senses in the interaction as possible. Think about it for a second, how many things can you visually see and also hear? This mindset is based around the 7 principles for universal design.
Learn More Link
The 7 P{principals by National Disability Authority
Some assistive technologies used by the blind/visually impaired include (Select All That Apply)
Screen readers
Braille displays
Zoom/magnification
High contrast
Speak on touch
Text to speech
Camera/screen capture
Answer:
All of the above.
Summary:
There are a whole host of solutions out there that allow blind and visually impaired people to lead successful and independent lives, as with any category of disability. Screen readers allow users to navigate computers and the internet without seeing the screen as it turns all text and non-text into audio. Braille displays replace the keyboard and mouse on a computer and translate everything into braille. Magnifiers and high contrast modes turn the screen into something that can be easily seen by users with low vision. Text to speech and speak on touch are mobile device functions that allow users to use touch and audio to interact with apps and settings on the mobile devices. Cameras, especially on smartphones, are great for seeing the world around when vision is not at the right level. Some examples would be seeing a menu, reading signs, and observing the environment around yourself. As you may be able to tell, there are so many options out there, it really comes down to the user preference and what works best for them.
Learn More Link
Understanding Assistive Technology: How Does a Blind Person use the Internet? by Level Access
Some disabilities have developed their own culture that have led to faster and more effective accommodations/accessibility features. (True or False)
Answer:
True.
Summary:
The deaf or hard of hearing is by far the most well known community. They have done some incredible things to move society towards being inclusive and accessible. The captions on your Netflix shows/movies, or any media player to be frank, are primarily due to their incredible efforts. There is a lot to learn and by far the biggest lesson is the power of collaboration to achieve outcomes that benefit everyone!
Learn More Link
The Deaf Community: An Introduction by National Deaf Center
Which of the following functional disabilities are prevalent in the United States? (Select All That Apply)
Physical
Visual
Cognitive
Auditory
Answer:
All of the above.
Summary:
While disabilities are not bound to geographic locations, or any other aspect of life, the most common functional disabilities in the United States are physical disabilities (accounting for roughly 13.7% of adults), cognitive disabilities (accounting for roughly 10.8% of adults), auditory/hearing disabilities (accounting for roughly 5.9% of adults), and visual disabilities (accounting for roughly 4.6% of adults).
Functional disabilities are defined as a difficulty completing everyday tasks needed for independent living.
Learn More Link
Disabilities Impact All of Us by Center for Disease Control and Prevention
General Communication Questions
Which of the following statements should be avoided when talking to someone with a visual disability? (Select All That Apply)
“Did you see that?”
“Can you take a look at this for me?”
“I saw your latest social media post and thought it was great!”
“Sorry, I didn’t see you there”
“You look great today!”
“Sorry, I forgot you can’t see that well”
Answer:
None of them.
Summary:
None of these statements should be avoided when engaging with someone with a visual disability as they are part of common language or phrases. The language used should not change because of someone's abilities or disabilities. In the same sense, using people-first language is a general rule of thumb. Typically, a sentence describing a boy wouldn’t start with “ the blue-shirted boy”, it would say “the boy in the blue shirt”. The same goes when talking to or about someone with a disability.
Learn More Link
Communicating with People with Disabilities by Center for Disease Control and Prevention
When assisting a customer/team member with a disability, the following should be avoided: (Select All That Apply)
Show sympathy towards them for their disability
Help if you see them struggling to do something
Address them as a person before their disability
Ask about their disability
Answer:
Show sympathy towards them for their disability
Help if you see them struggling to do something
Ask about their disability
Summary:
When interacting with anyone, the golden rule should always be considered. Treat others as you would want to be treated. People's first language is critical in avoiding stigmas and stereotypes whether a disability is visible or not. If someone does have a visible disability, do not assume they need help, if they need help they will ask. Along those same lines, if someone shares that they have a disability, pity is never a good route to take. Instead, asking questions to understand is a much better approach and will oftentimes lead to a better relationship and experience.
Learn More Link
People First: A Guide to Interacting with People with Disabilities by Illinois Department of Human Services
When communicating with someone with a disability who doesn’t bring it up in the conversation, it is okay to ask about it. (True or False)
Answer:
False.
Summary:
When talking to someone with a disability, you should wait for them to share their disability before asking questions about it. If someone does not talk about their disability, it is likely that they do not feel comfortable or do not feel it is important for the discussion. Unless you have a pre-existing relationship with the person, disability should be a cautious topic of discussion.
Learn More Link
How to Ask About Someone's Disability by WikiHow
General Questions
Companies that want to make their online assets accessible should: (Select All That Apply)
Consult with users with disabilities to test and identify areas of improvement
Delegate personnel to lead the initiative and measure progress
Create a plan of action for maintaining accessible assets in the future
Conduct testing after implementing changes to ensure they function properly
Answer:
All of the above.
Summary:
Depending on which stage the organization is at in the process of becoming accessible will dictate the best course of action. (planning, developing, retrofitting, or redesigning). Consulting with users who live with disabilities, is always essential to ensure that the implemented measures work for the users they have been implemented for. Having a diverse group of testers covers different user preferences, and different assistive technologies, and allows for a more accessible design as a whole. Regardless of where in the process the organization is, without having personnel designated and experienced in digital accessibility, the project will not have a solid foundation to work from and thus will not relay accurate results on the outcomes. Lastly, accessibility is not a one time deal, it must be managed, maintained, and updated as the website grows, changes, or adapts to represent the organization.
Learn More Link
Introduction to Web Accessibility by W3C
Digital accessibility eventually will be done automatically and not require human input. (True or False)
Answer:
False.
Summary:
Accessibility is done to allow all users, regardless of abilities, to access and engage with online materials like websites, social media, services, and platforms. Without having humans involved in the process, there is no true way to tell if the implemented features actually work for the audience they have been implemented for. While some aspects, such as testing and reporting, are moving towards automated methods, eliminating the human aspect would be counterproductive and not achieve anything.
Learn More Link
The Human Touch of Web Accessibility by Akerman LLP
Technical Multimedia Questions
How would you make a video with speaking accessible? (Select All That Apply)
Add captions to the video
Add a transcript of the video in the description
Ensure the speaking is louder than background music or sounds
Nothing, videos are already accessible
Answer:
Add captions to the video
Add a transcript of the video in the description
Ensure the speaking is louder than background music or sounds
Summary:
People who have difficulty hearing or cannot hear at all benefit from the first three options. For users who cannot hear at all, providing live captions, or closed captioning, and a text transcript of the speaking make the video accessible. Making sure the foreground sound is louder than the background sounds makes the video accessible to those with difficulty hearing. As for users who cannot see, providing audio descriptions makes videos more accessible.
Learn More Link
Accessible Technology by The University of Washington
Which of the following are accessibility features that allow users with disabilities to engage with audio/video content? (Select All That Apply)
Captions
Transcripts
Audio descriptions
Sign language
Subtitles
Answer:
Captions
Transcripts
Audio descriptions
Sign language
Summary:
Subtitles are designed to translate language and present dialog that is hard to hear for all users. Captions and sign language are implemented to allow users with hearing disabilities to engage with auditory aspects via text. Audio descriptions provide auditory information about the visual aspects of video to blind and low vision users. Transcripts provide a written format of audio and video for users who cannot see or hear. However, users with disabilities are not the only ones who benefit from these features. Think about the last time you couldn’t hear the tv show you were watching so you turned on captions, that’s how users who cannot hear get the same experience as users who can hear.
Learn More Link
Technical Website Questions
Which types of disabilities are impacted when a website is not accessible? (Select All That Apply)
Sight
Sound
Touch
Cognitive
Answer:
All of the above are impacted when websites are not accessible
Summary:
When accessibility measures are not in place, people who cannot see, hear, use their hands or have cognitive impairments are impacted. Someone who is blind or has limited/no mobility in their hands likely does not use a mouse. Someone who has difficulty hearing may have a hard time watching a video interview or listening o a podcast. Someone with cognitive impairments might have a hard time understanding the intended use of the website or what to do. All of these can be accounted for in the planning phase of a website build or redesign and with them in place, websites can become universally accessible to anyone.
Learn More Link
The Essential Accessibility Handbook by Monsido
What should be done when adding an image to a web page, social media channel, or website? (Select All That Apply)
The image should be compressed to be the smallest file size possible to ensure it loads fast
The image should be described in text to allow blind/visually impaired users to understand the image
Alt text or attributions should be added to the images so that search engines can show in image results
The image should be in the highest resolution possible to ensure it is clear and crisp
Answer:
All of the above are correct.
Summary:
For developers, fast load/render speeds on websites and pages are critical to a good user experience.
A text description of the image allows for users with visual disabilities to understand the image in context to what is around it through synchronized audio or braille displays.
Alt text and attributions are great for search engine optimization and getting images into search results but they also act as a descriptor for those with visual impairments using screen readers.
High-resolution images are essential to providing a good users experience and especially for users with low vision who may have a harder time perceiving the image if it were lower quality.
Learn More Link
Accessible Technology - Images by The University of Washington
When adding fields to a form you should leave labels blank so that they don’t confuse the users? (True or False)
Answer:
False.
Summary:
Populating labels or examples on form fields adds a level of clarity for all users. Blind users using a screen reader would not be able to complete the form without labels due to a lack of information prompting what should be entered. Users with cognitive impairments would likely be confused if labels were left out as it would create guesswork on what is being asked or required. Autofill on forms is becoming very common which makes filling out forms very fast and easy, but may also cause some issues if error checking and prevention is not in place.
Learn More Link
Creating Accessible Forms by WebAIM
When publishing non-text content (graphs, charts, images, videos, animated graphics) on web pages, what should be done to make them accessible? (Select All That Apply)
They should be presented in an alternative text format
They should be described based on how they relate to the content around them
They should be captioned with meaningful text that provides a brief description
They should be left alone because they only add to the visual design of the page
Answer:
They should be presented in an alternative text format
They should be described based on how they relate to the content around them
They should be captioned with meaningful text that provides a brief description
Summary:
For content that is presented visually or audibly, it should be described in a text-based format regardless of the media type. Blind/visually impaired users cannot or may have difficulty seeing what is on the screen. When a screen reader is used, it turns any text into synchronized audio that provides a similar experience to the user. That is if a text alternative is provided. For users who are deaf or hard of hearing, they cannot or have difficulty hearing audio content. Thus a text alternative is a key to providing a similar experience.
Learn More Link
AN EASY GUIDE ON HOW TO MAKE IMAGES ACCESSIBLE by Wish Desk
6 Ways To Make A Video Accessible To Everyone by Access Innovation Media
How to Make Digital Assets Accessible: Audio Files by Butler University
The layout and structure of a page does not impact if it is accessible. (True or False)
Answer:
False.
Summary:
The structure of a page is very important to making content reachable, accessible, and interactive. Page structure impacts a wide range of people with disabilities including blind and visually impaired users, users with limited mobility, and users with cognitive challenges. If a page lacks structure it is difficult or impossible to interpret or use whether it can be seen or not.
Learn More Link
Page Structure Tutorial by W3C
If something can be clicked on or interacted with on a webpage, it should have the following measures in place to make it accessible: (Select All That Apply)
It should have a visual indicator that it is a link in contrast to plain text
It should be labeled as a link for screen readers
It should have a different color than plain text
The outcome of the action should be able to be determined with context clues or be announced/described
Answer:
All of the above.
Summary:
Actionable items with content or pages should be both visually distinguishable and recognizable to those who use screen readers. Making links, buttons, controls, and other interactive elements visually different from plain text. Underlining, changing the background, and changing the text color are all methods of differentiating these elements from plain text. As for making these elements accessible to screen readers, they should be properly labeled and clearly describe the outcome of the action since the context may or may not be read with it.
Learn More Link
Usability & Web Accessibility by Yale University
Using only color to relay information is a great way to let users know what is happening or what will happen. (True or False)
Answer:
False.
Summary:
Color should never be the only indicator of status or action. For users with visual impairments, especially color blindness, color is not useful in conveying information such as status or guidance. If a form field is required but not responded to correctly, it should have more than making it red as an indicator that it requires being revisited. Labels, text, or status messages are alternatives to only color that make things accessible to users with visual impairments.
Learn More Link
Avoid Using Color Alone by Princeton University
Some fonts (like cursive fonts, decorative fonts, or handwritten fonts) may appear to be more appealing but they also tend to make reading more difficult for some users. (True or False)
Answer:
True.
Summary:
While fancy fonts may make a page stand out, it comes at the cost of accessibility to users with low vision and cognitive impairments. Embellishments, swirls, curls, and extras make it difficult to determine letters and thus lead to a lack of readability. Standard sans serifs fonts are among the most accessible and can still be quite elegant or appealing to users. It is recommended to explore font options in relation to accessibility when selecting them for posts, pages, or global site settings.
Learn More Link
How to Choose a Font for Accessibility by Site Improve
Websites should be fully functional with just a keyboard. (True or False)
Answer:
True.
Summary:
Not all users use a mouse to access the web. Blind users and users with limited mobility cannot use a mouse. Thus it is critical that anything that can be done using a mouse can also be accomplished using a keyboard. However, this is not just about being accessible to people with disabilities. Sometimes users prefer to use the arrow keys to scroll through a long article or would rather tap the enter key to submit information.
Learn More Link
Keyboard Accessibility by WebAim
If websites are not accessible, users should: (Select All That Apply)
Contact the company and notify them of the issues
Report them for not being accessible
Go to another website that is accessible
Ask someone for help in finding the information they are looking for
Answer:
A (however, there are arguments to be made for the other options).
Summary:
The appropriate answer would be to contact the company that owns the website and notifies them of the issues, barriers, and challenges being experienced. During the contact, assistance should also be requested and provided to the user. In the worst case, a company does not engage back, reporting them may be the appropriate measure to take if the activity is essential and the barriers restrict access. Going somewhere else could be a solution, but the user's preferences and needs should be taken into account as they may have to pay more, wait longer, or adjust their needs by going elsewhere. And lastly, asking for help may be a good idea at first, but people with disabilities should be able to live independently without requiring assistance from others. This also could lead to potential privacy issues when personal information or payment details are required.
Learn More Link
Contacting Organizations about Inaccessible Websites by W3C
User experience and accessibility go hand in hand. If something is usable, it is also accessible. (Ture of False)
Answer:
False.
Summary:
Accessibility pertains to whether or not all users can access and use information with and without assistive technologies. Usability pertains to user experience and ease of use to create a clean and satisfying experience. If something is usable and accessible, all users can and will have a great experience. If something is not usable, all users, regardless of ability will have a bad time. If something is not accessible, only users with assistive technologies will have a bad time.
Learn More Link
ACCESSIBILITY VS USABILITY: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE TO THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY? by Usable Net Inc.