Hearing Disabilities and Universal Design
In the U.S. approximately 1 million people are “functionally deaf” and 8 million people are hard of hearing.
Have you ever noticed how difficult it is to watch a movie with no sound? Many websites have video, voiced instruction, or sound cues. Deaf or hard of hearing people can’t always hear those sounds.
Captioning video, including alternative text or providing written commands are all elements of universal design and benefits all users—not just persons who are hearing impaired. For example, when a transcript is provided of a podcast lecture, the lecture becomes that much more effective allowing it to be printed and distributed, and used as a useful revision resource later.
Get Started with Accessible Design
Here are a few things to help your institution get started with accessibility
- Whenever audio is used provide closed captioning
- Provide Alternate text when closed captioning is not available
- Whenever significant information is provided by sound, include a visual indicator that provides the same information as well
For more information or additional tips:
Illinois Information Technology Accessibility Act
iCITA Information Technology Accessibility Best Practices
Browse the videos to hear first-hand accounts from people with hearing impairments and to view see demos of assistive technologies.
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Web Obstacles for the Deaf and hard of hearing Windows Media Player |