In the world of accessibility, equality and equity mean everything. Both offer individuals with disabilities the opportunity to enjoy full and equal participation across the public sphere. Although both try to achieve the same success outcomes, they mean different things.
Keep reading to learn more about equality and equity, the key differences between the two concepts, real-world examples of how these principles are applied in everyday life, their importance to accessibility, and how website accessibility overlay widgets like Accessibly can help you achieve equity in record time.
Equality vs. Equity
Equality and equity differ in being provided to everyone rather than recognizing the different barriers individuals with disabilities face in achieving equality, a big part of addressing imbalanced social systems.
Achieving fairness in health care requires more than simply offering the exact resources to all, it demands recognizing the health disparities that different community members face. While equality ensures that everyone receives the same effort and opportunities, equity and equality must work together to promote equity by addressing systemic barriers that prevent equitable access.
Community centers play a crucial role in bridging these gaps, fostering racial equity, and ensuring that health outcomes improve in a fair manner. To truly embrace equity, we must acknowledge the diverse challenges individuals encounter and implement solutions that cater to their unique needs.
For example, equality means putting all individuals, disabled and the non-disabled, on an even playing field, giving them equal access to everything from a fair education to dedicated resources. Its focus is on everyone receiving fair treatment. Think of gender equality.
Within the physical realm, take the example of entering a public workspace. Equality ensures that the same entrance is available for everyone. In contrast, equity recognizes different methods to accommodate the disabled and the mobility-impaired (e.g., widened entryways and ramps for wheelchair users), along with standard office chairs (equality) versus customized chairs, such as height-adjustable for users who use wheelchairs, ensuring an equal outcome.
With digital accessibility, the same concept applies, regardless of the different circumstances individuals with disabilities face.
For example, a company website may be accessible to everyone (regardless of geographical location). In contrast, equity strives to introduce website features that make content easily adjustable for everyone, including individuals with disabilities. One of the best ways to do this is by using website accessibility overlay widgets like Accessibly, which help increase WCAG compliance, minimize legal risk, promote fair participation, and adhere to ADA guidelines.
In short, equality strives to put everyone on an even playing field, whereas equity reinforces the tools and use of the same resources different audiences need to reach equality.
How Do Equity and Equality Impact Web Accessibility?
One of the best ways to understand web accessibility is to know the difference between equality and equity.
For starters, equality in web accessibility means ensuring that all users have access to the same platform. This could mean providing an internet connection for everyone to access a mobile application or universal navigation menus and buttons that work well for everyone.
Let’s not forget about different languages and regionalization, where historically disadvantaged people from other countries can access the same information in spoken and written languages.
That does not mean equality because equity does not guarantee additional support for individuals with disabilities. It offers equal availability but not necessarily complete and equal participation for all.
On the other hand, equity within web accessibility means ensuring equal access to all users, whether non-disabled, cognitively impaired, visually impaired, mobility impaired, or deaf. This means equipping websites with accessibility enhancements, such as alternative text for images for visually impaired users, implementing keyboard navigation for the mobility impaired, and ensuring that video content comes with captions and transcripts for deaf people.
Incorporating dozens of different navigational accessibility-themed elements (which Accessibly provides) on your website or mobile application is only the start of creating a more inclusive digital experience.
Real-World Examples
To better illustrate the difference between equality and equity with websites and mobile applications, consider the following:
Equality
Two ways of looking at equality within the context of providing universal access to all users are using mobile-friendly websites and multi-language support as examples.
In the world of accessibility, equality means creating fully responsive websites that are adjustable to any device so that everyone can view them, regardless of whether they’re using an iPhone, a MacBook, or a Windows laptop. Two excellent examples are Facebook and Twitter, where content is available in one’s primary language regardless of geographical location.
Likewise, big streamers like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video offer app content in several languages for multi-language support, making information accessible to as many people as possible.
Equity
With equity, it’s all about allowing users to understand as much content as possible regardless of disability.
For example, alternative text for images ensures visually impaired users can digest content via screen readers. One excellent example belongs to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which provides video transcripts for people who are hard of hearing.
Another example of equity lies in creating customizable content. For example, those with low vision or cognitive disabilities can benefit from adjusted text sizes, improved contrast between text and background colors, highlighted links, and larger cursors. Examples include popular tutorial platforms Coursera and Khan Academy, which do an excellent job with closed captioning and screen reader compatibility, accommodating individuals with diverse needs.
Let’s discuss how Accessibly can help you achieve equity for all users and its approach to getting the job done.
Accessibly’s Approach to Equitable Websites
Trusted by more than 5,000 clients, the Accessibly web accessibility overlay widget is one of the best ways to ensure equity on any website or mobile application.
Features that can be instantly equipped on your website include alternative text for images, enhanced text and background color contrast options, adjustable brightness, readable fonts, inverted colors, highlighted links, and dozens of others.
All features follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) principles of perceivability, operability, understandability, and robustness for full-fledged functionality.
It’s easy to get started with Accessibly. Right now, new users can enjoy a free 7-day trial with instant access to all features, and even newer features are on the way.
With over 96% of the world’s top one million web pages not accessible, there has never been a better time for site owners and developers to focus on equity by using website accessibility overlays for improved WCAG compliance. Let’s raise awareness towards equality-based solutions, offering the same opportunities for everyone regardless of ability.
Visit the Accessibly blog for additional resources on fascinating topics and to learn more about the difference between equality and equity for a more inclusive online experience for all.
