Digi updates site and app to make them more accessible to visually impaired people

When the word accessibility is mentioned in the context of technology, most of our thoughts go directly to whether someone has the right device and the right Internet connection to make it work.

We are now working to make technology much more accessible to people in rural areas in this regard. However, a community still underserved in terms of accessibility to technology would be people with disabilities (PWD).

Since today is International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Digi shared something special, especially for the visually impaired.

They showcased their revised website and the MyDigi app, which improved accessibility features as part of their CSR Yellow Hearts initiative.

They also released an inclusive digital touchpoint strategy manual to inspire other like-minded businesses to create fast-access digital platforms that will benefit more people with disabilities across the country. The playbook contains Digi’s research and commentary from the disability community itself.

It is published by two local social societies that work closely with the visually impaired community: Dialogue in the Dark (DID) and Make It Right Movement (MIRM).

“By including digital touchpoints, people with disabilities can provide the independence and the tools to perform simple, everyday tasks that we all take for granted,” said Brian Lariche, CEO of MIRM.

How it works

In terms of accessibility updates, they followed international accessibility standards. Your improvements will respond to 4 challenges related to visual impairment: blindness, low vision, color blindness, dyslexia.

Screen readers have come a long way, but technology still can’t get around some popular website designs. Some of the ways Digi improves accessibility on its website are:

1. Provide descriptive tags and alt text that people can use to display images when they cannot be seen.
2. Readable fonts without embedded text in images, making them easy to read and understand.
3. Avoid cursive and stylized fonts, which will improve accessibility for dyslexics and help screen readers pronounce words effectively.
4. With high contrast content, icons and buttons for visually impaired users.
5. Avoid content that flashes more than three times in 1 second to avoid affecting users with photosensitive epilepsy.
6. Migration from traditional image-based CAPTCHA to scanned text with an audio alternative.

These enhancements will be incorporated into the Digi website and app, and the team will ensure compatibility with screen readers and A / V transcriptionists used by people with disabilities.

Updates are underway as they include suggestions to improve accessibility on the road so that they can accommodate people with disabilities in addition to those with visual impairments.

The statistics behind the decision

Digi reported in their press release that 1.2% or 400,000 Malaysians have bilateral blindness (visual impairment in both eyes)

4-8% of school-aged children suffer from dyslexia and 7% of Malaysians who are older adults have visual impairment due to aging.

They concluded that the move made good business sense, as 71% of unreachable web visitors leave the company without a complaint or comment.

Therefore, they wanted to create a better user experience for the visually impaired on their website and app.

“The world is online, a fact that has become even more evident during this pandemic. This season has also highlighted the differences between those who have easy access to online experiences and who are less likely to have them, ”said Philip Ling, director of sustainability at Digi.

“We strongly believe that inclusion is a fundamental human right, so we are taking steps to remove barriers to accessing our digital touchpoints.”

“It has the potential to give other Malaysians with disabilities a sense of independence to do their own shopping and connect them to more socio-economic opportunities.”

Philip Ling, Head of Sustainability Digi

• For more information on Digi’s Yellow Heart initiative, click here.
• You can read our previous coverage of another Digi initiative for the visually impaired here.

Selected image source: Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd