Guide to Digital Accessibility in Healthcare

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Guide to Digital Accessibility in Healthcare

Posted August 01, 2024

AudioEye

Posted August 01, 2024

Laptop screen with the image of a woman doctor; the healthcare symbol is in the upper left-hand corner and the accessibility icon is in the bottom right-hand corner.
Laptop screen with the image of a woman doctor; the healthcare symbol is in the upper left-hand corner and the accessibility icon is in the bottom right-hand corner.

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As online healthcare services become more popular, healthcare organizations have a responsibility to ensure their services are accessible to individuals with disabilities. Below, we’ll dive into accessible design best practices and how healthcare organizations can ensure equal access to telehealth or other online healthcare services.

The digitalization of healthcare has changed the way we receive medical treatment. From telemedicine to electronic health records (EHRs) to health management apps, online medical services and healthcare websites have provided more convenience and efficiency in getting care. 

Though online medical services have made it easier than ever to receive medical care, individuals with disabilities struggle to access these resources due to inaccessibility. Roughly 1.3 billion people worldwide have a disability, leaving a considerable percentage of the world’s population without the ability to access online medical care.

To address this gap, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a new ruling on Section 504 regulations. The final rule clarifies numerous areas around digital accessibility in the healthcare sector, including what digital accessibility means and establishing conformance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA as the standard for accessibility. The new ruling also supports regulations under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which requires healthcare providers to improve accessibility in both physical and online spaces. Each of the new regulations further efforts to ensure individuals with disabilities have access to healthcare services and information.

Healthcare organizations must address the accessibility of their digital services to ensure everyone can benefit from online healthcare. Doing so not only fosters more inclusivity in the digital world but also increases the effectiveness of healthcare delivery for individuals with disabilities.

Below, we’ll dive into what healthcare organizations should know about digital accessibility, including:

  • What digital accessibility is
  • Why it’s important in healthcare settings
  • Digital accessibility laws that directly affect healthcare organizations
  • Accessible design principles to follow
  • How to test for digital accessibility in your existing digital content
  • How AudioEye can help you enhance accessibility and inclusivity

What is Digital Accessibility?

Digital accessibility is the design and development of digital experiences, including websites, mobile apps, and electronic documents, in a way that’s usable by everyone, particularly those with disabilities. The process involves creating interfaces that accommodate various disabilities, including visual, auditory, motor, cognitive, and neurological. The goal of digital accessibility is to remove online barriers to digital environments and ensure everyone can access and engage with them effectively.

For example, an accessible telehealth app would include high-contrast text, customizable font sizes, keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, voice commands, and accessible forms. These features ensure individuals with disabilities can easily navigate the app, access medical records, and participate in virtual consultations. Additionally, the app would include closed captioning for video calls, allowing those with auditory impairments to engage with healthcare providers fully.

Why Does Digital Accessibility Matter in Healthcare?

As we mentioned above, 1.3 billion people worldwide have a disability — that’s roughly 17% of the world’s population. This number doesn’t take into account individuals with temporary or situational disabilities. For example, approximately 2.2 billion people in the world have some kind of visual impairment that can make viewing or interacting with online content difficult.

People with disabilities also tend to use healthcare services more than those who do not have a disability. In addition to in-person visits, many individuals rely on telehealth services for follow-ups or brief check-ins with their healthcare providers. 

As technology evolves, the individuals creating it must consider digital accessibility—especially in healthcare. When healthcare technology is designed to be accessible, not only does this enable people with disabilities to get the healthcare they need, but it also expands the reach of the software. More simply, accessible healthcare will be vastly preferred over inaccessible technology, giving organizations a major competitive advantage.


Along with being the right thing to do, digital accessibility is a legal requirement for businesses worldwide under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the European Accessibility Act (EAA), the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), and more (we’ll review the specific requirements under these laws in more detail below). Following the accessibility standards in these laws enables organizations to avoid potential legal action, including lawsuits, demand letters, or fines — all of which can be expensive and reputation-damaging.

What is the Legal Requirement for Digital Accessibility in Healthcare?

As mentioned above, numerous international accessibility laws mandate organizations to provide accessible technology to individuals with disabilities. Some of these laws include:

  • ADA: The ADA prohibits organizations from discriminating against individuals with disabilities in physical and digital environments. For healthcare organizations, digital tools, including websites, mobile apps, and electronic health systems, must be designed so that individuals with disabilities can use them. 
  • Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act: Section 508 applies specifically to electronic and information technology (EIT) that’s procured, maintained, or used by federal agencies to be accessible to individuals with disabilities.
  • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act: Section 504 applies directly to employers or organizations that receive financial assistance from any Federal department or agency, including the HHS. Under Section 504, organizations cannot exclude or deny individuals with disabilities opportunities to receive program benefits or services. It also defines the rights of individuals with to participate in, and have access to, program benefits and services.
  • EAA: The EAA is a European directive that’s designed to improve accessibility for people with disabilities across various sectors within the EU. More simply, it’s designed to ensure people with disabilities can participate fully and independently in society by making a wide range of goods and services more accessible.
  • AODA: Similar to the EAA, the AODA is designed to improve accessibility across various sectors in Ontario. The AODA ensures that individuals with disabilities have equal access to goods, services, facilities, and employment opportunities.

Each of those accessibility laws uses the WCAG 2.1 Level AA as a standard for accessibility. WCAG includes success criteria designed to eliminate most accessibility barriers that prevent users with disabilities from easily accessing and using digital content. 

For example, WCAG Success Criteria 1.2.2 requires that all audio and video content include captions so individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing can still interact with the content. The feature also benefits those with situational disabilities, such as being in a noisy environment.


This is just one example of the success criteria included in WCAG. You can view a more extensive list of WCAG guidelines on the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) website. We also recommend using our WCAG checklist to help you keep track of which accessibility standards you’re currently meeting and which you need to add.

A blue accessibility symbol made out of different shapes, next to a stylized image of an e-commerce website with products for sale.

Accessible Design Principles to Follow in Your Healthcare Practice

Take a look at the accessible design principles below to comply with digital accessibility standards and provide a more accessible, equitable healthcare experience.

Mobile App Accessibility

In 2023, there were more than 375 million downloads of mobile health apps. These apps track various aspects of an individual’s health (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure, exercise, and even caloric intake) and are becoming increasingly popular among consumers. 

When designing mobile apps, keep accessibility in mind. Think about the experience users with disabilities will have when using your mobile app and incorporate features that make the experience more seamless. 

For example, consider the size of the screen users will be viewing from and ensure designs are suited for the size. Designers should also provide a minimum touch target size of 9 mm with inactive white space around the target. This ensures users with physical impairments can easily click on the button.

Color Contrast

Sufficient color contrast helps improve the readability of your digital interfaces. You’ll want to ensure your text or visual elements have enough contrast against the background to ensure users with low vision or color blindness can distinguish between them. WCAG recommends providing a minimum color contrast of 4.5:1 for normal text and 7:1 for larger text. You can achieve this balance using a color contrast checker like this one from AudioEye.

Text Size

At a minimum, you’ll want to ensure your text is adjustable and large enough to be read by users with visual impairments. Allowing users to increase or decrease text size without losing content or functionality ensures individuals with low vision or those using screen magnification tools can comfortably read important health information.

Keyboard Navigation

To conform with WCAG standards, your websites and mobile applications must be navigable by keyboard alone. This ensures users can tab through various interactive elements logically and complete tasks. You’ll also want to use proper focus indicators and shortcuts to enhance usability for those with motor impairments who rely solely on keyboard navigation.

Assistive Technology Compatibility

Your digital healthcare content should be keyboard accessible and compatible with assistive technologies such as screen readers, voice recognition software, and alternative input devices. You’ll want to test your content and optimize it as needed to increase compatibility, ensuring that assistive technology users can effectively interact with healthcare services.

Audio and Video Captions

As mentioned above, captions for audio and video content is essential for those with hearing impairments or disabilities. Ensure all multimedia content includes accurate captions for spoken words and any relevant sounds or audio cues. This allows all users to access and understand multimedia content. 


Another way to enhance the accessibility of your multimedia content is to provide sign language interpretation where possible. Doing so also helps you fulfill WCAG Success Criteria 1.2.6 Sign Language, which is a Level AAA recommendation.

Use Clear, Simple Language

Many users may struggle to understand healthcare jargon in general. Using clear, simple language helps avoid misunderstandings or errors around healthcare information and makes your digital environment more accessible. For example, users with cognitive disabilities benefit from clear, straightforward language. Avoiding medical jargon as much as possible and breaking information into manageable sections enhances comprehension and usability.

Voice Recognition Software

Healthcare digital platforms should be compatible with voice recognition software. These solutions assist users who might have difficulty using traditional input methods to better navigate and interact with online healthcare platforms. For example, ensure voice commands can effectively navigate the interface or provide an alternative method for users with mobility impairments or other difficulties.

Provide Accessible Forms and Documents

Online documents are frequently used in healthcare settings — from patient history forms to consent for treatment. These documents should be designed to be accessible to users with disabilities and include features like properly labeled form fields and navigation by keyboard or assistive technologies. Ensuring these documents are accessible allows users to complete forms or access important information independently.

A collage of stylized web pages showing different accessibility issues, from dark mode with too-low contrast to elements that require mousing or fine-motor control.

Testing and Evaluating Digital Content for Accessibility

As you’re creating digital healthcare content, it’s critical you test it for accessibility. There are two primary approaches you can take to testing content accessibility:

  • Automated accessibility testing: This approach involves using accessibility tools to automatically scan your digital content for common accessibility issues. These tools can identify accessibility barriers such as missing alt text, poor color contrast, structural HTML problems, and more. Depending on the tool, some can automatically resolve these issues, saving valuable time and resources. However, accessibility solutions can only identify common accessibility issues, leaving more complex issues unresolved on your site.
  • Manual accessibility testing: Manual accessibility testing takes a more hands-on approach. Real human testers and those with disabilities themselves interact with digital content using assistive technologies like screen readers, keyboard commands, or voice recognition software. They highlight more complex accessibility issues, such as how usable a form is or how accurate alt text is. The downside to manual testing is it can be time-consuming and resource intensive.

To enhance the accessibility of your healthcare content, we recommend using a hybrid approach. For example, AudioEye uses both automated and expert-led testing to find and fix accessibility issues. Our Automated Accessibility Platform identifies common accessibility issues and applies automatic fixes. Our team of experts, which includes individuals with disabilities, further evaluates your content, identifying additional accessibility barriers and providing recommendations for remediation.

Ultimately, a hybrid approach to accessibility testing enables you to create digital environments that not only meet accessibility compliance standards but are also genuinely accessible and usable for all users.

Ensure Equal Access to Healthcare: Simplify Your Digital Accessibility with AudioEye

As healthcare services become more digital, technology providers have a responsibility to provide accessible, inclusive access to these platforms. Doing so not only allows organizations to meet accessibility laws and regulations but also ensures individuals with disabilities have equal and easy access to critical online health services. 

With AudioEye, creating accessible and inclusive healthcare digital content is easier than ever. We start with our free Web Accessibility Scanner which highlights accessibility issues in your existing content, giving you a great starting point. We then use our Automated Accessibility Platform to find and fix common accessibility issues automatically. Our team of experts supplements automatic testing by digging deeper into your healthcare environment for more complex accessibility issues. They provide actionable recommendations on how to remediate these issues and create a more accessible user experience.

Along with in-depth accessibility testing, AudioEye’s Developer Tools provide designers and developers with a secure pre-production environment to test code and components for accessibility issues. This enables them to fix website accessibility issues before they impact the user.


Ready to get started on your accessibility journey? Get started by scanning your healthcare content below, or contact us to schedule a demo.

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Ready to test your website for accessibility?

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