666: Digital Accessibility, Research Guides Healthy Aging Work

ROBERT JOHNSON: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Thursday, May 16, 2024. I'm Robert Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

DEREK OLSON: 

The CDC estimates that up to one in four Americans have some type of disability.

JOHNSON: 

Despite the numbers, a lot of digital content isn't optimized for the audience. This is Derrick Olson, web content manager at the Washington State Department of Health.

OLSON: 

Even with that very high number, accessibility issues are often dismissed in the web development, we're all due the extra effort and cost it takes to design digital content with compassion.

JOHNSON: 

Today, is global accessibility awareness day an opportunity to reflect on the importance of digital access and inclusion. Olson says his team checks every piece of the department website before it goes online.

OLSON: 

Any part of our template our contractor designed had to pass machine accessibility testing with zero issues, in order for that element to be included in our new website.

JOHNSON: 

Olson is happy the website passes the machine test, but says nothing can replace feedback from people who use the content.

OLSON: 

While machines can identify those common errors. It can't tell you if your page is truly usable by someone who relies on the keyboard and screen reader alone to experience the internet. Only human accessibility testing can determine whether a webpage is truly accessible.

JOHNSON: 

You can visit Washington's website using the link in the show notes.

ASTHO has systems to ensure its online products are accessible. Emily Lapayowker says that includes a policy to guide improvements.

EMILY LAPAYOWKER: 

So, we pass an internal accessibility policy, which codifies you know why we're doing this, why we're focusing on accessibility, IT accessibility. And it details the scope and the standards we're working towards things like that.

JOHNSON: 

Lapayowker says success is built on partnerships across the organization and attention to the details.

LAPAYOWKER: 

We have an incredible disability inclusion team that does a lot of front facing work, which is remarkable and you know, we have graphic designers who try to make sure that you know the color contrast is right. For all the products that go out.

JOHNSON: 

Learn more about Global Accessibility Awareness Day using the link in the show notes.

Also today, two papers new to the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice examine the agency role and state plans associated with healthy aging. ASTHO staff wrote both articles, one offers recommendations to state and territorial health agencies. The other examines Georgia's experience bringing state agencies together to better serve impacted communities. Read both articles by clicking the links in the show notes.

Finally, this morning, get the latest public health news and resources when you sign up for ASTHO's Public Health Weekly email newsletter. The link is waiting for you now in the show notes.

Before we go a reminder also to follow this newscast on your podcast player and connect with ASTHO on social media. We're on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

That'll do it for today. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Robert Johnson. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.