Everyday life increasingly relies on digital platforms, which means accessibility has become a crucial aspect of web design. We interviewed Tony Walby, a former Paralympic judo athlete and advocate for inclusivity, on the importance of creating online spaces that everyone can navigate.

At Pagecloud, we want to provide the best experience for our site visitors and our app users, and accessibility plays a huge role. Continue reading to learn more about Tony Walby’s background, his experience with accessibility on the web, and learn practical steps you can take to improve your website’s accessibility. 

Tony Walby: A Paralympian’s Journey to Advocacy

Tony began practicing judo at the age of seven, quickly rising through the ranks to join Canada’s national able-bodied judo team. Despite the challenges posed by cone dystrophy, a genetic condition that gradually deteriorated his vision, Walby competed alongside sighted athletes for over 16 years. During this time, he became a 12-time Senior National Medalist in sighted judo and, in his final year of competition, earned the title of national heavyweight champion.

At the age of 35, after being declared legally blind, Tony transitioned to visually-impaired judo. His drive and skill saw him quickly excel in this new arena, winning two gold medals at the 2010 Parapan American Championships. His competitive career culminated at the 2016 Paralympic Games, after which he retired from competitive sport.

In December 2018, Tony was elected as the chair of the Canadian Paralympic Committee’s Athletes’ Council, a position that allows him to continue his advocacy for athletes with disabilities. Tony also has a background in computer engineering and now works for the Canadian Government leading the accessibility team for correctional services.

Why Accessibility Matters 

Tony Walby’s journey offers a unique perspective on the importance of accessibility, so we asked him why accessibility matters in his own words and from his own experiences.

Exclusion in the Digital World

“When we build things that are not open to everybody, then we are excluding somebody,” 

Tony notes. This exclusion is especially significant in the digital realm, where much of our communication and daily activities occur. For many, the web is a lifeline—for everything from paying bills to accessing critical information. However, when websites and applications are not designed with accessibility in mind, they can become barriers rather than bridges.

Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted these challenges more than ever. Tony recounts complaints from visually impaired individuals who struggled with inaccessible websites during the pandemic. 

“What do I do when my screen reader says ‘vegetable’ and doesn’t tell me what type?” 

he recalls one person asking. The lack of proper alt text, inaccessible banking applications, and even handwritten documents from medical appointments—these are just a few examples of how inaccessible design can impede basic human rights.

The Broader Implications of Inaccessibility

For Tony, the issue of accessibility extends beyond just convenience; it touches on fundamental human rights. The ability to access information, communicate, and manage daily tasks online is crucial in today’s world. When people are excluded from these basic functions due to poor web design, it highlights a deeper issue of inequality.

Web Accessibility as a Path to Inclusion

Ensuring that websites and digital platforms are accessible is not just about compliance—it’s about creating an inclusive environment where everyone has equal opportunities. Tony’s advocacy reminds us that web accessibility is essential for empowering individuals and promoting independence, especially for those with disabilities. Web accessibility is not an insurmountable challenge. As Tony points out, 

“It should not be expensive or time-consuming. If it’s done by design, it’s part of everyday website design.”

 Incorporating accessibility into web design from the start ensures that the digital world remains open to everyone, regardless of their abilities. Even meeting the minimum standard can make a significant difference.

Practical Advice for Building Accessible Websites

For businesses and web developers, ensuring accessibility doesn’t have to be daunting. Tony offers practical advice for those starting out:

Use accessibility tools: Tools like Lighthouse and Design Sidekick can help small companies build websites that meet accessibility standards from the get-go, and check for proper semantic structure and accessibility requirements. Apple devices also offer built-in features like swipe functionality that can improve accessibility. 

Test for accessibility: At a minimum, websites should be tested for accessibility issues. Testing is simple, easy, and provides actionable solutions to improve user experience.

Simplify design: The busier a website is, the more challenging it becomes for someone with accessibility needs to navigate it. For instance, a website may be visually stunning, but complexity can make it cumbersome for those who rely on screen readers. Simplifying design while still offering visually enticing content can make a website far more accessible.

Use high color contrast: High contrast colors ensure that users with color blindness can still read the text on your website.  

Use proper alt text: One of the most common accessibility issues on websites is the lack of alt text. Tony stresses that even professionals often overlook this simple step. Proper alt text is essential not just for images but also for background elements that a screen reader might otherwise misinterpret.

Use descriptive link text: Descriptive link text makes it easier for people to understand where a link will take them when they click on it. This also helps people who use screen readers as they are able to better understand the context of the link. For example, link the entirety of "learn more about accessibility" rather than "click here to learn more about accessibility". By only linking "here" it may be less clear to the user where the link is leading.

Building an Accessible Website on Pagecloud

Pagecloud allows you to build an accessible website by giving you easy access to add alt text to your images and heading tags to your website. We pre-fill Aria tags to provide additional information about the structure and purpose of an element on a website.

What's Next?

The push for accessibility is not just about compliance; it’s about inclusivity and ensuring that everyone has equal access to the digital world. As Walby’s experiences illustrate, when websites are accessible, they empower individuals, promote independence, and uphold the basic human right to access information and services.

Review your website's for accessibility by ensuring you have the appropriate alt tags on images and content hierarchy. You can also review your navigation to ensure simplicity and remove and unnecessary clutter. These small changes can make a huge difference! 

Huge thank you to Tony Walby for sharing his experience with our team.