{"id":20310,"date":"2025-04-29T05:14:34","date_gmt":"2025-04-29T05:14:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uxmag.com\/?p=20310"},"modified":"2025-04-29T05:14:35","modified_gmt":"2025-04-29T05:14:35","slug":"being-blind-on-the-internet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uxmag.com\/articles\/being-blind-on-the-internet","title":{"rendered":"Being Blind on the Internet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sylvie Duchateau has been a digital accessibility consultant<\/a> for over 20 years. After working for the association BrailleNet<\/a> and later for Access42<\/a>, a cooperative specialising in accessibility, she decided to go freelance. An expert in screen readers, she offers training, awareness sessions, and accessibility testing while also being actively involved in several organisations. Since 2021, Sylvie has also been volunteering for Paris Web<\/a>, the French-speaking conference dedicated to a high-quality and accessible web.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was at the 2024 edition of Paris Web that we met. Her guide dog, Shiva, immediately caught my attention. Sylvie Duchateau has been blind since birth and has been using a guide dog for nearly 20 years. A few months after our meeting, I wanted to ask her about her needs online and her vision on accessibility. Yes, pun intended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sylvie told me about the obstacles she regularly encounters, such as impossible-to-bypass CAPTCHAs, poorly designed cookie banners, and inaccessible virtual keyboards. She also explained how her braille display works \u2014 a device that allows her to read the screen line by line through 40 tactile characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also discussed the progress of artificial intelligence. While some advancements are useful, others stand far from what blind people really need. One anecdote particularly stood out to me: to understand colour nuances, Sylvie uses music. Each shade is translated into a sound or musical emotion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our conversation also touched on broader topics, such as the importance of raising awareness and training people in accessibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sylvie joined our call on Microsoft Teams, camera on, and asked if she had turned the light on correctly. That set the tone right away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Challenges of online navigation for blind people<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What is your disability, and what are your needs online?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m not afraid of words. I\u2019ve been blind since birth, and I\u2019m proud to say it. It\u2019s not a bad word, despite what people say. I can\u2019t stand the term \u201cvisually impaired\u201d anymore. Why are people afraid of words? We need to say what we are. I\u2019ve lived with this since birth, so I embrace it. But to each their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I read in braille and use a screen reader. Right now, for example, my braille display tells me it\u2019s 6:07 pm without you knowing. It\u2019s more discreet. As for my needs, they are the same as any person who cannot see. I need alternatives for images, in particular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What impact does AI have on your digital accessibility?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When I\u2019m using an app, my iPhone describes everything and anything. For example, \u201cimage of little birds with people walking in circles and shaking hands.\u201d But you don\u2019t know what the image is actually for. I need to know if it\u2019s for logging in, to understand the function of the image, but not necessarily that it depicts little birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have dedicated apps that describe a lot of things. For instance, \u201cyou have a document from X organisation with a yellow logo on a blue background.\u201d But, honestly, I couldn\u2019t care less about the logo. Some of it is impressive, but I think there are details that are unnecessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of colours, how did your collaboration with a graphic designer go when creating your visual identity?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Since I\u2019ve been blind since birth, colours are abstract to me. They\u2019re just words. When my graphic designer created the logo for my company, it was quite a challenge because she had to describe the message she wanted to convey. Sometimes, I couldn\u2019t quite imagine what it would look like. So, I asked friends and family what they thought. They\u2019d say the blue was \u201ctoo this\u201d or \u201cnot enough that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My designer then found musical equivalents to describe these nuances to me. She\u2019d compare them to \u201cthe musical note of a triangle in a symphony.\u201d Something that adds a little extra touch. She tried to draw parallels with things I understood, like music or cooking. Like adding a bit of spice to a stew to make it tastier!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though my designer wasn\u2019t especially familiar with digital accessibility, I trusted her because she fosters guide dogs and understands our challenges. Also, she worked closely with Julie Moynat<\/a>, who handled the development of my website, so she learned a lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you think accessibility is improving over time?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tools are always changing, so difficulties shift. The web is becoming more complex and increasingly visual. What I find tricky is that there are so many platforms \u2014 websites, Facebook (which I dislike), Instagram\u2026 You don\u2019t know where to go. If you tried to use all the platforms, you\u2019d waste your whole day. So, it\u2019s not easy to choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then, something that was accessible suddenly becomes inaccessible overnight. That ongoing struggle is frustrating. The laws in France<\/a> have been here for 20 years, and we\u2019re still stuck in the same place. Suddenly, you\u2019re hit with a CAPTCHA out of nowhere. Another security code. The so-called frenemy relationship between security and accessibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But I\u2019m sure we could make them work together. Instead, security says, \u201cWe\u2019re facing a lot of cyberattacks, so let\u2019s add a CAPTCHA.\u201d And then accessibility loses the battle. That\u2019s the problem; today\u2019s tools don\u2019t even have clean code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does your digital accessibility advocacy involve?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I try to share anecdotes; it\u2019s crucial to show how I struggle on different websites. There was one site I always used as an example, but they\u2019ve improved, so I won\u2019t name them. At the time, their screen reader output was entirely in English because they hadn\u2019t correctly set the site language<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another issue was that the form fields weren\u2019t labelled properly<\/a>. For example, when entering your email to create an account, a sighted person would see a message saying, \u201cYou\u2019ve received a code by email.\u201d But I couldn\u2019t see it because there was no aria attribute to read it aloud. That\u2019s the kind of thing I point out to people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also used to split people into two groups \u2014 one that used a screen reader and another that looked at the screen. I\u2019d ask the group using a screen reader to tell me what site we were on. They couldn\u2019t because the page title was just \u201clogin.\u201d Then I\u2019d ask, \u201cDo you know what site we\u2019re on?\u201d Well, neither do I! That\u2019s the issue if you don\u2019t set a proper page title<\/a>. The same goes for logos. Sighted people recognise the site\u2019s logo. For me, if the image alt text just says \u201clogo,\u201d I have no idea where I am. These activities help people understand why accessibility is important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a UX designer, if I could do just one thing for you, what would it be?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Clients often just want to please themselves. They forget who\u2019s going to be using their site. We should make it so everyone can use it without hassle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We really need to stop using CAPTCHAs. I struggle to distinguish the letters through the screen reader. Sometimes it\u2019s a child\u2019s voice, sometimes an adult\u2019s. Plus, there\u2019s background noise that makes the audio hard to hear. Is it an S or an F? It\u2019s not easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes you\u2019re asked to pick the geometric shape that\u2019s different from the others. I tried asking AI to describe the images for me. So, imagine there are four circles and one square. But then I had to find and click on the square, and I never managed to because the click area wasn\u2019t split into images with alt texts. After a while, the time runs out, so you start again. Often, you\u2019re not given enough time to do these things. You get disconnected and have to start over. It\u2019s also essential for someone with motor disabilities and who types slowly to have enough time to complete such actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are also virtual keyboards, like when you log in to your bank. The numbers are in a random order for you to enter the code. It\u2019s really frustrating because you have to memorise the numbers\u2019 order to find and select the correct one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And cookie banners are often poorly done. You have loads of options to tick\u2026 It\u2019s a nuisance because you\u2019re asked to go through this on every single site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we focus beyond the interface, what about service design?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s an insurance company that offers a policy for guide dogs. It\u2019s really great \u2014 you pay \u20ac150 a year, and if something happens, you and your dog can be repatriated easily. If you have an accident or your dog falls ill, you just fill out an online form. That part is fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But then, the insurance company refunds you by cheque.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, as a blind person, you have to go to the bank to deposit the cheque. Except you can\u2019t do it at the counter anymore. You have to use the ATM, which doesn\u2019t have speech output. So, you have to ask a staff member for help, with no confidentiality at all. You have no idea if they put the cheque in the envelope correctly \u2014 or at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

User experience doesn\u2019t stop at the online interface. And when I raised the issue with the insurance company, they told me it was a software problem, that they\u2019d have to reprogram it, and that it would take time to fix. I wonder if they realise that we\u2019re the ones struggling the most to get a refund because of these complicated processes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can we use verbs like \u201csee\u201d on a button label?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Everyone sees in their own way. Antoine de Saint-Exup\u00e9ry said, \u201cOne sees clearly only with the heart. What is essential is invisible to the eye.\u201d That\u2019s beautiful, isn\u2019t it? Seeing is also about perceiving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In our association, ANM\u2019 Chiens Guides<\/a>, some blind people prefer saying \u201cwe\u2019ll hear each other soon\u201d instead of \u201csee you soon.\u201d It makes us laugh. Because yes, we do have a sense of humour. I think it\u2019s other people who have an issue with these things, more than I do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I remember when I was a kid, I was in the Netherlands visiting my cousins who lived there. People had never seen a blind person before. All these little kids were staring at me strangely. And my cousin, who was just a little girl herself, turned to one of them and said something in Dutch: \u201cWhy are you staring at my cousin like that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s true \u2014 people look at you like some kind of curiosity. But honestly, I think they feel more awkward about it than I do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I \u201csee\u201d content with my fingers when I read braille. I \u201csee\u201d my surroundings by listening, by smelling the smell of bread as I approach the bakery. We perceive things in different ways, but we use the verb see because that\u2019s just how language works. Even if it doesn\u2019t mean seeing with your eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Assistive technology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Do all blind people read braille?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, no. Some people who lose their sight later in life don\u2019t want to or can\u2019t learn braille. Developing fingertip sensitivity takes training. I read with my index and middle fingers, but if you asked me to use a different finger, I wouldn\u2019t be able to. And some people will never learn it, just like many adults who lose their sight later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Braille also takes up a huge amount of space. I always use Les Mis\u00e9rables<\/em> as an example \u2014 it\u2019s 50 volumes in braille, so you can\u2019t exactly carry it on the tube! When I was in secondary school, a friend had dreamt that I was sitting my exams with a shopping trolley full of books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luckily, there\u2019s something called contracted braille<\/a>. It uses combinations of letters and symbols to shorten words and reduce the number of volumes needed. For example, the word \u201cbraille\u201d has the short form contraction of \u201cbrl\u201d. But with a braille notetaker, you can load books onto an SD card, which saves a lot of space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you only read books in braille?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The braille display I showed you costs \u20ac5,000, so it\u2019s not for everyone. That can also be a barrier to reading braille.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For me, the easiest option is listening to an audiobook in bed. It\u2019s more discreet, too. Every time the braille display refreshes, it makes a clack-clack<\/em> sound. Not ideal if you\u2019re in bed and your partner is trying to sleep!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How does a braille display work?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

My braille display has 40 characters per line, but there are smaller ones too, from 12 to 80 characters. Each character is formed by two columns of four raised dots. Depending on the character, some dots pop up while others stay flat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I reach the end of the 40-character line, I press a button to load the rest of the text. For me, reading braille is like looking at a screen that only shows 40 characters at a time. I have no idea what\u2019s around that text. If someone says \u201cit\u2019s at the top\u201d<\/em> or \u201con the right,\u201d<\/em> that means nothing to me. But if they tell me the button I\u2019m looking for says \u201cConfirm,\u201d<\/em> I can find it by searching for the text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The page is continuously reformatted into 40-character sequences. This process is called decolumnising<\/em> \u2014 columns are removed, and the text is displayed in the predefined reading order. If the page structure is done properly, I can also jump from one heading to another instead of reading everything 40 characters at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s the difference between a screen reader and text-to-speech?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A screen reader is software that interprets the information displayed on a screen. Based on data from the operating system and browser, it can tell you whether you\u2019re on a link, a button, or an image. It can also indicate if a link has been visited or how many items are in a bulleted list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This information is then converted into text. That text can be displayed in braille on a braille display or spoken aloud using text-to-speech (TTS). As the name suggests, text-to-speech is a synthetic voice generated by a computer or mobile device. When you talk to your favourite voice assistant, the voice you hear is a form of text-to-speech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Screen readers can interpret information and send it to a braille display or text-to-speech. Image by Tamara Sredojevic<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The limits of compliance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Compliance vs accessibility: a false debate?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I don\u2019t think we need to oppose them. The other day, I was asked to test a form. It had major accessibility issues: no page title when moving to the next step, an image button with either too much or too little information\u2026 In short, it was unusable. Before asking a disabled person to test a site, you need to make sure it meets at least basic accessibility standards. Otherwise, it\u2019s just discouraging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what bothers me about compliance is this percentage-based approach. If a site is 75% compliant\u2026 fine, but there\u2019s still 25% left. And often, within that 25%, you\u2019ll find a CAPTCHA, missing alt text\u2026 What matters to me is being able to complete a task from start to finish without being blocked. Whether a site is 75% compliant means very little if I can\u2019t get to the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you experience activism as a disabled person?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I get it from my mum \u2014 she was very active in associations. She was deeply involved in the parents\u2019 association for blind children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Activism has sometimes been hard to balance, especially when I was employed. People expected me to be available during the day for meetings, but no, I was working! It\u2019s like when you ask for the schedule of an audio-described cinema screening, and they give you a time when most people are at work. As if Disabled people don\u2019t have jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I even wondered whether I should continue working in digital accessibility. But Paris Web helped me stay in the field and gain visibility. It\u2019s a great conference, and it allows me to meet people instead of being alone at home. But it\u2019s all volunteering, and I struggle to step back. I\u2019m also involved in a guide dog charity, which is still close to my heart \u2014 we need to keep pushing things forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is anti-ableism an important cause for you?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I struggle with that term a little. Some people can be quite aggressive about it, saying, \u201cYou can\u2019t say that, it\u2019s ableist.\u201d I prefer raising awareness instead. Helping people realise why change is needed. Some may be ableist, but they mean well. They just haven\u2019t learned how to do better. I don\u2019t get angry about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What frustrates me more is that we\u2019ve had a law in France for 20 years, and the web still isn\u2019t accessible. Every day, I face accessibility issues \u2014 whether digital or physical. I\u2019m tired of the lack of progress. I leave my house, and roadworks block the pavement, so I\u2019m stuck. In the metro, sometimes there are two doors \u2014 the train door and the one on the platform. Earlier today, the train door didn\u2019t open fully, so I couldn\u2019t get out. By the time I found another door, the train had left, and I had to get off at the next station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are the things that really annoy me, more than ableism itself. It feels like no one cares, not the government, not policymakers, not decision-makers. We\u2019ve been fighting for 20 years, and we\u2019re still at square one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s the solution to drive change?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s intentional, but there\u2019s a clear lack of training, at least in the digital space. We need more training, more awareness. We need to get into schools. I\u2019ve done accessibility talks for Master\u2019s students at the University of Paris 8, but it was just 90 minutes for the whole year. That\u2019s not enough. Accessibility should be integrated into curricula, just like security or data protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is a perfectly inclusive society realistic?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m not sure why, but I struggle with the word \u201cinclusive.\u201d It\u2019s everywhere these days, for everything and anything. It\u2019s become a buzzword that doesn\u2019t really mean much. In my day, we talked about \u201cintegration\u201d \u2014 as in, \u201cI\u2019m in a special school, but next year, I\u2019ll be integrated into a mainstream secondary school.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I prefer talking about accessibility. I feel like people avoid using certain words. Like when they say, \u201cperson with a disability.\u201d Or when they say, \u201cI suffer from a disability\u201d or \u201cI have been affected by\u2026\u201d I don\u2019t suffer \u2014 I\u2019m just blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But to answer your question, for our society to be truly accessible, we need to commit to it. And I\u2019m starting to wonder if that\u2019s even realistic. We\u2019ve been waiting 20 years. The 2005 law came in, and since then, all we hear is, \u201cOh, it\u2019s too complicated,\u201d so let\u2019s make exceptions. Especially in the built environment. \u201cOh, it\u2019s an old castle, so we can\u2019t make it accessible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One thing that really bothers me is touchscreen payment terminals. The European Accessibility Act<\/a> says they must be accessible. But only new terminals will have to comply. The old ones will still be used and not necessarily replaced because of \u201cbudget constraints.\u201d So they won\u2019t be fully accessible until at least 2030.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The article originally appeared on iamtamara.design<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Featured image courtesy: Aurore Tr\u00e9la\u00fcn<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sylvie Duchateau has been a digital accessibility consultant for over 20 years. After working for the association BrailleNet and later for Access42, a cooperative specialising in accessibility, she decided to go freelance. An expert in screen readers, she offers training, awareness sessions, and accessibility testing while also being actively involved in several organisations. 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