When we think about computer accessibility, we often focus on compliance with Section 508, the law mandating that websites, IT resources, and electronic documents procured and maintained by federal agencies are accessible to people with disabilities. Current best practices in the broader UX world also look to ensure minimal accessibility standards. At Ad Hoc, our work must meet these standards, but we strive to go beyond them.

In my work with Medicare beneficiaries, I’ve learned that the challenges of ensuring a diversity of people can access electronic resources go beyond what can be described in a set of standards. For many individuals, aging is accompanied by changes to their vision, hearing, manual dexterity, and/or cognitive abilities. As they’re managing these uncontrollable shifts in their lives, the constant modifications introduced by updates to websites, applications, and operating systems can make using computers an ongoing struggle for many people

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