Increasing Data Equity Through Accessibility

TL;DR

This paper advocates for improved data accessibility for people with disabilities, emphasizing the need for inclusive standards and research to ensure equitable data engagement and support for disabled communities.

Contribution

It highlights the critical gap in data accessibility for disabled people and calls for policy and standard changes to promote data equity.

Findings

Disabled people face significant barriers in interacting with data and visualizations.

Current tools and standards do not adequately support disabled users.

Inclusive data practices are essential for equitable engagement with government and civil society.

Abstract

This position statement is a response to the Office of Science and Technology Policy's Request for Information on "Equitable Data Engagement and Accountability." This response considers data equity specifically for people with disabilities. The RFI asks "how Federal agencies can better support collaboration with other levels of government, civil society, and the research community around the production and use of equitable data." We argue that one critically underserved community in the context of data equity is people with disabilities. Today's tools make it extremely difficult for disabled people to (1) interact with data and data visualizations and (2) take jobs that involve working with and visualizing data. Yet access to such data is increasingly critical, and integral, to engaging with government and civil society. We must change the standards and expectations around data practices to include disabled people and support the research necessary to achieve those goals.