Insider Update

When your clients think of accessibility, they may think of wheelchair ramps and designated parking spaces. But when it comes to ensuring high-quality care, accessibility goes beyond the physical world. Accessibility extends into digital spaces and into the interactions that people have in their day-to-day lives. Let’s look at why accessibility is an important part of dental insurance and what it means for your clients.

What is accessibility?

Accessibility is about making an experience available to the widest group of people, including those with physical or cognitive disabilities. That can include:
 

• Using alternate text in images so that screen readers can describe them to users who are blind
• Providing transcripts of videos for users who are deaf
• Designing websites simply for users who have cognitive disabilities
   

What this means for your clients’ employees is simple: when they visit Delta Dental’s website or need to call customer service, their questions will be answered and their needs will be met, no matter their abilities.

Why does accessibility matter?

Accessibility is about inclusivity for all your clients’ employees, no matter their needs. With just a little effort, impediments like being unable to hear a video or read a website can be overcome, and more people will be able to access the quality care that they deserve.

Additionally, designing websites and implementing customer service practices that make life easier for those with disabilities often makes life easier for everyone. Regardless of their abilities, everyone appreciates simple and intuitive designs and being able to change settings to their personal preferences when it comes to interacting with websites and customer service platforms.

There are also legal reasons to make accessibility a priority. Under laws such as the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, it’s illegal to have Federal electronic and information technology inaccessible to people with disabilities or to discriminate on the basis of disability.

What is Delta Dental doing to advance accessibility?

At Delta Dental, we’re committed to ensuring the accessibility of our products and services for everyone. We’re committed to providing a platform that goes beyond mere compliance and seeks to provide a more meaningful experience for our customers with diverse backgrounds, abilities and perceptions.

Our website and other products comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 levels A/AA, section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA), in addition to other local governing laws. For more information, see our accessibility statement.

In real terms, that means supporting popular web browsers, including Chrome, Edge, Safari and Firefox in desktop and mobile web views, as well as assistive technology including, but not limited to, screen readers and magnifiers on various platforms.

We also provide services for non-English speaking employees through the Language Assistance Program (LAP). Through LAP, members can request documents in accessible formats, like Braille, and have on-site American Sign Language interpreters accompany them during dental visits. To take advantage of these services, including instructions on requesting an on-site interpreter, your clients can visit our language assistance page or call customer service.

Accessibility is about more than just checking boxes and meeting requirements. It’s really about providing a high-quality experience for everyone. We’re proud help ensure your clients get great dental care.