Digital Equity – The Foundation of the Modern Office
More and more work happens in digital spaces, yet not all employees have equal access. Visually impaired, mobility-challenged, deaf, or neurodivergent employees often find internal HR tools, intranets, or documents difficult or impossible to use.
All it takes is an overly visual layout or a mouse-only interface to shut out some colleagues from daily communications or admin processes. This doesn’t just create inequality – it introduces legal and operational risk. Starting in 2025, the EU mandates digital accessibility for certain services.
Microsoft 365 – Built-In Tools Few Know About
Microsoft 365 includes many accessibility options by default:
- Screen reader compatibility: Word, Excel, and SharePoint work seamlessly with JAWS and Narrator.
- Keyboard navigation: All menus and forms can be accessed without a mouse.
- Live captions in Teams: Real-time, multilingual captions improve meeting access for deaf users and those facing language barriers.
- Color vision-friendly design: Contrast improvements, iconography, and customizable color palettes support better visual processing.
Real Challenge – Real Consequence
A Hungarian service company had a sleek HR portal – but screen readers couldn’t parse it. A visually impaired administrator consistently missed key updates and benefit information. In another team, a colorblind developer couldn’t distinguish between error and status icons – leading to incorrect data entries.
The fix? Use Microsoft 365 tools to improve SharePoint accessibility with alt texts, color adjustments, and simplified navigation.
How Gloster Cloud Helps
Gloster Cloud supports the customization of Microsoft 365 accessibility features:
- Accessibility audits of intranet and HR systems
- Testing for keyboard navigation and screen reader usability
- Teams setup with live captions and multilingual support
- Training and onboarding guides to engage employees
In many cases, a few settings, templates, or trainings make a significant impact – helping you not only comply with regulations but create a more inclusive and effective workplace.
Curious how your company could make digital work truly accessible for everyone? Contact us and our experts will help you out.
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