What web development professionals learned at Dialog in the Dark

A comfortable web experience for everyone

The internet is an important place where everyone can access information and connect with others conveniently. However, small differences in design or functionality can make the experience smooth for some people but difficult for others.

Starting April 2024, the Disability Discrimination Act requires companies and public institutions to provide reasonable accommodations, making web accessibility services increasingly essential.

Liberogic is committed to web accessibility, aiming for a web experience that is usable for everyone. We carefully address structure, design, and coding in accordance with international standards such as WCAG and JIS X 8341-3:2016, as well as the latest guidelines from the Digital Agency and Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Our corporate website complies with accessibility standard WCAG 2.2 AA, and we are also listed on the Accessible Website Gallery operated by Torque!

Even if creators believe they understand implementation technology, they can only imagine what people with disabilities think, what troubles them, and why they struggle.

As web accessibility professionals, our entire team participated in "Dialog in the Dark," an experiential training program that allows us to simulate how people with visual impairments perceive the world, to deepen our understanding.

Dialogue in the Dark

Have you ever seen things with something other than your eyes?

Dialogue in the Dark is a social entertainment experience guided by visually impaired facilitators, where participants enjoy various senses and communication beyond vision in a completely light-sealed "100% pure darkness."

https://did.dialogue.or.jp/

The experience begins by selecting a white cane (the mobility aid used by people with visual impairments), and then using senses other than sight to navigate through a pitch-black room and enjoy a variety of activities.

When you can't see, you lose your sense of distance from others and spatial awareness. You don't know where you are, and there's a fear of colliding with things. It made me realize how much I rely on sight in my daily life.

With vision blocked, communication with others depends entirely on voice. I was struck by how naturally everyone began speaking up—'There's ●● here,' 'Watch out, be careful!'—to help each other navigate.

For our team, the experience was full of surprises, and everyone gained valuable insights and lessons. Here are a few examples.

M
I have severe myopia where everything is blurry, but I can still fill in gaps with color and other cues even if I can't make out shapes or text clearly. Experiencing a world of zero vision showed me just how drastically different it is to have sight versus no sight at all.

H
I thought the white cane was only for recognizing tactile paving blocks and spatial awareness, but discovering that you can perceive texture by striking it on the ground or sliding it across surfaces—that was eye-opening! I realized that the information gained through touch, not just hearing, is incredibly rich.

O
When I tried to recall what was in the venue, I had a vague visual memory even though I hadn't seen anything. I think the brain converts tactile information into visual-like memories.

Through Dialog in the Dark, I realized that senses become sharper precisely because of the absence of sight, and I gained a deeper appreciation for the importance of communication.

There's really so much more I'd like to share, but I must refrain to avoid spoilers. I truly hope you'll experience it firsthand!

Until now, I'd thought of it rather casually—that as accessibility importance grows, web development is naturally starting to incorporate it. But this experience has given me a genuine understanding of the importance and necessity of web accessibility services. I'm committed to leveraging this experience to provide web experiences that are easy to use for all users!

*Note: This article uses the term "障害者 (disability/disabled person)" rather than "障がい者." The latter can be mispronounced by screen readers used by people with visual impairments. We appreciate your understanding.