When you are creating a website, there is one crucial thing to keep in mind: making sure everyone can use it, no matter what their abilities are. That’s where following best practices for website accessibility comes in!

What Is Website Accessibility?

Website accessibility is the practice of making websites usable for everyone, regardless of ability. This includes people with physical disabilities, situational disabilities, and socio-economic restrictions on bandwidth and speed.

Website accessibility means that websites are designed and developed so that people with disabilities can:

  • Perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with the Web
  • Contribute to the Web

Website accessibility also benefits others, including older people with changing abilities due to aging.

How? It is a set of rules, behaviors, code standards, and design guidelines created by the W3C. It is called the WCAG 2.1.- a guidebook that enlists a range of disabilities that go from hindering internet use to making internet use impossible without adjustments.  Thus, This spectrum comprises 20-25% of the general population.

There are many disabilities covered, and the primary categories that require attention are:

1. Visually impaired and use screen-readers.

Undoubtedly, your website is easy to use for those with visual impairments, it needs to meet specific requirements.

  • Perceivable:  People with visual impairments may face challenges when interpreting graphics and layout. It’s vital to ensure that everyone can access and comprehend the content on your website.
  • Understandable: Making sure everyone can understand the content is significant. Some people might have trouble with complicated language, so it’s best to keep things clear and easy to follow. That way, we can make sure everyone can get what they need from the information.
  • Robust:  One important requirement is that the content must be compatible with devices and assistive technologies that are used by individuals with visual impairments.

Content must also work with the devices and assistive technology that persons with vision impairments use.

2. The motor-impaired who use the keyboard to navigate

Make your website keyboard-friendly for users who may struggle with using a mouse. This ensures accessibility for all users, especially those with visual impairments.

3. Epilepsy, color blindness,

According to the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), there are a few important accessibility recommendations for designing for people who are color blind.

Visual communication is about more than just color. The goal is to effectively convey concepts, inspire action, and evoke emotions through clear messaging.

4. Those with cognitive and learning disabilities

People with cognitive and learning difficulties have a particularly difficult time retaining new knowledge and picking up new skills. They could also find it difficult or impossible to learn new design patterns. To assist, keep features like controls and icons simple and standard.

What Are The Benefits Of Website Accessibility?

Mitigating Litigation Risk

In 2021 the average settlement amount for websites with accessibility issues was $30,000. Demand letters were sent to about 30,0000 websites.

Making your website more accessible helps manage litigation and reputational risk.

Better site performance

An accessible website means that more people visit, and there is more engagement; additionally, the site shows up higher on search results. Remarkably, this makes people more accessible to find your site online.

Better brand reputation

Being accessible means you believe in social responsibility while your brand reputation improves. Once you implement an accessibility solution, you will have an accessibility statement, and this says a lot about your brand.

Expanding your user base

Making your website accessible to everyone is sending a message that you are inclusive. You are allowing around 15% of the world’s population who have disabilities to use it; this broadens your site’s target and, therefore, improves traffic.

Improved search engine optimization (SEO)

Building an accessible website can improve your SEO. Semantic HTML, which improves accessibility, also improves SEO, making your site more findable.

Increased audience for your content

By making your website accessible, you can increase the audience for your content. People with disabilities are a significant market that would otherwise not be able to use your services or buy your products.

If you would like more information on web accessibility or specific examples of how it is essential for people with disabilities and useful for everyone in various situations, you can visit the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI).

Make your site ADA-compliant today!

Please fill out the form here and we will handle everything!

Last Updated on May 7, 2024