What is Website Accessibility?
Website accessibility refers to the design and development of websites that can be used and navigated by people of all abilities and disabilities. It involves creating an online environment that is inclusive and user-friendly for everyone, regardless of their physical or cognitive limitations. The goal of website accessibility is to ensure that all users, including those with disabilities, can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with the content effectively.
Why is Website Accessibility Important?
As of 2023, nearly 16% of the global population are living with some form of disability. This statistic underlines just how important it is to make your website universally accessible. The more people that can interact with your business, the more potential clients you have.
More importantly, making your website accessible also keeps your business legally compliant. In 2022 there were a record number of ADA web accessibility lawsuits, with 3,250 cases filed. It doesn’t matter how big or small your businesses is. If you don’t have an ADA complaint website, you could be subject to a fine of $75,000 for each violation. If you need help determining whether or not your website is ADA compliant, schedule a free consultation so that one of our team members can help you protect your business.
How to Make Your Website ADA Compliant?
1. Make sure you have sufficient color contrast
At a minimum you should be sure he contrast between the text and background is greater than or equal to 4.5:1 for small text and 3:1 for large text. In the example below, the left image to text contrast ratio is 2.2:1 which is far lower that the ADA requires. In the picture on the right, the text is much darker and easier to read.
In addition, you should make sure your color palette is color-blind friendly. For example, here are a few color combinations that are indistinguishable to those that are color blind. Below are some examples of color combinations that should be avoided.
2. Include alt-text on your images
Include descriptive alternative text for images so that users with visual impairments can understand the content. This not only enhances accessibility but also contributes to better SEO.
3. Provide captions for all your multimedia content
If your website contains multimedia content, make sure that you have captions available so that your content is accessible to the deaf and hard of hearing.
4. Allow for keyboard navigation
Ensure that all functionality on your website is accessible using a keyboard. This is crucial for users who rely on keyboard navigation instead of a mouse.
5. Add an accessibility widget
We cannot recommend these widgets highly enough for anyone that wants complete website accessibility and legal protection. As you can see in the bottom left corner of our website, the blue icon (shown above) is the accessibility widget. As you can see in the images below, the widget allows users to control various aspects of the website such as font size, font & image color, content orientation, and many more.
If you would like to integrate an accessibility widget into your website, click here to learn more about AccessiBe.
Conclusion: How To Make Your Website Accessible
Website accessibility is imperative to any business that wants to maintain an online presence. In this article, we outlined first steps towards making your website ADA compliant but it doesn’t stop there. Contact us today to take your website to the next level!
