Web accessibility is crucial. It ensures that your website can be used and accessed by all, regardless of any disabilities. It is important for businesses to take this seriously and ensure their websites are optimized for accessibility. The best way to do this is to build and design the website with accessibility in mind from the very start. By integrating accessibility into your web design at the beginning, you can ensure that the website is fully compatible with assistive technology.
Why is Web Accessibility Important?
Web accessibility is important for a number of reasons. Firstly, it is vital for businesses to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Failing to do so, can lead to legal implications, including lawsuits and fines. It is also important to consider the fact that around 1 in 5 Americans (26%) have a disability, according to the latest figures from the US Census Bureau. By not considering the needs of these potential customers who have a disability, businesses are ignoring a significant portion of their target audience.
In addition to this, web accessibility also benefits all users. For example, ensuring that web pages are readable and navigable using assistive technology, like screen readers, means that all users can read and access the content. This means that content designed with accessibility in mind is more user-friendly, and will likely result in a better overall user experience. In turn, this can improve customer satisfaction and retention.
Designing with Accessibility in mind
The best way to ensure web pages are optimized for accessibility is to design with it from the beginning. This means prioritizing user-experience considerations for all. One of the most important considerations is the layout and function of the web page. Websites should be built with a clear layout, with headings to differentiate between the main sections and content. Use bold and strong colors to emphasize important parts of the page and use a consistent design to ensure the page is easy to read and navigate.
It is also important to consider the content. Ensure that content is clear, easy to read and easy to navigate. Use plain language and avoid industry-specific terms that may not be understood by those with potentially lower literacy levels. Make sure to include alternative text (alt text) for all images so that screen readers can describe the content. Finally, use descriptive links with clear action words to make it easy for all users to understand the content and know what they need to do next.
Testing and Validating
Once the website has been designed with accessibility in mind, it is important to test and validate that it is fully optimized for all users. There are a number of automated and manual tools that can be used to check the web page for any potential accessibility issues, such as missing alt text for images or broken links. Testing the website on different devices and operating systems will also help to ensure the page is easy to navigate and use for all users. Finally, make sure to user test the page with people who have disabilities to get direct feedback on how the website can be improved.
Conclusion
Web accessibility is crucial for all businesses. It is important to design and build web pages with accessibility in mind from the start. This ensures that the website is fully optimized for all users, regardless of any disabilities. By considering the layout, content and function of the page, and testing and validating it, businesses can ensure their website is fully compliant with the ADA and WCAG and provides a great overall user experience.