Key Elements of Website Accessibility
To build an accessible website, consider the following four elements:
- Perceivable: The perceivable element focuses on making website content perceivable by individuals with visual or hearing impairments. This includes providing alternative text for images, ensuring videos have captions, and using clear, well-contrasted visual elements easily distinguished by users with visual impairments.
- Operable: The operable element aims to make your website easily operable for users with various physical disabilities. This involves implementing keyboard navigation, ensuring proper focus indicators for those who rely on keyboard navigation, and avoiding any elements that may cause seizures or physical discomfort to users.
- Understandable: The understandable element focuses on designing your website so that users can comprehend and navigate without confusion. This includes employing clear and consistent navigation throughout the site, organizing content logically, and providing instructions and error messages that are easy to understand for users with cognitive disabilities.
- Robust: The robust element involves building websites compatible with a wide range of assistive technologies and future technologies. This is achieved by using standard HTML, CSS, and JavaScript practices and avoiding technologies that may exclude users with disabilities. Adhering to these practices allows your website to adapt to various devices and assistive technologies.
Types of Accessibility Devices
To access websites, individuals with disabilities often rely on various assistive technologies and devices, including:
- Screen Readers: Screen readers are software programs that read the content of web pages aloud, enabling individuals with visual impairments to navigate and understand the information on the website.
- Braille Displays: Braille displays dynamically convert digital text into Braille, allowing users to read website content using their fingertips. This enables visually-impaired users to access information effectively.
- Alternative Input Devices: Alternative input devices, such as adaptive keyboards, switches, or other input devices, assist individuals with physical disabilities in interacting with websites. These devices provide alternative ways to navigate and interact with digital content, overcoming physical limitations.
- Voice Recognition Software: Voice recognition software enables users with mobility impairments to control websites and input text using their voice. This technology empowers individuals with difficulty using traditional input devices to navigate and interact with websites more efficiently.
Accessibility Testing
Regular accessibility testing is crucial to ensuring your website is genuinely accessible. It involves evaluating your website’s compliance with accessibility standards, identifying any barriers or issues, and making necessary adjustments. Several testing resources are available for small businesses, including online accessibility checkers, browser extensions, and manual testing guidelines provided by the WCAG. These resources help you assess and improve your website’s accessibility, ensuring a seamless experience for all users.
Addressing Common Accessibility Issues
Some of the most easily addressed accessibility issues in websites include:
- Insufficient alt text for images: Adding descriptive alt text ensures that users with visual impairments can understand the context and purpose of images, providing them with a comprehensive browsing experience.
- Incorrect Content/Header Structure: One of the most prevalent accessibility issues is the misuse and misplacement of header and paragraph tags. This occurs when website owners fail to follow a proper hierarchy and arrangement of these tags. Headers are critical in organizing content and providing a logical structure for users, especially those who rely on assistive technologies. However, when headers are used inconsistently, skipped, or incorrectly labeled, it leads to content confusion and creates navigational challenges for individuals with disabilities.
- Inadequate color contrast: Ensuring sufficient contrast between text and background improves readability for users with visual impairments, allowing them to perceive and consume content effectively.
- Lack of keyboard accessibility: Implementing keyboard navigation enables users who cannot use a mouse to navigate and interact with your website. This is essential for individuals with physical disabilities who rely on alternative input devices.
- Absence of closed captions for videos: Providing captions ensures that individuals with hearing impairments can access the audio content. Captions enable them to understand the information conveyed in the videos accurately.
To further enhance your understanding of addressing these accessibility issues and implementing best practices, you can explore the Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) overview. ARIA is a set of attributes that can be added to HTML elements to enhance accessibility for individuals using assistive technologies. It provides additional functionality and context for screen readers and other assistive devices.
The Legal Implications of Non-Compliance
While there is no official legal standard for most small businesses regarding website accessibility, it is essential to note that non-compliance can still lead to legal repercussions. In our increasingly litigious society, inaccessible websites are considered easy targets for lawsuits. It is crucial to address accessibility concerns and mitigate legal risks. At the very least, you should demonstrate that you have taken intentional steps to make your website as accessible as possible, reducing the likelihood of legal challenges. The easiest and first step you can take is a website accessibility page.
The Importance of a Website Accessibility Page
A dedicated website accessibility page (such as the page here on TWI Digital) is crucial for legal compliance and inclusivity. It serves as a CYA (Cover Your A**) strategy, showcasing your commitment to accessibility and acting as a platform to address concerns. By transparently communicating your efforts, providing information on the accessibility standards you follow (such as the globally recognized Web Content Accessibility Guidelines – WCAG), and offering a process for users to report issues, you reduce the risk of legal challenges and demonstrate active progress towards inclusivity. This page not only addresses accessibility but also serves as a protective measure for your business, minimizing the risk of legal repercussions.
Next Steps
Prioritizing website accessibility is not only a legal and ethical responsibility but also promotes inclusivity, expands your audience reach, and safeguards your business from potential legal challenges. By implementing essential accessibility elements, adhering to established standards like the WCAG, conducting regular accessibility testing, and maintaining a dedicated Website Accessibility page, you guarantee equal access to your digital content for all users. The A11y Project provides practical advice, tools, and tutorials to make web accessibility easier to understand and implement. You can explore their resources to enhance your understanding and discover more ways to create an inclusive online environment.
To further enhance your digital marketing strategies and online presence, we invite you to explore our collection of articles. Are you ready to take the next step toward an inclusive and accessible website? Schedule a free consultation today!
Creating an accessible website goes beyond inclusivity—it is a crucial step to comply with legal and ethical standards. An accessible website ensures that individuals with disabilities can navigate, interact, and consume content effectively, providing equal opportunities for everyone to access information and engage with your business. It also works as a preventative measure to avoid wasting money on often frivolous civil suits.
Understanding Website Accessibility
Website accessibility refers to designing and developing websites to accommodate individuals with disabilities. It removes barriers and provides alternative ways for people with visual, auditory, physical, or cognitive impairments to perceive, navigate, and interact with digital content. By implementing accessible design principles and techniques, you create an inclusive online environment that embraces diversity and ensures equal access for all users.