Best Practices for Web Accessibility: Demystifying the Process
Over two thirds of adults with impairments or disabilities own computers, and a whopping three quarters of adults with disabilities own smartphones. Creating an accessible user experience for everyone is not only a social responsibility, it keeps your organization in legal compliance while expanding reach, engagement and increasing sales.
The question many organizations ask when it comes to the first steps to creating an inclusive website for everyone is, “where do I start?”
Impairments and disabilities can range from cognitive, visual, hearing, neurological, and motoric. To ensure a frictionless user experience, here are some principles and best practices you can adopt with ease, especially with your organization implementing an accessibility widget.
Perceivable
Make sure your website is easy to understand and uses straightforward language. Vision impaired individuals often use speech readers that dictate content out loud or braille display technology. With language and navigation that’s easy to understand, people with visual impairments can access content with greater ease, barrier free. Audio transcripts can allow users with hearing impairments to follow along with the content of any video or audio your website uses to engage visitors.
Operable & Easy of Navigation
Make sure the elements of your website, from links, to video and audio content provide seamless and intuitive navigation and interactivity. Plus use descriptive language for captions to help those with hearing impairments.
Assistive Technology Integration
Using a widget that allows users to adjust font size, color and contrast, along with including alt text for images and html tags ensure individuals with visual, hearing, and cognitive disabilities or impairments can understand information more easily. Keyboard navigation is also a critical component of user experience for those with visual, motor, or cognitive impairments, or anyone challenged to use a mouse. Implementing an accessibility widget can help anyone enjoy your website with a fluid and enhanced user experience from end to end.
Audits and Accessibility Scans
An AI-powered accessibility solution can scan your website to automate quick identification and remediation of violations based on ADA (American Disabilities Act) guidelines and WCAG regulations and requirements. Adding any new content to your website means you should monitor accessibility levels. Recruit a professional accessibility expert to perform manual audits and ensure inclusivity to conform to compliance.
For more insights and best practices on how to ensure your website is inclusive, engaging, and an exciting user experience for everyone, contact us.
