Website Accessibility is a Hot Topic & One to Take Seriously
Website accessibility is an important aspect of website design. Accessible sites present users with information through a variety of sensory channels, such a visual, auditory, speech, cognitive, neurological and physical. These accessible designs improves the overall user experience and satisfaction.
This is true in a variety of situations and across all types of devices. Digital accessibility means a full range of users, including those with disabilities, can readily navigate, understand and interact with your website.
WATCH OR LISTEN WHY WEBSITE ACCESSIBILITY
IS ESSENTIAL FOR SOME, USEFUL FOR ALL
Twenty Six Percent of the US Adult Population has a Disability
Many of these disabilities include blindness, color blindness, epilepsy, dyslexia, deafness or the visually impaired. That means that those websites with low color contrasts, missing alt text on images, ambiguous descriptive links text or no keyboard accessibility will lock a significant percentage of individuals out of its website.
Website Accessibility is Important for Individuals, Businesses and Society as a Whole
The Web is a massive resource for all types of reasons — business, educational and personal. It is important that the Web is accessible to all types of people with diverse abilities. According to the UN CRPD (United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities), access to the Web for all is a basic human right.
Accessibility is easily addressed through web technologies that remove all types of barriers. Whether through print, visual media or audio. Luckily, these solutions allow an unprecedented access to information and interaction for many struggling with disabilities.
Almost 60% of US Households with Internet Have Someone with a Disability under their Roof
Making a website accessible ensures that all visitors, including those with some form of disability, have a positive user experience. Oddly, this often translate into an overall improvement for all site visitors. Also, a website that takes accessibility seriously goes beyond a typical navigation experience. In addition, it goes well beyond the point-and-click interface to include keyboard-based control and voice-based control.
6.5 Million of US Population Have Intellectual Disabilities
According to W3C, web accessibility encompasses websites, tools and technologies. Hence, these all need designed and developed so that people with disabilities can use them. That means people should be able to perceive, understand, navigate, interact and contribute to the Web no matter their disability.
Fifteen Percent of the World’s Population has Some Form of Disability
Various forms of accessibility is important. Because there are a vast number of potential visitors to your site that will have a disability of some sort. While it is hard to tell what form of disability your visitors may have, addressing all forms can help with your site’s user interface. Likely keeping ‘ambulance chasing’ lawyer types at bay.
Lawsuits against Non-Compliant Websites are up 50% in the Last 2 Years
One major advantage of designing an accessible website is the reduced in legal exposure. Sadly, many businesses, large and small, have found themselves on the wrong side of ADA lawsuits. Interestingly, US courts are overwhelmingly ruling in favor of accessible websites.
Website Accessibility Improves SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
Not only does an accessible website improve usability and make its services or goods more readily available to millions more potential customers. Also, it improve SEO rankings. In addition, search engines reward websites with relevant content and a positive visitor experience. Consequentially, the better the user interface, the better a website ranking. Making website accessibility a win-win for all.
How to Improve Website Accessibility
Many accessible measures are easy to implement, such as ensuring your website has alt text for all images. Also, a high contrast of colors and easy to read graphics makes for a better experience. However, others are more complex and take technical knowledge to implement.
There are evaluation tools that can help to identify problem areas of a website. Yet, knowledgeable human evaluations and continued monitoring of a website is required to determine if a website is accessible and to keep it that way.
If you are looking to improve your website accessibility, have your website evaluated by a professional. In addition, take the suggested steps to mitigate the issues. Keep in mind, keeping compliant with accessibility and providing a better overall user experience takes continual effort.
If you need help, get in touch with Advertising Is Simple. We have some quality solutions and products that can help improve your brand’s inclusiveness and make your website accessible to all.
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