Beyond Compliance: Building a Truly Accessible Digital Experience

Where digital accessibility was once a foreign concept, today it’s an integral part of website development and the user experience.

Far too many businesses, big and small, are still not taking steps to create a more inclusive online experience for their customers, even though their websites are often the first interaction people will have with their brands.

Why Digital Accessibility Matters

The online experience a customer has with your brand will alter their perception of your business and pave the way for whether or not they choose to support you.

Research from the CDC shows that 1 in 4 adults in the United States is living with some form of disability. Imagine how much business you are losing by not catering to the needs of at least a quarter of the people who visit your site.

Not to mention how this could be altering your brand’s image in the public eye.

Everyone deserves to be able to access and engage with online platforms and content as equally as possible. And with the broad access to accessibility tools and resources, there’s really no reason or excuse not to create the best possible experience for all users.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Digital accessibility is naturally an ethical journey. Businesses that care about their employees, customers, and society as a whole should strive to do their part to create a more inclusive online arena.

However, even the powers that be are making online accessibility a more important issue. The vast majority of global disability acts such as the ADA, AODA, and EAA, all incorporate the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Government institutions have acknowledged the importance of the web and the integral role it plays in all of our lives, so it only makes sense to extend accessibility requirements into this space. 

Failing to comply with these standards not only leaves your business vulnerable to publicity issues, but costly lawsuits too. Even the smallest of businesses are now being targeted.

The Impact of Inaccessible Websites On Users

When a website is not designed with accessibility in mind, it creates significant barriers for users with disabilities. It limits their ability to access information, complete tasks, or engage with online services. 

People with visual impairments may struggle with websites that lack proper screen reader compatibility, while those with motor disabilities can find it impossible to navigate sites that rely solely on precise mouse movements. 

Users who are deaf or hard of hearing may also miss out on essential video content if captions are not provided. 

It’s these nuances that business and website owners often overlook if they’re used to being able to interact with a website without assistance.

The Core Principles of Digital Accessibility

When updating a site or developing one from scratch, you want to focus on the four core principles of website accessibility.

1. Perceivable. Content must be presented in ways that users can perceive, such as providing text alternatives for images and captions for videos.
2. Operable. Users must be able to navigate and interact with a site, meaning keyboard accessibility and clear navigation are essential.
3. Understandable. Information and functionality should be easy to understand, including readable text and predictable website behavior.
4. Robust. Websites should work well across different devices, browsers, and assistive technologies to remain accessible as technology evolves.

Quick and Practical Tips for Improving Accessibility

While there are a number of on-site elements to consider when making a website more accessible, if you are just getting started, here are some basics you can implement first:

Add Alt Text to Images

Alternative text (alt text) provides a textual description of images. It’s this text that allows screen readers to convey the meaning and context of images to visually impaired users. Alt text is also useful for when images fail to load.

Make Use of Captions and Transcripts

If audio and video are prominent forms of content on your site, it’s essential to add captions and transcripts. Without them, site visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing will be unable to engage with and enjoy your content. They may even miss out on important information.

Pair Semantic HTML with ARIA

Using proper HTML elements (e.g., <header>, <nav>, <article>, <button>) improves the structure of your website structure. It makes it easier for assistive technologies to interpret and navigate content. However, in instances where semantic HTML is not enough, there is ARIA. 

ARIA can be used to ensure that more advanced elements such as drop-down menus and sliders are recognized by assistive devices. 

Activate Keyboard Navigation

Ensuring all interactive elements (links, buttons, forms) can be accessed and used with a keyboard allows people with motor disabilities or those who cannot use a mouse to navigate your site effectively.

Check Color Contrast

A sufficient contrast between text and background enhances readability for users with visual impairments, including those with color blindness. WCAG recommends a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text.

Implement a Responsive Design

A mobile-friendly, flexible layout will adapt your website to different screen sizes and assistive technologies.

The Benefits of Building an Accessible Website

Taking the time to update your website or build a more accessible site from scratch is always going to be a worthwhile endeavor.

• Improved SEO. Search engines such as Google are all for offering the best user experience, which is why they prefer sites that align with this goal. Offering an inclusive and engaging experience to all users can drastically improve your SEO efforts.
• Enhanced user experience. When your site is built with accessibility in mind, you automatically provide a superior experience to all users, including those who rely on assistive technology.
• Positive brand reputation. When customers see that you care about their needs and the needs of others, they won’t hesitate to spread the word about your brand.
• Legal compliance. By following the guidelines set out in WCAG, you can avoid costly penalties and brand-damaging lawsuits.

Tools for Accessibility Testing

Here are just a few of the top tools you can use to simplify your digital accessibility process. 

Start Your Accessibility Journey Today

Get started by trying AccessibilityChecker for free to assess where your website currently stands in terms of compliance.