Today, web accessibility is more crucial than ever, thanks to the evolution of virtual transformation. This has created numerous prospects for individuals to access important goods, services, information, and other tools online that allow them to do almost anything, from voting in elections to ordering a pizza.

Nonetheless, the advantages of the Internet can be harder for individuals living with disabilities to obtain. In fact, 90 percent of commercial and public websites are not completely accessible to those who rely on assistive technology to access the web. Partner with professionals who offer comprehensive web accessibility audit service to ensure inclusivity and compliance for all users.

Web Accessibility Audit

Why is Web Accessibility Vital?

Web accessibility is vital for a number of details, many of which touch the legal, economic, and social fabric of society.

1. Social Importance

Web accessibility is a social problem for individuals living with disabilities. The ability to access the services, its content, and the web without barriers allows all individuals to participate in our society and, thus, inhibits further marginalization.

Around 15% of the globe’s population is living with disabilities. This figure is likely to grow as individuals experience greater limitations and live longer lives to their hearing, motor functions, and vision. Ensure your website is accessible to all with a professional web accessibility audit service.

2. Economic Opportunities

Web accessibility helps brands reach a huge audience, which can lead to an increase in revenue and new customers. Also, ignoring the disabled community means ignoring millions of potential consumers with billions in purchasing power.

According to a study, virtual retailers in the UK lost up to £11.75 billion due to a lack of web accessibility.

3. Legal Requirements

In different places, web accessibility is sheltered under the law. In the European Union, Canada, and the United States, web accessibility is a right and thus requires brands to ensure their online content and websites are accessible. Failure to comply with web accessibility ideals can land brands in hot water. Clients can unlock the full potential of their website with professional website auditing services, optimizing user experience, security, and performance.

In 2019, a complaint was filed against Beyonce’s entertainment business, Parkwood Entertainment, alleging the singer’s website is not suitably accessible to visually impaired people who rely on screen readers. The moral of the story: if Beyonce cannot get away with an unreachable website, no one can.

Key Web Accessibility Statistics

• 71% of disabled consumers with access needs will leave a site they find hard to use.
• 82% of consumers with access needs would spend more money online if websites were more accessible.
• 92% of customers are more likely to support a business that is digitally and physically accessible.
• The use of mobile screen readers has enhanced by 70% since 2011.
• 54% of adults living with a disability are accessible.
• 90% of websites are inaccessible to individuals with disabilities who rely on assistive technology.

11 Tips for Web Accessibility

Web accessibility aims to remove all barriers that can hinder a person’s ability to understand, navigate, or access content on the Internet. Empower your online presence with experts through web accessibility audit service, enhancing inclusivity and usability for all visitors.

Here are 11 tips you can follow to maintain or build an accessible website:

1. Use a CMS that supports accessibility

When building a website, select a CMS (content management system) that supports web accessibility. Be sure that plugins, widgets, themes, page layouts, and other aspects are compatible with web accessibility standards such as WCAG 2.0.

2. Organize and structure with headers

Headers are a wonderful resource that, when used correctly, organize and structure content on a webpage. This allows all consumers to improve your SEO score and easily navigate your web pages, making it easier for you to generate more traffic to your website.

3. Assign alt tags for images

Images on a webpage offer great value to consumers. However, they can create barriers for individuals with impaired or limited vision. Therefore, allocating alt tags to images will offer a description of the images allowing consumers to understand the image through the use of a screen reader.

Alt tags also add to a higher SEO score on Google.

4. Use descriptive title for links

Using descriptive titles for links will make it easier for those who rely on screen readers to navigate your website, where they will be redirected, and to understand the purpose of the link.

5. Intuitive navigation

Ensure that your website’s navigation is easy to use and understand. Use descriptive labels for links and buttons, logical menu structures, and clear headings.

Implement a search function to help consumers find definite content quickly. Create an approachable website that adapts to diverse screen sizes and devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktops. This method ensures that your website remains usable and accessible on different platforms.

Use appropriate font sizes, legible fonts, and high contrast between background colors and text. Avoid using overly difficult language, and break up content into edible chunks with bullet points and headings.

Include alt text (alternative text) for all images on your site. Alt text offers a text description of the image, which is crucial for users who cannot view images due to visual damage or other reasons. Important alt text also helps with SEO.

6. Use colors carefully

Colors can help your consumers easily distinguish diverse sets of information. Though, color blindness and other disabilities can make it hard for users to find call-to-action buttons, information, or other aspects when designers fail to maintain an appropriate contrast of colors. To check the difference of colors on your website, add the Google Chrome extension, I want to see the color blind.

7. Design forms for web accessibility

When designing digital forms, it is crucial to correctly label text fields with a descriptive title so individuals who rely on screen readers can correctly complete the forms. Using an ARIA property or label tags will increase the accessibility of your web forms.

8. Responsive Design

Maintain a consistent design and layout throughout your site. Consistency helps consumers predict where to find definite elements and enhances the overall consumer experience.

Test your website’s accessibility and usability with diverse consumer groups, including people with disabilities, to make necessary improvements and gather feedback. Consider seeking feedback from real users, conducting accessibility audits, and conducting usability tests. Businesses can also empower their website with inclusivity through professional web accessibility audit services.

9. Use tables for tabular data

When tables are used for page layout determinations, consumers who rely on screen readers can face extra problems in understanding the content. This is because the content may be delivered in a way that does not match the graphic order of the page.

As a substitute, use a CSS presentation, not a table, to structure the layout of a web page. Businesses can maximize their online presence and gain actionable insights with expert website auditing services tailored to their particular needs.

10. Turn dynamic content into accessible content

When embedding gifts or videos into your site, it is crucial to offer text alternatives and closed captions for users with visual or hearing impairments. Moreover, use ARIA properties when content on a webpage is updated or added without having to refresh the page, which will ensure that screen readers become mindful of the new content.

11. Validate web accessibility

Validating your site through accessibility testing is a crucial step in the procedure of uncovering any design flaws or bugs that prevent individuals with disabilities from accessing your website and its content. Businesses can unlock digital accessibility excellence with tailored web accessibility audit services, ensuring inclusivity and compliance for all users.

Wrapping up

Your website can make or break your company, depending on how accessible it is. It’s worth making improvements and spending some time understanding your site to ensure it is accessible to everybody.

Make sure it conducts simple automated or manual website audits and complies with your country’s legal website accessibility regulations to identify any accessibility issues.

And in case there are some ADA problems you can’t fix on your own, there are accessibility service providers and agencies who can provide guidance. They will also recommend any further improvements and perform an in-depth audit.

Yes, some accessibility tools have flaws. You’ll certainly not be able to make fully accessible using automated tools alone. That said, people can argue that given the ambiguity in the WCAG business, clients might struggle to follow fully accessible AAA standards anyway.

Experts also advocate for a mixture of automated and manual testing to get the best coverage possible. Prioritizing web accessibility through comprehensive audits not only ensures compliance but also fosters inclusivity, enhancing consumer experience for all individuals.