As brick-and-mortar stores were forced to close at the start of the pandemic, many businesses resorted to the World Wide Web to continue operating. While design, speed, usability, and content are essential to building a profitable eCommerce website, we should also give the same amount of attention to our site’s accessibility. Statistics show that over 1 billion people (or 15% of the world’s population) have some form of a disability. By having an accessible website, you can ensure that everyone, regardless of their status and disabilities, can enjoy the services and content you provide. Although at the beginning of the process it may seem somehow confusing and challenging, making your website accessible will definitely improve your customers’ experience and make their journey smoother and easier.
ADA Compliant Website: What to Know
Government agencies, private employers with 15 or more employees, and businesses that operate for the benefit of the public must have websites that are ADA-compliant.
What is ADA compliance?
In 2010, the U.S. Congress signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards for Accessible Design which requires all forms of electronic and information technology, including websites, to be accessible to people with disabilities.
Why is it essential for your website?
The ADA is a law in the U.S. As such, you are bound to adhere to the ADA’s compliance guidelines. Otherwise, you may end up paying thousands of dollars in fines even if your website doesn’t intentionally discriminate against people with disabilities. Even if the ADA does not apply to you, it is still important to create an ADA compliant website in order to accommodate more online visitors and potential customers. Fortunately, creating an accessible website is easier than you think. The ADA lays out in detail everything you have to do to ensure compliance with accessibility guidelines.
Tips to Keep in Mind
Let’s dive into some of the most important steps in creating an accessible website:
- Add alt text for all images – Alternate text or an “alt tags” is text used to help users with visual impairment. Through screen reader software, a user who has a disability or learning challenges can easily understand what the file or content is all about. It is also used as a replacement for an image when it causes difficulties in loading. When adding alt tags, website owners/designers should ensure that the tags accurately describe the image. If the image is linked, the alt tag should describe the purpose of the link. Create text transcripts for video and audio content Adding transcripts or captions for video and audio content is mandatory under both federal and state laws. Descriptive content is needed to make your information on your site accessible to people with a variety of disabilities including the visually and hearing impaired. You can add captions to your videos or audio files using software or professional services. Some websites use “interactive transcripts” that highlight the text phrases as they are spoken in a video. Transcribing videos can take a bit of time for people who don’t have the skills and software needed for it. As a result, many companies simply outsource this task. Define the Site’s Language in the Header Code. Language tagging is another attribute of an accessible website. It signals a reader’s assistive technology such as a screen reader to switch to another language. For example, a site using English as its default language needs to add a language attribute to show content in a different language (e.g. French).
- Pay attention to PDFs & other documents on your website – If you have PDFs and other documents for viewing or downloading on your website, you also want to make sure that they are accessible.
How Document Remediation Affects Your Website’s Traffic
Document remediation involves checking documents for accessibility factors like document language, alt tags, sufficient color contrast, appropriate heading structure, and many more. If you have PDFs, you can create a tagging structure in these docs so that they can be read using assistive technology. This process is known as PDF remediation. Here’s how you can ensure accessibility in your PDFs and documents:
- Decide on the relevance of each document on your website – Are the files of any use to your readers? Are they relevant to your content? If no, you do not need to include them on your website.
- Remove any unnecessary documents – From time to time, check your site for any outdated documents or PDF files. Also, check if those docs have multiple copies. You only need one accessible copy on your website. The rest can be removed.
Have Regular Training Related to Remediation
To avoid having to remediate documents in the future, make sure your web development team understands and knows how to comply with the current guidelines on PDF and document accessibility. It’s easier than you think. Having an accessible website does not only help you avoid legal and discrimination complaints. It also helps you reach a wider audience, build a great reputation, and increase the usability of your site. To create an accessible website, consider adding alternative texts, captions and transcriptions, and language preferences. Additionally, using accessibility testing tools helps ensure your compliance with the ADA guidelines. Lastly, don’t forget to check your PDFs and documents for accessibility, too. With all these points in mind, you can be confident that everyone will enjoy and appreciate your content.
- 3 Things to Focus on for an Accessible Website - April 28, 2021