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Needs For A Web Accessibility Conformance Statement
Posted on By Author ADA Support Categories Articles

Needs For A Web Accessibility Conformance Statement

A web accessibility conformance statement serves as an evidence that your website is accessible. There are tons of benefits for this, starting from legal to company goodwill. The internet today is ingrained in every facet of our lives.

Different people from all walks of life rely on it in one way or another. And that also includes disabled people. With a conformance statement, you are officially ADA compliant. Here’s all you need to know about an ADA compliant website.

What Is Web Accessibility And A Conformance Statement

The ADA requires websites to be accessible for disabled users under Title III. It states that places of accommodation need to provide equal access to users. And websites are categorized as places of accommodation.

So, according to the law, a website in 2022 needs to be accessible to all kinds of users. This includes people with disabilities ranging from hearing, visual, and also cognitive.

Private plaintiffs can file a lawsuit if they find a website inaccessible. This is where a conformance statement comes in. What does conformance mean then? A conformance statement is just a simple proof that you’re doing it right.

It means that your website is accessible. To be more specific, it’s compliant with WCAG 2.1 guidelines. ADA doesn’t have any formal guidelines or criteria as to what guidelines a website should follow for ADA compliance. But the WCAG 2.1 guidelines are used as a general standard.

The Importance Of A Conformance Statement

A web accessibility conformance statement not only saves you from legal liability but also works to create goodwill as well. Legal fees for accessibility cases can skyrocket. Although most companies usually settle. And that can be around $14,000.

Litigation, on the other hand, can cost around $100,000. But the long-term impact is much more. If your website is not accessible, you might be losing potential customers. Simply because they are just unable to use your website. And that can end up costing much more.

It’s always in the best interest of any company or individual that owns a website to have an accessible one. It shows you care about your visitors. And this creates brand goodwill. In this hyper-competitive market, goodwill is priceless. That’s why an ADA compliant website, along with a conformance statement is crucial.

A Deeper Dive Into The Conformance Statement

A conformance statement is written by a third party who has thoroughly tested your websites. This is done to avoid any conflict of interest.

But that isn’t all. To receive a conformance statement, you need to keep in mind a couple of things. Let’s break these down further.

WCAG 2.1 Guideline Levels

WCAG 2.1 has multiple levels. A, AA, and AAA. A is the minimum level of accessibility requirement level. But it’s risky to only aim for the minimum. A lawsuit can be very costly. So, to cover all liabilities, companies should aim for at least AA.

Multiple Pages

Some might think that only the home page needs to be accessible. That isn’t the case though. If a visitor needs multiple pages to complete a task. All of those pages need to be compliant. For example, if a visitor is to sign up to your website.

They might need to click the sign-up button on the home page. And then navigate to a page where they will create an account. And finally, finish signing up. All the pages involved in this process should be accessible. That means it needs to follow WCAG 2.1 guidelines.

Third-Party Content

If your website has third-party content, it needs to be compliant and accessible as well. Monitoring systems will help identify any parts of the website that don’t meet ADA compliance.

This will help companies to catch liabilities much more quickly. An expert ADA compliance consultancy service can also be very helpful. You can check the WCAG 2.1 guideline yourself for specific web accessibility terms.

Wrapping Up

An accessible website creates a better and equal opportunity for everyone. At ADA for Web, our experts can help you with everything related to web accessibility and ADA compliance. When you have the right partner, then you don’t need to worry about accessibility-related issues.

List Of Common Accessibility Terms And Definitions
Posted on By Author ADA Support Categories Articles

List Of Common Accessibility Terms And Definitions

If you happen to have a website, you need to make sure that it is accessible to everyone. That means making sure the website is ADA compliant. But to do this, you will need to know the importance of website accessibility and definitions. So, what are some of the common accessibility terms and definitions?

There is a lot of accessibility terminology that everyone should know. For instance, the alternative text helps screen readers with assistive technologies. As a result, the visually impaired can use it to hear texts. Another assistive technology is a braille device. It helps the visually impaired read by raising bumps on a surface.

You need to know these common accessibility terms to build your website. It is also essential for you to implement these. Reading the full article will allow you to learn more about these. So let’s get right into it.

What Is Accessibility?

Accessibility means being able to access something. But when we talk about accessibility in this article, we are focusing on website accessibility. This means inclusive accessibility and usability for people with disabilities.

Website accessibility is important for people with disabilities. You need to meet the ADA standards when building a website. So that people with disabilities have a more inclusive experience.

According to DDIY, 61 million adults in the USA live with a disability. 59.6% of these people have internet access. Which makes it extremely important for you to understand the terminology.

Examples Of Common Accessibility Terms And Definitions

There is a lot of assistive technology and accessibility jargon. For your easier understanding, here are some examples of common accessibility terms and definitions –

  • Accessibility Remediation

Accessibility remediation means the part of the project where you make things accessible. This is the most essential part of your website during development.

Eliminating accessibility barriers for people with disabilities is the number one priority. You should identify accessibility features and implement them on your website. For instance, your top priority while creating a website is accessibility remediation.

  • Alternative Text

The alternative text refers to the description written by the developer. The texts are embedded into images. These texts are also invisible. This is important because it goes hand in hand with screen readers.

Alternative texts help screen readers read the text aloud for blind users. You can add images without worrying if you use alternative text on your website. So, alternative texts are a must.

  • Audio Browsers

To browse the web, we use different types of web browsers. Similarly, visually impaired people use special web browsers called audio browsers. It can turn text into speech. Therefore, it acts as a screen reader. This has been made possible thanks to HTML5 audio.

These browsers have speech recognition capabilities. Meaning the visually impaired can use it with their voice.

  • Braille Display

The visually impaired use a braille display for showing braille characters. You might have heard of a braille book. This works the same way.

  • A braille display converts text to braille on a screen. It does so by raising bumps via holes on an even surface. This surface comes with the display itself. As a result, the visually impaired can feel the braille texts and read them too.
  • Captions

Captions are text generators on screen that too in real-time. It is the textual presentation of sounds, like dialogues or noises in movies.

Captions help people with hearing disabilities. It allows them to understand what the characters are saying or what noises are playing on the screen.

  • Screen Readers

Screen readers are one of the most useful assistive technologies available. It reads through the text aloud to help visually impaired people.

Alternative texts help this technology in a big way. You could say these two accessibility technologies go hand in hand. Without alternative texts, a screen reader cannot describe images. So, it is essential to use alternative texts.

  • Speech Recognition

Speech recognition or voice recognition is a software application. It enables a computer or handheld device to listen to and accept vocal commands.

This is crucial because people with movement disabilities can use devices without a mouse or a keyboard. As a result, this is an important feature that devices must have to make them more accessible.

Conclusion

So, now you know what are some of the common accessibility terms and definitions. By knowing these, you can now understand the importance of web accessibility. These can help you to build a website for your business that is accessible to all. Here at ADA For Web we strive to help businesses achieve exactly that.

So, be sure to get in touch with us to get started on making your website accessible to a wider audience.

Posted on By Author ADA Support Categories Articles

10 Examples Of ADA Compliant Accessible Web Design

In this modern era of technology, everyone has access to the internet. As a result, every business nowadays has a website. This is why it has become important to have an ADA compliant website. So, what are 10 examples of ADA compliant accessible web design?

There are a lot of examples of ADA-compliant website development. For instance, contrast and color work together to make the website easier to read. Labelling boxes properly makes it easier to see. These are some of the examples followed during ADA compliant website development.

You need to know the ADA compliant website law. It is also important to see if your website meets the standards. Reading the full article will allow you to learn more about these examples.

What Is ADA Compliance?

ADA Compliance stands for Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design. This law states that all information technology must be accessible to people with disabilities.

Many ADA companies help with consulting to meet these standards. You can learn more about ADA website laws on the internet. Your website must meet the standards because it will help avoid lawsuits.

10 Examples of ADA Compliant Web Design

You must know the common terminology that is used. Because these terminology definitions can help you build the best website possible. Here are 10 examples of ADA compliant web design –

  • Contrast

Your website should maintain a proper contrast ratio. For instance, having a high-contrast color on a bright background will make it harder to read.

Some people have visual impairments. They might find it difficult to read the text without proper contrast. WCGA 2.0 requires a website to follow a contrast ratio of 4:5:1.

  • Color

People who are colorblind do not see the same way we do. So, you cannot rely on color alone. You need to employ other measures to increase readability.

Employing different accessible design tactics can help with that. This will help users identify website elements properly.

  • Labelling

Labelling forms are important. You should provide descriptive labelling in all fields. For example, if your website has a register page, it will ask for visitors’ information.

Placing the labels inside will cause issues for people with visual impairments. As a result, it will be much more difficult to read.

  • Keyboard Navigation

People with mobility issues or disabilities may find it easier to use a keyboard than a mouse. Hence, designing your website to be properly navigated using a keyboard is a must.

By providing keyboard navigation, you are ensuring a more inclusive experience. Your website must also feature color-changing fonts if a link is active.

  • Table of Contents

If your website contains large amounts of information, a table of contents will help. Your website needs to be digestible.

Instead of making the structure complex, you can design your website with a table of contents. This will make finding specific information easier for the reader.

  • Properly Structured

You must make information easy to understand. People might find your website too overwhelming if it is not properly structured.

You should design the website to properly communicate what it is about. The search box, labels, styles, and headings must be formatted in a uniform manner.

  • Breadcrumb Trail

Breadcrumb trail helps people visualize how website information is structured. Because it helps people with disabilities navigate easier.

Your website should not force users to go back to the home page to continue browsing. Users should be able to visit any page, then navigate from there to other pages.

  • Design for Different Devices

Your website must have different designs for different devices. For instance, visiting a website from a phone should show the website’s handheld device UI.

Some might find it easier to use a phone than a PC due to their disabilities. So, it is imperative to have different designs for different platforms.

  • Headings and Spacing

Your website must have simple headings and proper spacing. This helps with the readability of the website.

Using clear headings will help people understand what the writing is about. Using proper spacing within the texts will help declare a clearer relationship.

  • Alternative Texts

Many people rely on assistive technologies. Screen readers are one such example. This helps people with visual impairments read texts that are displayed.

The use of appropriate tags and alternative texts on your website is a must. These help screen readers read the texts.

Conclusion

So, now you know what are 10 examples of ADA compliant web design. You should also understand why it is important to meet these standards. Thank you for reading through the entire article.

Benefits Of Accessibility Testing For Web And Mobile
Posted on By Author ADA Support Categories Articles

Benefits Of Accessibility Testing For Web And Mobile

Accessibility testing is a common step in the making of a website, even in countries where there is no law regarding ADA compliance. Proper accessibility testing is not only crucial for creating a functional website, but it is also necessary for making your site follow all the regulations set by the ADA compliance guidelines.

In this article, we will discuss accessibility testing and its benefits.

What Is Accessibility Testing For Web And Mobile?

Accessibility testing your web and mobile apps means you are testing whether they are accessible or not to target users. It is the practice of making your website usable by as many people as possible, especially those with disabilities such as hearing impairment, vision difficulties, and other physical limitations.

You will need accessibility testing for two reasons; making your site accessible and usable to as many people as possible and abiding by the law. Making your site ADA compliant makes it much more usable in most cases. Also, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), Section 508, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); all these three together force you to abide by lots of regulations. Otherwise, you might face serious legal troubles summing up to more than $100000 fines.

Benefits Of Accessibility Testing

Accessibility testing for your websites and apps lets you know how well your site is doing in meeting ADA compliance guidelines and the level of user experience. Besides that, there are lots of benefits to accessibility testing. Here are some of those:

  1. Expand User Base

If your website passes the accessibility test that means that your site is much more accessible and usable than sites that do not. More users can access and use the features of your website, take information from your website and use it in real life. That includes disabled people. So naturally, the number of users of your site increases because, besides general people, people with disabilities can use your website too.

  1. Enhance The Compliance Of Your Website

Complying with the US government’s ADA compliance requirements and guidelines may not be enough for your site. While your site passes the ADA compliance test, it has other features that yield a negative user experience. Accessibility testing companies not only check for the US government’s ADA compliance requirements but also other features of your site. So as a result, your site becomes more compliant, pushing it beyond the boundaries.

  1. Enhance Automation

Accessibility testing provides your site with better automation. When implicating automation in your website, proper automation means proper accessibility. Alternative text for various buttons on your site can enhance both automation and accessibility.

  1. Business Growth

As I have stated above, accessibility testing means not only checking your site for ADA compliance but also for other useful features and getting rid of useless ones. Your website represents your venture. More site users means more people are interested in what you have to offer to them. So gradually, your business grows. Proper site automation and compliance testing will drive more traffic to your site, giving your business a much-needed boost.

  1. Avoid Legal Trouble

The US government is serious about making websites ADA compliant. Rehabilitation Act from Section 508 asks federal agencies to only operate with data and communications technology that is even accessible to individuals with disabilities, regardless of the fact that they serve the federal government.

If your website is not ADA compliant, you can face serious legal trouble with fines up to $55000 for the first violation and $11000 for each subsequent violation. It’s something that you should not be indifferent about. By accessibility testing your website, you not only make sure that your site is usable for people with disabilities, but also save yourselves from future legal troubles.

Conclusion

Accessibility testing can save you from big legal trouble. Even if there are no strict laws for ADA compliance in your area, you should still do accessibility testing for your apps and websites because it enhances the usability of your site.

If there are obligations regarding ADA compliance, accessibility testing is a must for your sites. You will make a significant change in your website traffic, business growth, and user experience.

ADA Standards For Accessible Design 2022
Posted on By Author ADA Support Categories Articles

ADA Standards For Accessible Design 2022

The Americans with Disabilities Act always plays an active role in improving the lives of those with disabilities. Most notably, by mandating accessible parking spaces and wheelchair ramps. But in modern times, accessibility has also become important in the digital sphere.

But what are the ADA standards for accessible design in 2022? This article will give you a better grasp of ADA for websites.

What Are The ADA Standards For Accessible Design?

Regarding website accessibility, the Department of Justice has always looked toward the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, or WCAG. Through the help of these guidelines, you can easily ensure that your website meets the ADA’s standards.

However, the WCAG can look complicated at first. Thus, we have broken it down and made it much easier to follow.

1.    Use Of Text Alternatives

Websites may often be challenging to navigate, especially for visually impaired people. It is especially true for websites that are heavily reliant on text.

Visually impaired individuals use screen readers for assistance. Thus, they help to better navigate and understand the websites. However, adding non-text or text alternatives for these screen readers would be best.

It is because other forms of media besides text, such as images, can help to tell a coherent story. This makes navigating through your site much easier.

Your website can use these images to add more context to things on your site. Then advertise your products or showcase places. All of these help to make your website more accessible and user-friendly.

Additionally, with the text transcripts for your videos or alt tags for images, you can make your site easier to understand. Lastly, to make it easier for screen readers to guide your users by properly labeling any input fields and forms on your site.

2.    An Accessibility Interface

It is an incredible way to add a touch of personalization and accessibility to your site. The interface allows the user to make adjustments to the site’s user interface and design elements to fit their needs. This allows them to make the whole website more accessible for their specific disabilities.

Through the interface, a visually impaired user can adjust the colors, contrast, and size of the font to improve their experience. Similarly, the interface can allow users to decrease the number of distractions on their screen. It makes it easier to absorb content for those with ADHD or other neurodevelopmental disorders.

For those struggling with cognitive disabilities, this interface can be a lifesaver. It is especially true for individuals with dyslexia or autism, allowing them to better understand and focus on the crucial parts of the site.

3.    Easy To Navigate

Lastly, when it comes to navigating your site, it may prove to be an issue for those who do not have complete motor function. As a result, you might end up making your site inaccessible to them. So, before anything else, you should carefully evaluate the functionality of your website’s navigation and layout.

It is unfair to deprive individuals with motor impairments of the same access to websites as other individuals. So, to solve this issue, you can implement navigational tools to improve the accessibility of your site.

The first of these tools offers your user an on-screen keyboard for those incapable of using a regular mouse. Furthermore, allowing the use of specific keys. Such as the enter key, shift+tab, and tab to perform functions on the webpage.

And shortcut keys for easy movement on your website. For example, the M key to access the menu. Or H for the homepage and F for forms. These improved navigation methods make your page more accessible.

In addition, make sure that your menus are consistent throughout all your pages. Thus, making it easier for individuals to follow through and providing the proper header tags to maintain the content hierarchy. As a result, you provide a coherent and precise flow of content to your users.

Conclusion

Thus, by following these ADA standards for accessible design for 2022, you will be able to include a vaster array of individuals. However, should you have any other questions relating to ADA or inclusive web design, feel free to contact us. Goodbye and Goodluck.

Which Web Accessibility Guidelines Must Be Followed for Your Website?
Posted on By Author ADA Support Categories Articles

Which Web Accessibility Guidelines Must Be Followed for Your Website?

There are tons of factors that you have to take into account when creating a website. Website accessibility is one of them. There are specific guidelines to follow to make a website accessible to all users. You might hire a web accessibility company to follow the procedures required for ADA compliance.

So, you might wonder how to follow the web accessibility guidelines on your website. This article will help you in this regard.

The Principles Of Website Accessibility Guideline

The WCAG’s initial edition wasn’t published until 2008. However, website accessibility guidelines have existed for nearly as long as the web. The WCAG 2.0 specification outlines these four guidelines for ensuring ADA compliance on your website:

  • Perceivable

The perceivable principle means that users must be able to understand content by using their senses (hearing, sight, or touch). Some people could experience difficulties using any of these senses. Thus, they need technology to help them navigate the website. For instance, adding ALT tags on photos might help site visitors explain the picture to the consumer.

  • Operable

The operable principle discusses how people use the internet to browse. Some users use a keyboard rather than a mouse while navigating a website. So, one must ensure that users can accomplish all functions (such as filling out forms, browsing, etc.) using just a keyboard when optimizing a website for optimal operability.

Thanks to this, users can navigate through options, tab forms, and links and use keyboard shortcuts. The crucial lesson from this rule is that one user may access an area of the website just with a keyboard. And they must also be capable of leaving that section solely with a keyboard.

  • Understandable

The content on your website must use precise wording to guarantee that it is understandable. For assistive devices to correctly deliver the material to users, they must comprehend all terms on your website.

So, avoid using odd or irregular functions to ensure that site readers can effectively communicate your information to users. It will be highly challenging for assistive technology devices to share these activities if the website keeps refreshing and changing content frequently.

  • Robust

The website must comply with the “robust” criteria too. All your materials should be consistently accessible across the broadest range of assistive technology. However, it considers current and expected future technological advancements. So, it is one of the most challenging principles.

How To Follow Website Accessibility Guidelines?

There are several steps to ensure that your website follows the web accessibility guidelines. The following are some of the ways to follow:

  1. Include Non-text Alternatives

To ensure ADA web design, one may require text descriptions for every non-text information to explain its content to viewers who are blind. It generally refers to visual material, including emoticons, CAPTCHAs, and ASCII art.

Image alt text, sometimes referred to as alternative text, is the most popular way to explain photos. It is a brief explanation appended to the image’s HTML code that describes what it symbolizes. Consider how you would explain the picture to a person in the chat while writing the alt text.

  1. Give Viewers A Variety Of Ways To Consume Media Content

We refer to sound-visual files as time-based content. Since any music or video on your website was probably pre-recorded, you must upload them with other file types. Your visitors with auditory or vision impairment will be able to view the material thanks to these formats.

  1. Produce Material That One May Watch On Several Platforms

The 1.4 guidelines of the WCAG relate to the organization of pages and connections between components. To ensure accessible website development, we can use proper HTML code while coding for the website, which might help eliminate some of the issues. We can quickly and easily implement appropriate HTML code into websites using the WYSIWYG editor.

  1. Allow Users To Access Every Function With Keyboards

Not every user can operate a mouse, and therefore, a website’s functions should be accessible through the keyboard. There are a variety of people that have trouble using a mouse. People that have Parkinson’s disease have issues with fine motor skills and are unable to use a mouse. People with muscular spasms and strained hands often have a hard time using a mouse.

  1. Assist In Case The User Commits Mistakes

Everybody occasionally has to fill out forms on web pages, and we often make mistakes. We can prevent or fix users’ errors by providing filling-out-form tips and detailed messages about the error. It will be a great way to make sure of web accessibility remediation.

Conclusion

By now, you should have a clear understanding of the guidelines for web accessibility and how to follow them. However, a professional may only follow the standards correctly. So, if you’re considering hiring a web accessibility company, don’t hesitate to contact ADA for Web.

We will ensure that your website follows all the principles of website accessibility. Thanks for reading through.

Tips To Find The Right Web Accessibility Company 2022
Posted on By Author ADA Support Categories Articles

Tips To Find The Right Web Accessibility Company 2022

Choosing the right web accessibility company is a must for a brand to stand out. Moreover, it will help you avoid lawsuits regarding ADA compliance. Finding the ideal company, though, might not be as simple as it may appear. There are just way too many alternatives to choose from.

In this article, we’ll discuss some tips to find the right web accessibility company, along with some other information that might be helpful to you. So, stick around till the end!

Why Should You Hire A Professional Website Accessibility Company?

A business must hire a professional web accessibility company to save time and money on making their website ADA compliant. Besides, a professional company has enough skills and expertise to ensure the business site follows the ADA compliance website checklist.

Web accessibility development is not an easy task. And since ADA compliance is necessary to avoid lawsuits, one must ensure their website is accessible to all. There are, however, numerous other works related to business. So, it is not possible to give your entire focus to developing ADA compliant websites only.

Thus, hiring an expert to take care of the job is the most convenient option. It not only saves your time and money but also keeps you stress-free.

The benefit of working with a website accessibility company is that they have several employees who work on the project at once. As a result, they will combine different skills to create a fantastic site for your company.

Additionally, professionals follow the latest laws and trends regarding website accessibility. So, you won’t risk facing any lawsuits regarding an act you had no idea about! Moreover, besides making a user-friendly website, they will also make your website unique and creative.

5 Tips To Find The Right Web Accessibility Company

One must hire the website accessibility company that best fits their requirements. However, finding the best one from so many companies is hard. So, let’s go over a few tips to find the right web accessibility company for your business:

  1. Set A Budget

If you haven’t already, you must start your search for a web accessibility company by deciding how much you’re ready to spend on it.

You must know your budget because there is no industry standard pricing. What quality of web design you desire and where you will obtain it depends on the amount of money you have to spend.

Different companies might help your website be ADA-compliant. Their rates and quality of work might be different. So, first decide on your budget, then start looking for a company whose charges are within your budget.

  1. Do Online Research

To create a shortlist, you must have a variety of possibilities.You must check out several blogs and websites which list and rank the top web accessibility company using a reliable search engine. Once you’ve compiled a list of web design firms, begin screening them to see which one is best for you.

After that, check out the websites of each business on the list to start the shortlisting procedure. A web accessibility company is not ideal for collaborating if its website appears antiquated, uninspiring, and uninteresting. Furthermore, you can also check out the review section of the companies to know their performance.

  1. Check If The Company Provides Any Extra Services

Always check if a company offers extra services before hiring them. While developing your personalized website,you might need different services. For example, you might need search engine optimization (SEO) to advertise your website. Besides, you might need copywriting to produce content for your website.

So, try to find a website accessibility company that provides more services than just web design. Choose a full-service business that offers additional benefits.

  1. Ask For Proper Documentation

Your web accessibility company won’t be capable of providing outcomes if the parameters of the engagement are unclear. Be sure to receive a good proposal and discuss everything before continuing on professional terms.

Always double-check the terms and conditions of employment to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Remember, appropriate documents are essential since you are giving them a sensitive job to handle.

  1. Experience & Expertise

You must pick a business that suits your desired skill set. However, you must thoroughly investigate the company’s qualifications and experience before hiring. A skilled service provider might handle your web development project’s unique requirements. Find a business that matches your necessary technical ability and has outstanding experience.

Conclusion

A suitable web accessibility company can do wonders for your business. So, if you want a company to make your website ADA compliant, consider hiring ADA for Web. For the growth of your company, we design wholly accessible and user-friendly websites.

Thanks for reading through. Good luck!

Why Should You Make Website Accessibility A Priority?
Posted on By Author ADA Support Categories Articles

Why Should You Make Website Accessibility A Priority?

Given that the number of people using the internet is now larger than ever, there is an increasing need for accessible website development. It’s no longer enough for your website or app to be compatible with various browsers; it also should be accessible to users with sensory impairments.

For this reason, web accessibility remediation is quickly rising on the list of priorities for everyone creating content for the modern web. In this article, we’ll discuss the significance of adhering to web accessibility development and why seeking help from a professional web accessibility company should be your priority.

What Does Making Website Accessibility Entail?

To be considered accessible, a website must ensure that its content is readily available to people with varying levels of disability. The World Wide Web Consortium has developed certain web accessibility standards.

The rules cover a lot of ground when it comes to accessibility, but they can’t possibly meet everyone’s specific requirements. The goal is to present content in the following ways:

  • Easy to see.
  • Quick to learn and use.
  • Very easy to grasp.
  • People may interpret it reliably.

Why Website Accessibility Should Be The Top Priority for Your Business

Increasing your website’s accessibility is crucial in encouraging more people to utilize the internet. However, it also directly affects your company’s online success.

Websites that are easy to use for people with disabilities can help businesses expand their online presence and shield them from potential legal liability. Therefore, you should prioritize website accessibility for at least the following five reasons:

  1. Expands Your Potential Customer Base

Millions of potential clients who cannot visit your site because of their disabilities are automatically lost if your website is not currently ADA compliant. A staggering 19% of Americans, or roughly 50 million people, live with a disability.

Many people could be interested in what you offer, but they can’t buy your services or even get in touch with you since your website isn’t designed to be used by people with disabilities. That means they might decide to go on to your rivals instead.

Even though your current consumers won’t notice a difference from the addition of accessibility enhancements, you may experience increased traffic and conversions from new customers. By making your site more user-friendly, you’ll send a message to those potential customers that you appreciate their business and want to keep it.

  1. Improve Your SEO Game

Making a website accessible benefits users and increases the site’s visibility in search engine results (SEO).When a website complies with the website accessibility guidelines, it is more likely to be favored by users.

As a result, your company website’s SEO efforts will receive a significant boost on search engines and screen readers. No doubt, developing your business website with careful consideration of video transcripts, alternative picture text, and meta labeling is a must!

  1. Gaining Favorable PR

Disability rights activists, individuals with disabilities, and those close to them all support web accessibility. Taking a stance on web accessibility is an excellent way to establish credibility for your company.

If customers with disabilities have a good experience with your company, they’ll likely tell their friends and followers about it.So making a public announcement about your website’s accessibility is a great strategy to start gaining favorable press.

  1. Enhance The Site’s Usability

Yes, individuals with disabilities are the primary emphasis of accessible website design. They must be able to access, navigate, and consume media at the same levels as their peers. In addition, you can also enjoy further benefits stemming from developing an accessible website in this fashion. For starters, increasing accessibility usually entails fixing issues and reducing page sizes.

But that’s not the end of it! Accessible websites are user-friendly for everyone. All users benefit from simplified navigation, ALT text for images on pages with sluggish internet connections, and glossaries. As you reconstruct your site to improve its accessibility, you’ll find that its overall usability improves.

  1. Decrease The Risk Of Discrimination Lawsuits

Individuals with impairments are guaranteed the same rights as everyone else in the workplace thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 (ADA). More and more, the rules in that law are starting to apply to a company’s website and social media accounts, not only the physical location.

Over 2,200 web accessibility-related lawsuits were filed in 2018, nearly three times as many as in 2017. As expected, that figure keeps climbing. It has an equal impact on mom-and-pop shops and multinationals like Domino’s. Failing to make your website accessible could potentially destroy your finances someday!

The best part is that you can avoid these lawsuits altogether if you design your website according to the ADA guidelines. Creating a successful website boils down to some basic guidelines.

Conclusion

ADA for websites is now more important than ever! But, if you still don’t understand why accessible website development is such a pressing issue, we will share all the reasons that make web accessibility remediation thetop priority for your company’s website!

We hope you find a reliable web accessibility company to develop your website. Thanks for reading.

Risks of Not Having An ADA Compliant Website
Posted on By Author ADA Support Categories Articles

Risks of Not Having An ADA Compliant Website

ADA-compliant websites are assets to an organization. They can ensure better service, user experience, and overall performance of your websites. Many of us are familiar with the ADA compliance feature for websites. If you are unaware of ADA accessibility for websites, you may be wondering about the risks of not having an ADA-compliant website.

There can be multiple risks to your website and organization without ADA accessibility. It is now more than a way to accessorize your websites. ADA compliance is an obligatory feature for websites to follow. Otherwise, your website and organization can be susceptible to ADA lawsuits, penalties, and many other risk factors.

What Are The Risks Of Not Having An ADA Compliant Website

When a website is not ADA compliant, it fails to target a large pool and diverse customer base. This can be crucial for businesses, especially if your business is in a growing phase. Additionally, there are multiple other risks associated with not having an ADA-compliant website. Some of the major risks that you may face without ADA compliance are given as follows.

ADA Lawsuit

One of the biggest risks of not having an ADA-compliant website is the threat of ADA lawsuits. In simpler words, a disabled person can lodge complaints or sue your website if it is not ADA compliant.

According to the Supreme Court’s decision in 2019, all firms and organizations must have ADA-accessible websites. So, if you are not following the ADA guidelines, you are not complying with the law either. In such cases, a disabled person has the right to file a lawsuit directly to the federal court for violations of the ADA. So, you may face ADA lawsuits without ADA compliance.

Non-Compliance Penalties

Similar to ADA lawsuits, another major risk that you face without ADA accessibility is non-compliance penalties. For violating the ADA compliance guidelines, your business may need to pay penalties.

An ADA inaccessible website can have severe penalties. The penalty fines can go as high as $75000 for the first violation. In case of subsequent violations, the fines can go up to $15000. Not only that, these fines are reviewed annually to match the present inflation. Hence, paying these penalties can be a serious risk for businesses.

Missing Opportunities For Brand Exposure

The opportunity cost of not having ADA compliance for your websites is a non-quantifiable risk. That is, when your websites are not ADA accessible, it drives away potential buyers and customers.

Your organization fails to attract a diverse pool of customers when the website is not ADA compliant. A lion’s share of those people is disabled people. So, you immediately lose all disabled people as your customers. This can have many negative impacts on your organization. So, the opportunity cost is a major risk of not having ADA-compliant websites.

Discrimination Against The Disabled People

According to the reports of the CDC, 1 in 4 adults in the USA lives with a disability. That is nearly 61 million Americans living with one or more than one form of disability. So, when your websites are not ADA compliant, such a large population of disabled users fails to access them.

Screen readers, people with assisting devices, and other restraints can not receive your services and features as easily as other users. This creates discrimination against disabled users. Thus, your organization can cause discrimination against disabled people without ADA accessibility.

How Can You Have ADA Compliant Websites?

ADA-accessible websites are now a necessity for organizations and business firms. You can mitigate the risks of not having an ADA-compliant website by simply following the ADA accessibility guidelines on your website. It is one of the smartest investments that you can make in your website.

To have an ADA-compliant website, make sure that you are aware of the ADA compliance guidelines and checklists. You can follow the checklists and add the recommended features to your website accordingly. Finally, you can check your website’s accessibility with tests and checkers.

Additionally, you can also consult with firms that have expertise in creating ADA-compliant websites for you. You can also test and audit your websites with these firms. Thus, you can easily have an ADA-compliant website and rule out all the risks of not having one.

Conclusion

ADA website accessibility is an obligatory feature for your websites. By knowing about the risks of not having an ADA-compliant website, you can understand its necessity.

So, make sure to keep your websites ADA accessible. Contact us to learn more about ADA accessibility for your websites.

List of Website Accessibility (ADA) Violations
Posted on By Author ADA Support Categories Articles

List of Website Accessibility (ADA) Violations

It’s no secret that a website is one of the most effective promotional tools at your disposal to promote your company. However, there’s no point in making one if those with disabilities cannot use it. With one in every four adults in the US living with some form of disability, ADA for websites is more crucial than ever.

If you are also looking into web accessibility remediation, look no further! However, before contacting a web accessibility company, discover all the possible violations preventing you from accessible website development.

What Does ADA Compliance Exactly Mean?

ADA compliance means meeting the Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design standards and guidelines. This law applies to digital resources, such as the Internet and associated websites, and traditional ones, such as libraries and museums.

As per the ADA, businesses must ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to their products and services at places of public accommodation. Simply put, the law implies making adjustments so that those with visual, bodily, or other disabilities can use the same facilities as those without disabilities.

Because the web is a public place, these rules also apply there. The purpose of the law is to give everyone the same rights and opportunities. Additionally, it ensures that people with disabilities have access to equal opportunities in transportation, employment, telecommunications, and other services from the federal and state government.

Therefore, it is crucial to design a website accessible to people with a wide range of impairments. The consequences of not being ADA compliant are grave, ranging from the loss of business to potential legal trouble.

Top Common ADA Compliance Violations for Websites

In the same way that physically accessible buildings are essential, websites that adhere to ADA standards are equally important. Unfortunately, many website administrators don’t consider ADA while developing web pages or defining material. This slight mistake can annoy millions of people with disabilities trying to use your website.

So you might want to avoid these ADA compliance violations to the best of your ability. The most common violations for websites include –

  1. Texts with Poor Color Contrast

A common ADA compliance violation is websites’ poor color contrast. According to WCAG 2.1, the ideal color contrast for standard text should be 4.5:1 and 3:1 for larger text. Certain visitors won’t be able to read the text on your site if you don’t maintain a good color contrast ratio.

If you choose colors that people with color blindness or other impairments cannot perceive, the page may appear blank to them. Likewise, people with limited vision, neurological, or cognitive disorders may have difficulty reading the content.Unfortunately, the vast majority of websites fall short of the required minimum.

  1. Missing Alt Text!

According to WCAG 2.1, you must include a text alternative for non-text content (like photos or charts) that conveys information. When a text alternative accompanies non-text content, assistive technologies (AT) such as screen readers can display it for the user.

For instance, a person with vision impairment can request the AT to read the text equivalent of an image in a synthetic speech. Simply put, images should have alternative text, commonly known as alt text, which provides a brief, descriptive explanation of the picture.

3.Form Elements Without Labels

People who use assistive technologies may have trouble completing an online form if the required fields, such as shipping and payment information, are not clearly indicated. In addition, the user will be confused about why their submission failed if a red asterisk denoting a necessary field doesn’t have a message explaining what it means.

There are many different kinds of fields on forms, including text, radio buttons, drop-down menus, and checkboxes. Fields must have labels so that users know what they are clicking on and what information is needed. Users who need to fill out a form for various purposes can find this an annoyance.

  1. Inconsistent Headings

The incorrect sequence of headings is a common cause of non-compliance with ADA standards. Unfortunately, it’s also one of most website developers’ simplest mistakes. Many people mistakenly believe that by modifying header tags, they may change the size of the headers they want to highlight or deemphasize.

Problems arise when content creators for a website treat heading levels (H1, H2, H3, etc.) more as decorative features than sequence indicators. They frequently pay more attention to the headers’ aesthetics than how they work.

As a result, content creators frequently replace the H1 with the H2 if the latter appears more visually compelling. However, this throws the article itself out of alignment, making it impossible for screen readers to comprehend the content properly.

Conclusion

Ignoring website accessibility requirements or ADA for websites almost guarantees a lawsuit. So if you plan to look up web accessibility remediation, we’ve got you covered! Here we share all about web accessibility development and common ADA violations your website may have.

Discuss them with your web accessibility company to develop an accessible website. Thanks for reading.

ADA Website Compliance: An Introduction for Business & Law Firms
Posted on By Author ADA Support Categories FAQ

ADA Website Compliance: An Introduction for Business & Law Firms

In this era of technology, website accessibility is crucial for attracting new consumers, ensuring good service, and retaining customers in the long run. ADA for websites is a tool that makes websites accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities.  At the same time, ADA web design will enhance the outlook of your website.

When it comes to business and law firms, websites are a major asset. This is because, with the right website, these firms can take their operational excellence a notch higher. Similarly, if the websites are not adequately accessible, the business will suffer negative consequences. For this reason, businesses and law firms need ADA website compliance.

What Is ADA Website Compliance?

ADA stands for Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design. It is a web accessibility development tool that focuses on making electronic information accessible to people with disabilities. ADA compliance ensures a specific set of tools to provide your websites with these accessible features.

It is a great way to ensure web accessibility remediation for your websites. That means when your websites are ADA accessible, all users, regardless of their disability, can enjoy your services without hassle. Without ADA compliance, you exclude a large majority of disabled people from using the features of your websites.

ADA compliance is not just a tool to make your website look better. It is an obligatory function that must be present on your websites. Following ADA accessibility is a court-mandated order for all federal organizations and firms. So, following ADA website accessibility means that you are following the civil law of the country.

How Can Business And Law Firms Have ADA Accessible Websites?

The best way for business and law firms to have ADA-accessible websites is to follow the ADA compliance checklist. This includes providing some specific tools and features on your website. So, make sure to follow the ADA compliance website checklist to make your website ADA accessible.

The ADA website checklist includes using alt text for pictures. That is, when your website has multiple images and infographics, alt text will help your audience understand them. Similarly, ADA accessibility requires using the correct fonts, themes, and color contrast. Your fonts should not be too difficult to read for screen readers.

ADA-accessible websites will need to use proper headlines and sub-points. This helps readers navigate through extensive content with various information. ADA web design also requires you to use ARIA landmarks like “Skip”, “Jump To”, etc. buttons. Additionally, the website should be keyboard-accessible to benefit people with assistive technologies.

You must conduct a web accessibility audit to get a better understanding of what your website needs. For this, you can get some expert help. Many web accessibility companies can perform these audits. They can also help you with accessible website development for your organization.

Hence, in these ways, you can get ADA-accessible websites for law firms and business organizations.

Why Business And Law Firms Need ADA Website Compliance

If you are new to the idea of ADA website compliance, you might be wondering why you should need it on your websites. There are several advantages to ensuring ADA accessibility on your company’s website. At the same time, without complying with ADA accessibility, your business and law firms may be subjected to different penalties.

When it comes to the advantages of ADA website compliance, there are many. For instance, you can ensure the best services to all your users when you have ADA compliance. This includes the large population of disabled people and users with various physical constraints. Hence, you get to reach a larger audience with ADA compliance.

As a result, you can ensure inclusivity to create a better brand image. Your website will be more likely to satisfy the customers and have better customer retention.

Similarly, with ADA-accessible websites, you get to avoid lawsuits and penalties. According to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, federal agents must have ADA-accessible websites. This includes law firms, accounting firms, CPA firms, etc. Your websites must be ADA accessible. Otherwise, you might face ADA lawsuits and penalties for your inaccessible websites.

Conclusion

ADA website compliance is an obligatory tool that ensures great service and a better user experience for your customers. So, businesses and law firms must abide by the ADA compliance requirements to improve their websites.

Contact us to learn more about ADA website compliance.

Importance Of Web Accessibility For Your Law Firm’s Digital Marketing Strategy
Posted on By Author ADA Support Categories Articles

Importance Of Web Accessibility For Your Law Firm’s Digital Marketing Strategy

As of 2010, one in every five Americans, or approximately 56.7 million, lives with a disability. So it’s not uncommon for people with disabilities to struggle with adapting to and using cutting-edge gadgetry. In addition, as more people look for legal professionals online, it has become more critical than ever to develop accessible websites for law firms.

So as a lawyer, your duties involve making technological resources accessible to people of all abilities and understanding what ADA for websites entails. Before reaching out to an ADA Compliance Company, learning all about it is a wise idea. To help you understand why web accessibility for law firms is critical, we will share everything there is to know about it.

What Exactly Is Web Content Accessibility?

People living with different disabilities process and interpret information differently. When a website is accessible, users with impairments can navigate it the same way as those who utilize keyboard-based or point-and-click methods.

It is vital to provide content that appeals to all the senses to make your website accessible to people with disabilities. All of your site’s features, including consultation requests and invoice payments, must be accessible to all users, with no exception. Web accessibility remediation may include –

  • Use “alt” text on photos or image files to help the visually impaired navigate your site.
  • Use of descriptive anchor text to facilitate site navigation.
  • Captions that appear in time with the audio in a video for the deaf and hard of hearing.

5 Reasons Why Web Content Accessibility Matters For Your Law Firm

When you become an attorney, you are responsible for representing individuals who cannot defend themselves in court. To offer equal service to everyone, you must also assist customers who may have disabilities by providing them with accessible, user-friendly technology.

There are numerous other reasons why the importance of web accessibility for your law firm is immeasurable. These include –

  1. Web Accessibility Helps You Reach More People

Accessible websites increase your potential customer base. For example, the United States is home to 40 million disabled people. In addition, research by Pew Research reveals that twenty-five percent of American adults consider themselves disabled.

All of these people in the United States will need legal assistance at some point in their lives. Whether it’s to create a will, defend themselves against criminal charges, or file a lawsuit due to an injury. Put another way, almost everyone using Google may look for a lawyer someday in their lives. So why not expand your law firm’s reach?

  1. Reduced Risk Of legal action

Legal action is something no company wants to deal with, and no company wants to chance to have to pay for legal bills. One accessibility complaint investigation can cost up to $10,000, while a lawsuit defense and settlement can cost up to $350,000. Additionally, The number of lawsuits involving disabilities has climbed by almost 1,100% since 2016.

This number should continue to rise in the future as well. Therefore, if you fail to comply with accessibility regulations, it could significantly harm your company.

  1. Improve Your Brand’s Strength

Making your web content accessible to people with disabilities can only help your brand. A website may be the best way to demonstrate how much your company values and respects all of its clients. Making your web content accessible to people with disabilities also suggests you’ve done some research into industry standards.

Companies with solid ethical cultures tend to attract more loyal customers and reliable business allies. However, your company’s image may suffer if your website is challenging to use for people with disabilities.

  1. Boost Your Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Websites that are easy for people to use will also improve your site’s visibility in search engine results. Why? Because accessibility is directly related to SEO (SEO).

Both search engine optimization and user-friendliness are interrelated. For example, websites that are easy to use and understand by individuals of all abilities have lower bounce rates.

  1. Boost Usability

The goal of web content accessibility is to ensure that people with physical or mental impairments can fully take advantage of available resources. Therefore, it is reasonable to consider accessibility directly linked with usability, as it contributes to a positive user experience.

People who have issues using a mouse or keyboard will significantly benefit from this standard, but everyone will enjoy its advantages. By organizing your site’s navigational elements per this standard, visitors will have a simpler time finding the information they need.

Conclusion

Web accessibility remediation is a hot issue for law firms nowadays. If you don’t have a clear idea about what ADA for websites entails, web accessibility development for your law firm can become difficult. So we share the topic of accessible website development in this article.

We hope you understand how critical web accessibility for law firms is. Thanks for reading till now.

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