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Posted on By Author ADA Support Categories Articles

9 Benefits of Website Accessibility and ADA Compliance for Small Businesses

Accessibility and ADA compliance for web content is essential for businesses with web presences. Website content must be written in a way that all users can understand and navigate, regardless of any special abilities or disabilities. With the recent explosion of web traffic from mobile devices, the potential risk of being found non-compliant is even greater-and the penalties associated with non-compliance can be very steep. But accessibility isn’t just a means of avoiding penalties. There are significant advantages to making sure your website is compliant with ADA standards.

In this article, we’ll explore the primary benefits of complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and making your site user-friendly and accessible.

1. Increased Traffic

When it comes to improving traffic to your website, accessibility is a key factor. According to recent research, web users with a disability or special need represent at least 20 percent of the total Internet audience. Even if your business does not explicitly provide goods and services to this population, consider these potential customers who, like any other web user, are looking for information, goods and services. If your site is not ADA-compliant, you risk losing these potential customers.

2. Improved Search Ranking

Search engine optimization (SEO) is an essential element of any business’s digital marketing strategy. By optimizing your content to be SEO-friendly, you can boost your ranking in search engine results, thereby increasing web traffic and visibility. Recent research by Google shows that developing content for web accessibility can help your SEO rankings by ensuring your site is crawlable and indexable.

3. Increased Conversions

Not just a traffic generator, accessibility also increases the chances of website conversions. In general, a website’s conversion rate reflects the amount of traffic the site generates and how the content entices visitors to become customers or users. By making sure your content is ADA-compliant and easy to navigate, you’re increasing the chances that visitors will convert-i.e., buy a product, sign up for an account, etc. According to WiderFunnel, accessible content can increase conversions by as much as 30-40%.

4. Improved Branding and Reputation

By making your website accessible, you’re conveying a message that your business values diversity, inclusion and social responsibility. Making your content compliant with the ADA not only shows you’re compliant with the law, but also demonstrates your willingness to provide the best service for all users. It’s no wonder, then, that tangible business benefits usually follow when businesses prioritize web accessibility.

5. Improved Usability

When content is written and designed for user accessibility, everyone (including people with disabilities) benefits from easy navigation, clear information and site functionality. ADA-specific programming provides access to persons with specific physical and cognitive disabilities, but its many benefits reach far beyond. Providing user-friendly content not only helps visitors find their way around an unfamiliar website, but it also ensures that people understand and can easily access the content you provide.

6. Reduced Legal Risk

Without question, making sure your website is ADA compliant is a legal must. Websites that don’t meet accessibility standards can lead to litigation, fines and other legal costs. Given the rise in web-related lawsuits in recent years, mitigating such risks should be a priority for all businesses.

7. Social Responsibility

Nobody wants to be seen as “exclusionary” or “discriminatory”, and that’s especially true in today’s increasingly socially conscious environment. By making sure your website is accessible, you’re demonstrating your commitment to “leveling the playing field” and being an inclusive business.

8. Compliance with Mobile Accessibility Standards

Web traffic from mobile devices continues to increase exponentially, with an estimated 80% of web usage coming from users on phones or tablets. The W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) has developed web accessibility standards specifically for mobile devices, a key component of which is making sure that all text, images and videos are accessible, regardless of the device being used. By making sure your website is up-to-date with current mobile accessibility standards, you’re making sure that all users will be able to view your content properly.

9. Lower Development Costs

ADA compliance doesn’t have to be expensive. Many of the basic coding processes are relatively simple, and the cost of incorporating such measures into the development process can be very low. Rolling accessibility measures into the site build from the start can help to save time and money down the road.

Ultimately, making sure your website is ADA compliant is essential for any business. Not only is it the right thing to do (the courts are becoming increasingly strict in enforcing web accessibility standards), but there are also significant financial and branding benefits to be enjoyed. Take the time to properly optimize your site for user accessibility and you’ll reap the rewards of improved traffic, conversions and brand image.

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.

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.

Digital Accessibility For Law Firms: Why Lawyers Need To Prioritize Accessibility
Posted on By Author content@adaforweb.com Categories Law Firms

Digital Accessibility For Law Firms: Why Lawyers Need To Prioritize Accessibility

Law firm websites are some of the most common service websites for the more significant population. When these websites are inaccessible to a large population, the firms are bound to face the consequences. If your law firm has an inaccessible website, you may face website accessibility or ADA-compliant website lawsuits.

Since law firm websites give help-seekers a chance to get information regarding the law – everyone would visit them. But having your website be inaccessible to disabled people can violate ADA regulations. Not only that – having an accessible website can help your firm in many ways other than avoiding lawsuits. So, let’s check out why accessibility should be a priority.

How Does Website Accessibility Help Law Firms?

An accessible website can improve the experience for any website visitor by a wide margin. Since law firm websites are public service sites, they should be accessible to everybody. Since making your website accessible can give you legal and financial benefits, law firms also have something to gain from website accessibility.
Improved User Experience For All Users
Whether your user base requires additional aid to use law firm sites, accessibility can ensure they have a better experience. Your website should be able to cater to most of the population, including people with disabilities. Only about one in five people in the USA have a disability.

Fortunately, adding accessibility tools such as alt text can also help abled users in times of need. Overall, ensuring your website is accessible can bring in more visitors crediting to its easy user experience.
Complying With ADA Regulations – Avoid Lawsuits
Website accessibility lawsuits are more common than you think. In 2017, the USA saw around 814 cases directed toward websites that the masses could not access. The suits result from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)’s Title III.

The ADA’s Title III protects people with disabilities from discrimination in a place of public accommodation. Since law firm websites are a place of help and information, one could easily consider them a place of public accommodation – even a court judge.

Therefore, per the ADA regulations, your website requires tools for accessibility. Not only does it ensure upholding civil rights, but it also helps your firm avoid any additional legal battles.
Boosting SEO Advantages
When you make your website more accessible, search engines pick up on it. Leading search engines like Google are more likely to put accessible websites to the forefront – boosting SEO for your firm.

The programs that decide which websites get more hits tend to pick up on better visual information and accessibility options. So, as you improve user experience – you can ultimately enjoy SEO benefits for the site.
Financial Returns
Accessible websites do not directly benefit financially from accessibility tools. It is more of a result of all the efforts. Since your website’s accessibility options bring in more visitors, you can earn better from the website over time.

Additionally, lawsuits are common for accessibility concerns on law firm websites. By providing users with an accessible experience, you can avoid the legal expenses of handling a case. Therefore, accessibility will also favor you financially.

What Is An ADA Compliant Website Accessibility Lawsuit – And How Can It Affect You?

The ADA-compliant website accessibility lawsuit holds websites accountable for not complying with ADA guidelines. Suppose your law firm’s website does not provide accessibility tools for every user. In that case, a disadvantaged user can issue a lawsuit against you. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)’s Title III protects the right to accessibility in spaces like public info websites.

Title III protects the right of people with disabilities to have proper access to any public domain as an able-bodied person. While the grounds are unclear whether it is okay to consider a public domain website, perspectives are changing. It is more than likely that a civil judge will consider a law firm’s website as public domain.

Therefore, if your website does not employ tools to help every user equally, it can risk a lawsuit. From then on, not only will your law firm website be liable for losing a part of your client demographic – you can potentially lose money as well.

Ways To Prioritize Website Accessibility For Your Law Firm

As a lawyer, there are methods to ensure your law firm’s website passes accessibility checks on all grounds. It must follow accessibility guidelines – and then you can make sure to check it using evaluation tools.

Comply With Accessibility Guidelines
The existing Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) can make your job more manageable.

1. The user interface must be designed so that every user can perceive the components of the website.
2. Every user should be able to navigate parts of the site, and every feature should be operable universally.
3. The information on the site should be presented in a way that every user can understand.
4. The website should be dynamic and well-built with accessibility tools. Assistive technology should complement the website’s structure so users can have the whole experience.

Within WCAG standards, there are levels to ensure how well your website can help the overall population. The classes are named A through AAA, where AAA is the highest standard of digital accessibility.
Evaluate Your Website
Currently, it is easy to check whether your website follows ADA-approved guidelines. Online tools are less reliable but easy to use in the evaluation process. And in case you want a more reliable evaluation, you can look up services built by experts to check your site.

Make Your Website More Disability Inclusive

At ADAforweb, we have created an informed solution to make digital accessibility more manageable than ever. We can evaluate your website to look for digital accessibility compliance, deliver accessibility statements, and provide remediation services.

Our goal is to create a more disability-friendly digital space. If your website needs some touch-up on accessibility – or you are simply worried about it being accessible enough, schedule a call with us.

Conclusion

If not for simply avoiding ADA-compliant website accessibility lawsuits, an accessible site can open the door of information for many of the population. So while you build a public service website, check all the boxes to ensure everyone can receive help from it.

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