Is Your Website Accessible to All?
In the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act (Title III) prohibits discriminating against the disabled in “places of public accommodations.” The ADA has been around since before the World Wide Web really took off, but recently courts have been interpreting this law to also apply to websites and apps. There have been lawsuits against websites for not being accessible to the disabled, particularly as reliance on the internet for day to day life has taken off.
To put it in plain English, web accessibility is the act of making sure websites are accessible and usable for everyone.
Not only does web accessibility improve the user experience of everyone, including the disabled, it can also improve your search engine optimization and sales. An accessible website can also reduce bounce rate, meaning users will stay on your site longer.
Basic Website Compliance
How do you make sure your website is accessible and ADA compliant? This topic can be very complex, but to start, there are some common sense things to consider.
First, for those who use screen readers to access the internet, a well-coded website with clear, descriptive image alt tags and well-labeled links is essential. Someone using a screen reader cannot rely on visual clues to determine where a link is leading or what is in an image. By providing clear code, you’re helping your SEO and helping the visually impaired navigate your website.
Second, make sure your navigation is simple and clear so those using assistive technology can find their way around your website easier. Your primary menu should not be overloaded with complicated dropdowns. Only include the most important links, and save the rest for secondary navigation.
Third, use the appropriate headline tags in your code to help people browse your website’s content more easily. Making sure your headlines are marked up correctly helps everyone, including those with disabilities navigate down a web page, and improves your search engine optimization.
Finally, never set up audio or video to play automatically. This is annoying to any user, but for those using screen readers and other assistive technology it severely impairs the ability to use the website.
Let Us Help You Develop and Maintain a Compliant Website
These are only the most basic aspects of designing a compliant website that is accessible for every user. An experienced website designer can help you create and maintain an accessible website for all. Coveted Financial would love to help you ensure your website is ADA compliant. Contact us for more information on creating an accessible website experience for everyone.