The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted in 1990 to ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to all aspects of society, including the digital realm. ADA accessibility standards require that businesses and organizations make their websites accessible to people with disabilities, including those who are blind or visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing, and those with cognitive or physical disabilities. In this article, we’ll explore why your business website should be ADA-accessible and the benefits it can bring.
- Compliance with the law First and foremost, creating an ADA-accessible website is the law. The ADA applies to businesses and organizations of all sizes, and failure to comply with the ADA can result in legal action and hefty fines. By making your website ADA accessible, you’ll ensure that your business is compliant with the law and avoid any potential legal issues.
- Reach a larger audience Making your website accessible means that people with disabilities can use it with ease. This includes people who use screen readers to browse the web, those who rely on keyboard navigation instead of a mouse, and those who require captions or transcripts for audio and video content. By making your website accessible, you’ll be able to reach a larger audience and improve your business’s reputation as an inclusive and welcoming organization.
- Improve search engine optimization (SEO) ADA accessibility and SEO go hand in hand. Search engines use accessibility criteria as a ranking factor, so by making your website accessible, you’ll improve your search engine ranking and increase the likelihood that potential customers will find your website. In addition, accessible websites are often designed with clean, organized code that is easier for search engines to crawl and index.
- Increase customer engagement By making your website ADA accessible, you’ll create a better user experience for all visitors, including those with disabilities. An accessible website is often easier to navigate, faster to load, and more visually appealing. This will not only improve customer engagement, but it will also help to build customer loyalty.
- Foster, a culture of inclusivity Making your website ADA accessible is an important step towards fostering a culture of inclusivity within your organization. By prioritizing accessibility, you’ll demonstrate to your employees, customers, and the wider community that you value diversity and are committed to creating an environment that is welcoming to all. This can help to build a positive reputation for your business and attract top talent.
Now that you know why let’s look at some ways you can put this into practice.
- Use descriptive alt text for images: Alt text is used to describe images for screen reader users. Use clear and concise descriptions of images that convey their meaning to visually impaired users.
- Provide closed captions for videos: Closed captions are a text transcription of the audio content in a video. This is essential for users who are deaf or hard of hearing.
- Use clear and easy-to-read fonts: Use fonts that are easy to read and at a size that is comfortable for most users. Avoid using low-contrast color combinations as it can be hard for some users to read.
- Use headings and subheadings: Use descriptive headings and subheadings to organize content on your website. This helps users navigate and understand the content more easily.
- Ensure keyboard accessibility: Ensure that all website functions can be accessed via the keyboard. This is essential for users who have difficulty using a mouse or touchpad.
- Provide alternative ways to access content: Provide alternative ways to access content such as audio descriptions, audio files, and PDF files that can be read with screen readers.
- Test your website for accessibility: Use accessibility testing tools to check your website for accessibility issues. This will help you identify any issues that need to be addressed and ensure that your website is fully accessible.
By following these tips and making your website more accessible, you can ensure that your website is inclusive and welcoming to all users, including those with disabilities.
In conclusion, creating an ADA-accessible website is not only a legal requirement, but it’s also a smart business decision. By making your website accessible, you’ll reach a larger audience, improve your search engine ranking, increase customer engagement, and foster a culture of inclusivity within your organization. The benefits of an accessible website extend far beyond compliance with the law, so it’s important to make accessibility a priority in your web design and development process.