One branch of an inclusive web experience is accessibility, and it’s no longer optional. It’s a necessity. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Web Guidance and the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 3.0 set the standards. These frameworks make online platforms usable by everyone, including the nearly 1 in 5 Americans who live with a disability.
Equal Access
Ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to information and services on the website.
Reduce Risk
Reduce the risk of lawsuits and legal action for non-compliance with the ADA.
Better UX for All
Improve the user experience (UX) for all users, not just those with disabilities.
Describe the content and function of images, videos, and audio files with text alts.
The link text should describe the content that the user will be taken to when they click on the link.
This ensures that users who are deaf or hard of hearing can access the content of the video.
This is important for users who cannot use a mouse or other pointing device.
This makes the website easier to read for users with low vision.
This helps users with cognitive disabilities to understand the information on the website.
This helps users to navigate the website and find information more easily.
This can trigger seizures in users with photosensitive epilepsy.
This allows users who are blind or visually impaired to access the content on the website.
Your best efforts to ensure AAA contrast for text one buttons or proper alt text are just the beginning. Evaluate your existing visual brand and all the marketing channels that use it. Update colors, brand guides, and SOPs for every team member who creates any form of content for you.
Creating an accessible web presence is an important step in ensuring that people with disabilities — or even situational limitations — have equal access to information and services online.
Following the WCAG 3.0 guidelines ensures your site is more accessible to users with:
