The web is an important part of marketing and business. However,
Web accessibility is important to people who have a huge record of data and want to manage it anywhere around the world.
It’s a powerful tool that works for the betterment of society through sites and technologies. So that people can easily go through and access these sites.
However, despite web accessibility trying hard to bring betterment within society, it goes unnoticed. The truth is very few people know about web accessibility.
Thus, It is very difficult for people to join the online world and take advantage of it. However, you need to focus on several things while choosing the best Digital marketing agency!
So, explore further to know the value of web accessibility and its incredible benefits for website design worth!
What is Web Accessibility?
Web accessibility is when people can easily access apps, websites, and software.
Furthermore, It is not just for business people but also for old people whose senses may weaken as they age.
There are tools to make sites and apps more open. Thus, they are known as assistive technology tools that are useful for making Ecommerce websites. They could be anything device, software, or product.
Assistive tools make it much easier for people to interact with the website’s content. Assistive technology examples include screen readers and screen magnifiers. Some might work with phone captioning, alternative keyboards, and much more. These tools work just like animals.
They help you understand the way and alert you about the environment and challenges. Websites without assistive touch make it hard for people to browse a page. Therefore they are often discouraged and do not visit such sites again.
How Can You Improve Web Accessibility?
Accessibility to the Web is a part of the user experience. Developers can improve web accessibility. They can do it by applying universal design principles to the website. The universal design principle that web developers must keep in mind are:
Equal Use:
It means that the website is designed in a way that it can be used by people with different disabilities.
Flexibility in Use:
The website should add different options for people with different disabilities so that they can use the site.
Simple Use:
The site should be easy to understand. The user should be able to understand it easily. Its user’s experience, language, or knowledge should not affect it.
Visible Information:
The site should have observable information. It should be able to effectively communicate the information to users.
Error tolerance:
The site should have tolerance for error so that error-making is harmless
Less Physical Effort:
Your site could be used easily without much effort. The web design should need to contain enough size as well as space to reach and grab without making the body size and movability an issue.
Legal Requirements for Website Accessibility
In order To have good accessibility of website content, pay attention to the user agent and web tools. Moreover, To make it a little easier, we have covered specification and web accessibility guidelines.
FACT: According to the disabilities act, it is people’s right to use every public facility and website. Therefore web accessibility is a legal requirement.
A website may face legal issues if it fails to meet these requirements. Nevertheless, You can avoid legal charges by making websites easy to use and open. This will help you build a brand reputation as well.
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
Do you want to know what the guidelines for web design accessibility are? Well! It is a document that has details on how to make web content user-friendly for business people.
The goal is to create a single universally accepted standard for websites that satisfy the needs of individuals, governments, and organizations worldwide. In order to fulfill this goal, web content accessibility guidelines are made.
These guidelines generally include the following:
- web developer
- tool developers.
- Evaluation tool developers
- for people who need to follow these standards.
Many countries use WCAG 2.0 as an IOS standard to build user-friendly websites. The WCAG 3 is believed to bring a series of people testing, According to Chris Barling. Timely updates of rules and material with changing technologies to meet user requirements.
These are the following accessibility standards:
Understandable:
The users must understand information from the website/ content. For example, if a deaf person wants to hear content. He must be accessible through assistive technology such as high-frequency headphones.
Useable:
The website/ content should be easy to use for people. They should be able to interact with all components. For example, if a person cannot use a mouse. The site should be able to access the website through Text to speech software.
Comprehensible:
The web content must be accessible and readable. It should be easy to use. This helps people understand the website more easily.
All-rounder:
The web content must be user-friendly. It should be accessible on all user interfaces and components, such as mobile phones, tablets, etc.
Three levels of WCAG
To evaluate your web content, these three levels of WCAG criteria must be used.
- Level A: Level A says that a website has little accessibility. Many with disabilities cannot use that website.
If a website cannot reach this level, indeed, it is not accessible.
- Level AA – The middle level shows that the website has solved many common hurdles.
- Level AAA – This is the top level of WCAG. They used the most significant or small hurdles that have been removed. There are many websites available that are not able to fulfill this level.
How to Test for Website Accessibility?
It is crucial to assess your website in the developmental process. It must fulfill the WCAG guideline.
If not, make changes.
Moreover, this helps in finding faults that can be solved more efficiently through testing. There are many tools that help in checking website accessibility. Some of them are as follows:
- WAVE – It not only identifies a problem but also provides solutions for it. Moreover, it uses error icons to mark errors on the website.
- WebAim – It checks the Text as well as colors of websites. To make sure it falls under WCAG standards.
- NVACCESS – It’s a screen reader. It tests webpages compatibility. It reads out the HTML file of web pages. This gives developers a chance to find out errors and make changes.
- Axe DevTools – This tool identifies website problems and solves them independently. Moreover, it uses intelligent guided tests, which makes it quicker.
Website Accessibility Checklist for Your Website
You can use these factors to increase the accessibility of your website. These factors ensure your site falls under WCAG guidelines.
1. Alternative Text:
Alt text is mainly used for visually impaired people. It converts pictures and descriptions into read-aloud Text with the help of screen readers. Thus making sure that all people have access to the same information.
2. Media solutions:
Media alternatives include text transcripts and descriptions in audio files. Doing so gives information access to blind and deaf people on websites. For example, describing an image.
3. Navigation:
Make sure that your website is designed in a way that it can use the keyboard as well as Assistive technology.
4. Site structures:
Site structures include search boxes and site maps. They should be logical and easy to understand. They should help users find what they are looking for
5. Color Contrast:
Contrast and color use are important to website accessibility. It is easier for people with weak eyes to view high-contrast color websites. For example, a light background and dark Text help them see well.
However, everyone has different disabilities. This should be kept in mind when choosing a color combination. The minimum contrast is at least 4.5:1 for normal Text.
6. Accessible Form:
Forms are used to interact with the user on websites, for example, registration information. Forms alone could be difficult to use.
Use accessible forms to help people understand the form. For example, add instructions beside the fields. Doing so will give them an idea of what they are supposed to do.
7. Blinking Content:
While flashing and flickering content may attract attention, they could create a problem for some. Websites without these features are easier to use.
Moreover, make sure the pages do not change too quickly. If possible, turn off the time limit. So that information can be processed. Content changing too quickly can affect people with attention deficiency.
8. Text intensive:
A website with a text-intensive title can help users understand page differences. They can use a screen reader to read page titles. Markup the headings so that the users can use them with keyboards and ATs.
Final Verdict:
Web Accessibility greatly improves user experience. As a result, many companies and organizations use web accessibility.
It brings many benefits, such as a large audience and a higher ranking on SERPs. Moreover, it saves websites from legal charges. Therefore, web accessibility is essential.
When designing or redesigning a web page, look at its accessibility. Find out the error and make changes accordingly. You can try simple steps like changing browser settings and heading sizes or color contrast. However, these tools alone can only do some of the work. You need expert guidance too!