
Web accessibility is more than a guideline you should adhere to—it’s an integral part of website creation and maintenance for your commercial site. ADA regulations for your business apply to both your physical and virtual spaces. By not considering ADA compliance during site design and development, you could face consequences such as:
- Lawsuits brought by users unable to adequately access your website
- Fines issued by the federal government
- Reputational damage
- Lack of customer retention or growth
An additional side effect of having a non-accessible website is low-quality SEO. Many SEO signals coincide with the criteria that make websites accessible. By improving your ADA compliance, you’ll automatically improve your SEO efforts and see improved ranking and search engine performance.
How Can I Improve My Website’s ADA Compliance?
The first step to making a more accessible website is to understand how accessible or inaccessible your current website is. An ADA audit will reveal where you need to make improvements to ensure anyone who lands on your site can access it, regardless of their abilities, limitations, or impairments.
When auditing your site, pay attention to these four main accessibility principles:
Perceivable
Is your current website perceivable when a visitor lands on the homepage or any other page? Do you offer both text-based and non-text-based ways to receive the information presented on the screen? Some elements, features, or factors to consider for a perceivable website include, but are not limited to:
- Color contrast ratios: When it comes to text and background colors, you must have an appropriate color contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 between the lighter color and the darker color. For reference, the highest contrast ratio is between black and white, which is a 21:1 ratio.
- Text alternatives for non-text content: Those with visual impairments should still be able to access the information conveyed in photos, infographics, charts, tables, and other visuals through descriptions and the alt text.
- Video captions: If your website features a video with audio, it should include captions to assist those with audial impairments or users with certain cognitive impairments or limitations.
- Resizing: Websites should be coded in a way that allows users to resize the text without losing resolution quality or on-screen information.
Operable
Is your current site navigable with only a keyboard? Do users have enough time to access the content on the screen and fulfill any necessary actions without being timed out? Some elements, features, or factors to consider for an operable website include, but are not limited to:
- Keyboard functionality: If a user can perform an action on the website using a mouse, there should be an alternative way to complete the action using a keyboard, including non-traditional keyboards.
- Ability to adjust time limits: Some websites use timers for specific actions—think of timed ticket purchases or timed applications. Users should be able to pause, stop, or extend their timer when needed.
- Control over scrolling content: Whether it’s a scrolling slider in the header or an on-page carousel of content that automatically scrolls, the user should be able to control the scroll with control buttons like arrows, dots, or pause/play buttons.
- Logical navigation: Internal links, buttons, menus, and other navigation elements should guide the user through the site in a way that makes sense, is consistent, and works correctly.
Understandable
Is your current website readable? Is it predictable? Is it well-written? Some elements, features, or factors to consider for an understandable website include, but are not limited to:
- Language options: Is your website compatible with translation plug-ins and other tools? Several translation solutions are available to users who need assistance interpreting the site’s language, but bad development could interfere with their use.
- Simplified language: No matter what your website is about, there is a simple way to craft your content so that the majority of users can easily understand the message. Aim to write for an 8th-grade reading level, avoid complex words and sentence structures, and ensure your content is clear and concise.
- Predictable navigation: Users should expect the menu to be in the same place throughout the website, regardless of the page they are on. They should also expect UI (user interface) elements like buttons, toggles, icons, and others to be used in a predictable or consistent way.
- Users are set up for success in site navigation or operation: Your website should be designed to guide users throughout the site and ensure they complete any necessary actions successfully. No one should get lost following misleading navigation. Users should also be able to review form submissions and correct information if something goes wrong.
Robust
Is your website compatible with various browsers? Is it compatible with today’s assistive technology? Is it scalable, flexible, and adaptable to work now and in the future? Some ways to ensure your site is robust are to:
- Include valid and accurate markups in your code
- Include informative and accurate labels, roles, and values for all UI components
10 Simple Ways to Boost Your Site’s ADA Compliance
For some easy ideas to start improving your site’s web accessibility and boost ADA compliance, check out these 10 suggestions:
1. Apply Alt Text to All Relevant Images on Your Site
Users with visual impairments or cognitive limitations can struggle to interpret images, especially those depicting an important message. With help from a screen reader, they can still gain valuable information about the image through the alt text provided.
Even though a picture is worth a thousand words, you don’t have to write that many. In fact, the average alt text box limits you to 100-200 characters or so. When writing alt text, create 1-2 short sentences that explain what the image is depicting. Add relevant keywords for an extra SEO boost.
2. Ensure Proper Color Contrast Between Text Colors and Background Colors
Low-contrast text is hard for anyone to read, especially those who are colorblind or suffer from other visual impairments. Light text colors on an even lighter background, dark text colors on an even darker background, and bright text colors on another bright color background are all examples of what NOT to do with color contrasting.
According to the guidelines, the minimum ratio is 4.5:1. Anything at that ratio or higher is considered compliant. The higher you go, the greater your contrast will be.
3. Provide Descriptive Link Text
It’s fine to have links to other site pages. What’s not fine is having links with nondescriptive link text that says, “click here,” “read more,” or just displays the link’s entire URL.
It’s important to use descriptive link text that informs the user where they will go should they click the link. So rather than a link labeled “click here” that takes the user from the homepage to the contact page, the link text could say, “Get in Touch With Our Team!”
4. Add Captions and Text Transcriptions to Videos
If your website features video, you should add captions for users with hearing impairments, cognitive impairments, or other conditions that make listening a challenge. You can also provide complete transcriptions of the audio for users to read.
5. Avoid Flashing or Flickering Content
Elements that flash or flicker on a webpage could cause those with certain conditions, like epilepsy, to experience a seizure. Avoid such elements in your design to minimize the possibility your website causing someone to suffer an epileptic episode.
Plus, flashing or flickering content is generally an obnoxious distraction that many users will avoid, regardless of their cognitive limitations or ability.
6. Ensure Consistent Navigation
When someone lands on your homepage, they should expect the menu of the homepage to also be the menu of the contact page, about page, and every other page featured on your website. They should also expect your navigation buttons, toggles, and icons to be used consistently. Inconsistent navigation is disorienting, confusing, and often frustration-inducing. It’s crucial to ensure all navigational elements are consistent throughout your site.
7. Use H1s and Other HTML Headings
Strategic heading usage is your friend when designing your website. People scan webpages to get the gist, and they rely on headings to do so. You should optimize your H1, H2s, H3s, and so forth for both SEO and the user’s benefit. They make the content much easier to understand and provide a sensical flow on each page, helping with simplicity and easier access.
8. Design for Keyboard Navigation
Some users are physically limited and cannot use a standard mouse and keyboard combo to access your website. Keyboards, including specialized keyboards, allow users with physical limitations to still visit your site, move through the various pages, and complete any necessary actions. However, your site needs to be designed to be a.) friendly with specialized keyboards and b.) easy to use with a keyboard.
9. Allow for Auto-Scroll and Auto-Play Control
It’s fine to include content that automatically scrolls or plays when the page is accessed, as long as you give the user the ability to control that element. Some headers will automatically scroll, videos can begin playing, and carousels of images can roll along. However, offering the user the ability to pause the video or navigate through the scroll will ensure they can access the content in a way that works for them.
10. Make Things Simple
From your content to your contact forms, keep it all simple. Your design should not be too loud and busy. Your content should be well-written at an 8th-grade reading level and broken up into digestible sections. Your contact forms should ask for only the essential information. The simpler your site can be, the more accessible it will be for everyone.
There Are Many More Things to Consider When It Comes to ADA Compliance. Make Sure Your Site Is Accessible With Help From M&R Marketing.
While we provided 10 ways to improve your site’s accessibility, there are many other things to know and consider for complete compliance. Our web writers, designers, and developers know the importance of adhering to accessibility guidelines for the sake of your visitors and the protection of your company. Talk to us about our compliance-focused website design or redesign services today.
Call 478-621-4491 or contact one of our business development managers to learn more about what our SEO solutions can do for you.
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