WEBSITE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
ADA Compliance for Websites
As people become increasingly reliant on the internet for information and commerce, it is more important than ever that websites be accessible for all. ADA compliant websites that are optimized for everyone, including people with visual challenges and other disabilities, are becoming the standard. At SILVR, we are thrilled when a well-designed website can reach as many people as possible and we are committed to assisting our clients with ADA accessibility.
What Does ADA Compliant Mean?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was put into place by the American government in order to prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities. The protections afforded by the ADA include the right to purchase goods and services. When the ADA was passed in 1990, the burgeoning internet had not yet reached a place in the everyday lives of most Americans. While websites are not mentioned explicitly in the original language of ADA, experts are in agreement that website accessibility is important. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are generally accepted as the standard for ADA compliance in websites.
The WCAG Four Principles of Accessibility
These principles form the foundation of an accessible and compliant website:
- Perceivable Information must be viewable by people with disabilities. Elements that support this include high-contrast text, captions, and text alternatives for images.
- Operable Pages are navigable using a keyboard and any time limits are easily extended. Any flashing or animation should be designed to not trigger seizures and, whenever possible, have an option to be turned off.
- Understandable Language should be easily identifiable by screen reader tools and functionality should be consistent. Forms should be intuitive and easy to navigate.
- Robust Site content should be kept updated to be compatible with advances in assistive technologies.
These principles represent a broad overview of the guidelines that make up website accessibility. There are a number of design elements and technical considerations that go into creating or updating a website to be ADA compliant. Read the Full Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.
How Do I Know if My Website is ADA Compliant?
The Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool called WAVE can help you determine if your website is accessible to users with disabilities. There are many components to consider, and the best way to ensure your site is compliant is to hire an agency with experience in creating accessible websites. A few of the features that should be included in your site are:
- Content that uses a consistent and easily readable font
- High contrast text (i.e. do not use light text on a light background)
- Readable and easy to understand instructions for filling out forms
- Standard HTML that can be detected by screen readers
- Functions that can be controlled with a keyboard for users who cannot operate a mouse
Why Should Your Website Be Accessible?
There are many reasons to make sure your website is ADA compliant, whether you are the owner, the person responsible for marketing, or the website administrator of your business. Reasons to follow best practices for website accessibility include:
- Expand Your Potential Audience – According to the U.S. Census, about 1 in 5 people live with a disability, which means that an accessible website can increase your potential to reach over 50 million people.
- Increase Your Search Engine Optimization – The framework needed to make your site accessible to screen reading tools can benefit your SEO efforts by making your content more easily recognizable to search engines.
- Improve User Experience for Everyone – Consumers with access to unlimited information and services have little patience for websites that are not easy to use. Many of the updates required for accessibility will help your site be more appealing for everyone.
- Avoid Legal Costs – Lawsuits against businesses with non-compliant websites have been increasing and the fallout of such litigation can be costly.