What is Web Accessibility?
Digital accessibility/Web Accessibility is the practice of making digital documents, web and mobile apps accessible to everyone including people with disabilities. It is about providing equal access and opportunity to people – that includes people with visual, auditory, motor, speech, and cognitive disabilities, and also the elderly.
Simply put – it is the idea of making technology accessible to everyone, with or without disabilities, by removing any barriers whatsoever.
Accessibility for people with disabilities is considered a human right by Canadians. It should be a collective responsibility of all businesses to ensure accessibility for all and Canada wants to be a leader on this front.
Web designers and developers worldwide have started giving a massive priority to accessibility in their designs. Accessibility is not an afterthought anymore, but rather one of the primary design concerns for any product. Instead of a feature, accessibility has become a must-have for websites and brands.
Why should you make your website more accessible?
Digital accessibility is also a regulatory requirement. It is not difficult to build accessible websites. Aside from legal and ethical reasons, an accessible website is a great way to improve social responsibility and a smart business move.
Making your website accessible, opens your business to a broader customer base. When sites are accessibility optimized, they are easier to navigate and simpler to understand for all users. Accessible websites are also found easier by search engines. All in all, it is a positive experience for all users. Accessible websites work like a magnet on people with disabilities simply because they can be accessed. It is best to think about accessibility from the start of a project.
Also making your website accessible doesn’t strictly mean catering to the disabled. It also means catering to an increasing number of senior citizens because seniors are a segment with strong purchasing power. When websites neglect the accessibility aspect, they are turning away possible loyal customers or users.
How do you make your website accessible?
Legislations have been passed across Canada and all over the world to ensure website accessibility. The Accessible Canada Act, which became law in 2019, has made it mandatory for government organizations and companies in the federally regulated private sector to make their services accessible. And website accessibility standards are a vital part of this act. Before this, in 2005, Ontario brought out the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act (AODA). The act made it mandatory for private and non-profit organizations and public sector organizations to make their website compliant to WCAG 2.0 level AA by 2021. The act has been a major driving force in enforcing accessibility standards for web design in Toronto and other parts of Ontario.
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act (AODA)
AODA was introduced as a follow-up to the Ontarians with Disability Act. The act is for businesses in Ontario and has web design guidelines for Toronto and other regions. The earlier act didn't specify deadlines or penalties, and AODA was introduced to bring more teeth. The act specifies fines up to $50,000 per day for individuals and up to $100,000 for companies not complying with the act. As mentioned, AODA website accessibility standards are based on WCAG guidelines from W3C.
With an experienced team and the right guidance, we can build accessible websites or apps which could otherwise be a tricky process. Multiple accessibility standards have been developed by organizations over the years. The most prominent and well known among them is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) published by the W3C. WCAG is the globally accepted criteria that defines what makes a site accessible. Developers, testers, app owners, and accessibility experts from around the world rely on these standards for proper accessibility testing direction.
The guidelines were framed around 4 principles - POUR. Accessible sites and apps must be :
- Perceivable (all website visitors should have a similar user experience regardless of their ability). For example, an image should have alt text and a video should have closed captions.
- Operable (all controls and interactive elements are usable). For example, make sure that every action that can be performed using a mouse can be achieved using the keyboard alone
- Understandable (content should be clear, without confusion). Always let users know where they are and how to navigate the website easily. Create alternative routes to suit different requirements – like a “skip to main content” link.
- Robust (the site should be accessible through a wide range of devices using assistive technologies, such as a screen reader).
Conclusion
Website accessibility permits you a global audience, and therefore, you must style it in step with international places. Whereas there are no clear-cut tips to the current aspect, following WCAG guidelines will assist you in making your website AODA-compliant. These guidelines highlight effective practices in AODA compliance, such as a way to design the layout, the font and background color to use, and the kind of audio and video content to incorporate. Associate degree AODA-compliant website may be a win-win for all people with disabilities to access the content they need. On the other hand, businesses make more traffic, more clicks, and consequently more business.
Above all, Accessibility supports social inclusion for people with disabilities. Continuum can help you with affordable, effortless, and Compliant Web Accessibility Services.
Get started today! Contact us at info@continuumsoft.ca