A website forms the face of any service. In today’s world, it also acts as a profile for the end-user to review, perceive and perhaps even become a prospect after engaging with the website. That’s why it’s important to ensure the user gets to experience websites seamlessly no matter what their limitations are. Whether it’s a permanent, temporary physical or mental disability, providing equal access and equal opportunity to websites and the internet is now a necessity. Having an Accessibility web design has many benefits, mainly being the level of interaction and engagement that can be experienced by people from all walks of life.
When designing websites and web tools, it’s important that these are properly coded and designed to include people with disabilities. Typically, a well-planned accessibility web design will include disabilities like, but not restricted to:
Section 508 indicates that all types of electronic document formats need to be accessible by everyone including people with disabilities. A document is considered to be compliant with Section 508 only if it can offer the same information without omitting anything even if it is accessed using assistive technologies.
When designing websites and web tools, it’s important that these are properly coded and designed to include people with disabilities. Typically, a well-planned accessibility web design will include disabilities like, but not restricted to:
Web Accessibility also enables easy interaction for people without disabilities, in situations such as:
The options are endless when it comes to making a website comfortable to use for people and situations across all platforms. No matter which business or field of work, making websites accessible and easy to use for all, enhances the user experience while benefiting businesses also.
The success of any website is in its engagement levels and conversion of clicks to prospect. Be it an individual, business or society at large, making a website or web tool accessible benefits all. It predominantly makes the web page convenient to use, gives easy access to information and instantly increases the visibility of the website across a larger platform. In addition, here are the top 3 benefits of an Accessible Web Design:
Stand out from the competition by being a website that demonstrates social responsibility. Building an Website Accessibility leverages a public statement for being a page that gives access to information to people of all walks of life equally.
Enabling an Accessibility web design ensures people of all backgrounds, like disabled or not, get a fair chance to view, perceive, navigate and understand the website as it should be. This translates to more people viewing and interacting, especially those with smartphones, a thriving population, who browse websites on small screens.
Having an accessibility web design directly increases the number of people visiting the website, ultimately, increasing the number of clicks and conversions. In the US alone, 15 to 20% of website users have a disability with a combined spending power of $220 billion. Making a website accessible, no matter what the limitation, ensures visibility with potential market penetration.
It takes professionals to understand what makes a website accessible to both disabled and non-disabled people alike. Unlike the latter, disabled people use an array of advanced assistive technology that helps them navigate a website seamlessly. How to check a website for Accessibility:
Since web accessibility has different elements to consider, it’s best to delegate the task to a professional team that comb through the website to ensure the site is conformant with WCAG 2.0 standards. Working with web accessibility consultants also ensures that the website adheres to the latest web accessibility standards. This also includes checking eligibility for conformance certifications.
Access to information and communication technologies (including the Internet) is classified as a basic human right in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). This basic right, therefore, should be available to all by building websites that include the possibility of people falling under all categories to have equal access to information, when they want.