Web Accessibility and Why it Should Matter to Your Company

February 19, 2019

What is web accessibility? It’s the inclusive practice of ensuring that there are no barriers that prevent interaction with or access to websites by people with disabilities. This means when the website is correctly designed all users have equal access to information and functionality.

Why is this important? As a company you could be losing out on some business because your site isn’t accessible.

Image from LinkedIn Learning - Accessibility for Web Design

Also, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 in the U.S require companies to have digitally accessible websites.

Why is this important? As a company you could be losing out on some business because your site isn’t accessible. Also, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 in the U.S require companies to have digitally accessible websites.

This however has proven to be a grey area within the ADA as there are many debates in court whether the law requires websites and apps to be accessible. The debate hinges largely on private business that are open to the public, such as restaurants, hotels, movie theaters, museums, and doctor’s offices. Federal and state entities are covered under the Rehabilitation Act. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act established regulations for federal entities to accommodate people with disabilities. This applies to all federal government agencies and their website in terms of accessibility. In addition to federal entities, 30 states have adopted these rules for their agencies. This is becoming the norm and the remaining 20 states are expected to pass similar rules for their governing agencies websites.

A recent case that adds fuel to the fire is the January 15th, 2019 ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in California against Dominos. The lower court had ruled in favor of Dominos and tossed the case out. However, last month this ruling was reversed in support of digital accessibility and stating that the ADA covers websites and mobile applications. As previously mentioned, restaurants fall under public accommodation and courts believe they should follow the ADA guidelines.

Regardless if your company falls under the mentioned categories it is best practice to follow the ADA rules. How can you make sure your site is accessible? You must think about various groups like those with vision impairments, hearing impairments, mobility impairments, and cognitive impairments. Below we have outlined some of the major concerns for each group mentioned above.

VISUAL ACCESSIBILITY CHECKLIST:

Meaningful HTML Code: Text-to-speech or text-to-braille hardware require websites to have textual equivalents (alt tags) for images on your website.

Adjustable text/images: Providing the option for images and text to be enlarged.

Color & Contrast: Remember not everyone sees color the same way. It is important to have high contrast between foreground and background elements. This includes having clearly distinguishable links that are underlined and colored differently.

HEARING ACCESSIBILITY CHECKLIST:

Add subtitles/Captions to Videos: This allows people to follow along with your video despite hearing impairments. Facebook and YouTube provide automated captions, but it is important to check the accuracy and making any necessary corrections. You can also provide a written transcript of the items discussed in the video.

Provide alternative contact options: Include more than just a phone number to contact your business. Provide contact forms, email addresses, and live chat help alternatives.

MOBILITY IMPAIRMENTS CHECKLIST:

Keyboard Friendly Navigation: Many assistive technologies rely on keyboard-only navigation (keyboard focus), which is usually achieved using the “tab” key unless otherwise specified. Please be mindful of other keyboard shortcuts as they can interfere with assistive technologies or browser functions.

COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS CHECKLIST:

Digestible content: Content should be legible, readable, and easy to understand. Content should be carefully labeled and structured. Navigation should be simple with everything clearly labeled.

This may sound like a lot and it may be difficult to figure out where you should start. However, The Bureau of Internet Accessibility can help. They provide a free scan of your website and grade your overall performance against the WCAG 2.0 checkpoints. There are also many companies like EqualWeb that specialize in helping companies make their websites accessible. In addition, many website building companies like SquareSpace and WordPress also have tools that can help your website become more accessible. The tools and resources are there, your company just has to take advantage of them. Help make your website accessible.

Never miss an update from “The Shoppe,” sign up for our email list today!

We respect your privacy.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Size Matters: 2025 Social Sizing Guide

April 22, 2025

Perfecting your social media game starts with nailing one key detail: sizing. From profile pics to post images, every platform has unique size requirements. To make your content shine, you need to know these dimensions inside and out. Want to become a pro at perfecting post sizes? Check out these tips and tools to level up your social media game! Mastering social media sizes in 2025 doesn’t mean memorizing every pixel. Instead, cheat sheets are your best friend! Hootsuite’s updated 2025 guide offers a detailed list of image sizes across platforms, covering all your organic social media needs.

The Best Times To Post In 2025

April 21, 2025

The landscape of social media user activity continues to evolve in 2025, bringing new opportunities to fine-tune your posting strategy. Knowing when your audience is most active can help boost your organic reach. Across social media, the best time to post is on mid-week days, Wednesday and Thursday, from 7 am to 9am, 1 pm to 3 pm, and 7 pm to 9 pm. However, platforms tend to differ in what times are optimal. Check out the results from the following social media sites:

The Meta AI Evolution: Bots, Engagement, and the Future of Social Interaction

April 10, 2025

Remember the early days of the Internet? Digital bots were the unruly disruptors, the digital equivalent of that persistent telemarketer. They clogged feeds with spam, automated shady schemes, and spread misinformation like a digital wildfire. But fast forward to today, and those once-rogue bots have pulled off a serious glow-up, transforming into surprisingly valuable tools for sparking engagement, fueling creativity, and even offering a semblance of companionship. Leading this evolution is Meta, who is boldly rewriting the rules of how AI-driven bots function and, perhaps more significantly, how they are perceived. Now, AI is vying for our attention through comment suggestions, personalized virtual assistants, and a standalone app. Meta is planting its AI roots deeper than we could have possibly imagined just a few short years ago. So, how did we get here, and more importantly, what does it all mean for our digital lives?

The New Playbook: How NIL Deals Are Reshaping Sports Marketing

April 4, 2025

The NCAA Tournament isn’t just about buzzer-beaters and Cinderella stories—it’s a massive stage for brands. With the rise of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, marketing is shifting from traditional ads to direct athlete partnerships. Here’s how NIL is changing the game for brands and players alike.

Meta's New Scratch & Sniff Ads: A Game-Changer in Digital Marketing

March 31, 2025

Meta has just launched its latest feature—Scratch & Sniff Ads! Imagine scrolling through your feed and encountering an ad that doesn't just capture your attention visually, but engages your sense of smell.

Saratoga Spring Water Goes Viral

March 27, 2025

Saratoga Spring Water Goes Viral Thanks to an Influencer’s Unlikely Morning Routine