Websites must be designed with all their users in mind, and that includes people with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires all businesses and organizations to make their services accessible to the disabled and protects them from any form of discrimination. It covers the use of the internet, where website accessibility falls under.
Many companies have faced lawsuits because their website failed to provide a positive experience to users with disabilities. If you don’t want to get into this stressful situation and spend a lot of money from facing a lawsuit, it’s vital to ensure your site is accessible. Moreover, it benefits your business because you could offer your products or services to a broader range of audiences, thus potentially increasing sales or conversions.
Now that you know the importance of having an accessible website, below are some features that make it accessible, so you have a better idea of how yours should look.
It Has Good Color Contrast and a Combination
Users with visual impairment may not see clearly, so you should make your site easily readable. The colors you use on your texts and background play an essential role in this aspect. For instance, using dark text on a dark background or light text on a light background makes your content difficult to read, even for those without disabilities.
Not all individuals with a disability have the same needs and preferences. So, consider using an accessibility overlay tool where users can adjust their settings to match their needs. An excellent example is one that allows them to change the text color, size, spacing, screen contrast, and orientation of a page. It also enables users to turn off animations and access the site in text mode.
The Videos Have Closed Captions
Videos are a great addition to website content, especially since many people are visual learners, and they prefer watching or listening over reading a long text. However, hard-of-hearing users would not hear the audio, so closed captions are essential. They are similar to subtitles, but instead of just the dialogues being captioned, they also provide text descriptions for other sounds, such as the ring of the phone or beep of a car.
The Words Used Are Simple to Understand
Use plain and simple English that everyone would understand. Avoid being too technical or using complex words that may be hard for others to comprehend, especially those with cognitive disabilities.
Bigger Buttons, Links, and Controls
Accessible websites use bigger buttons, links, and controls, making them easier to see and click. Those with eyesight problems will have trouble seeing the elements if they are too little, especially when used in smaller devices like a mobile phone.
Uses the Right Headings
Websites that use proper headings on their contents are easier to navigate and read. Users can quickly browse the headers to see what they are looking for.
Ensure that you have these features on your website to make it accessible. It will make browsing more convenient for all users and save you from the headache of facing a lawsuit.
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