As digital marketers, business owners and web designers, we all have a responsibility to our customers to provide an accessible experience for everyone. With over 200 million Americans living with disabilities and 18% of the population using assistive technology on their devices, it’s important that we take accessibility into consideration when we design our websites. Not only does this ensure that people with disabilities have access to the same content as able-bodied individuals, but it can also increase your customer base while helping you attain compliance with disability laws such as the American Disabilities Act (ADA). In this blog post, I will provide seven steps on how you can create a fully ADA compliant website in no time!
Step 1. Create Structured Content
The first step to creating an ADA compliant website is to ensure your content is structured properly. This means that all content should be marked up in a logical, hierarchical order so that assistive technology can interpret it correctly. ADA Compliance Company Boston suggests making sure you use proper headings and provide descriptive labels for images, links and form fields. Additionally, providing alternative text for any images or video on your site will help those with visual impairments better understand the content of your page.
Step 2. Evaluate Your Color Scheme
Another important factor of an ADA compliant website is the color scheme. For example, if there’s a lot of contrast between the background and foreground colors, people who are color blind may not be able to read the content on your page. A top digital marketing services company advised that to to avoid this, use a high contrast color scheme and pay close attention to text/background combinations. Additionally, make sure that any interactive elements (such as buttons) are clearly visible.
Step 3. Identify Accessibility Issues
In order to ensure your website is ADA compliant, it’s important to identify any potential accessibility issues before you go live. ADA Website Compliance Services explains that a great way to do this is to run automated tests using tools such as WAVE or ADA Site Scanner. These tools can help you find any issues related to content structure, contrast ratios, keyboard navigation and more — so you can address them in a timely manner before they become bigger problems down the line.
Step 4. Make Sure Your Forms Are Accessible
Forms are a crucial part of any website, and they need to be accessible in order for people with disabilities to interact with them. To make sure your forms are fully ADA compliant, you should include descriptive labels for each field, provide helpful instructions or guidance where necessary and avoid using CAPTCHA when possible. Additionally, make sure that the form is keyboard-accessible so that those who rely on assistive technology are able to fill it out without difficulty.
Step 5. Give Users Control Over Their Experience
People with disabilities often require extra features in order to use a website comfortably. For example, some may require larger font sizes or different color combinations than what’s available by default on your page. As a result, it’s important to give users control over their experience by providing customization options such as font size or color scheme selection.
Step 6. Provide Audio & Video Transcripts
If you have audio or video content on your website, it’s essential that you provide transcripts for people with hearing impairments. Additionally, make sure the transcript is easy to find and downloadable so that those who rely on assistive technology can access it without difficulty.
Step 7. Test Your Site Regularly
Finally, it’s important to test your site regularly in order to ensure that any changes you make are still ADA compliant. Running automated tests as well as manual checks can help you identify any issues quickly and address them as soon as possible. Doing this on a regular basis will ensure your website is always up-to-date with the latest accessibility standards.
Summing Up
Creating an ADA compliant website doesn’t have to be difficult — it just requires some organization and preparation beforehand. By following these seven steps, you can create a fully ADA compliant website in no time! Remember to test regularly and update any changes that may affect your site’s accessibility. With a few simple steps, you can make sure everyone has access to your content.
