Are you a digital marketer or business owner looking for the ultimate guide to ADA compliance and 6 ways to make your website accessible? Well, look no further. Here in this blog post, we’ll provide you with an extensive overview of how to ensure that your website is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements by 2023. We will explain how complying with accessibility standards can benefit both businesses and their customers as well as detail each step for becoming ADA compliant through various tactics such as including labels, proper formatting, and user testing. Furthermore, we will discuss best practices in order to maintain the highest level of accessibility over time so that all users can interact freely on your website regardless of their disabilities. So if increasing customer satisfaction while boosting growth opportunities sounds interesting then keep reading!
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The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. It was passed in 1990 and applies to businesses, both online and physical stores, government entities, nonprofits, and other organizations. The ADA requires websites to be accessible by people of all abilities and disabilities so they can access the site without having to make any special accommodations or adjustments. This means that the website should be designed in such a way that it has features which allow users with different abilities to interact successfully with it. This includes providing functions like screen-readers for blind people, captions for deaf people, as well as voice commands for those who are unable to use a mouse or keyboard.
In order to make your website compliant with the ADA, there are six steps you can take.
1. Labeling:
Label all images, links and other elements on your website so that they not only make sense to sighted users but also to people using screen-readers or other assistive technology. ADA Compliance Services LA shares that this should include both captions for images as well as alternate text for links. It is important to use descriptive words and phrases when labeling so that everyone can understand the content without any difficulty.
2. Formatting:
Use proper formatting throughout the entire website in order to ensure a consistent experience for all users. Video Production Services added that this includes using headings, paragraphs, lists and blockquotes appropriately while avoiding any unnecessary styling such as italics or bolding. Additionally, make sure to avoid any text that is too small or uses colors which are difficult to distinguish.
3. User Testing:
It is important to test the website with actual users in order to ensure it works for everyone. This could include people with disabilities as well as users who don’t have any disabilities but still might be using assistive technology. By getting feedback from a diverse range of users, you can find out if there are any flaws in your site’s design or functionality and then fix them accordingly.
4. Keyboard Navigation:
Ensure that your website can be navigated using only the keyboard so that those who cannot use a mouse have an easier time accessing the contents of your site. This means that all links, form fields, and other elements should be accessible with a keyboard alone.
5. Content Quality:
Make sure that the content on your website is of high quality so that it can be easily understood by both non-disabled and disabled users alike. A leading digital marketing agency suggests to use simple language instead of complex jargon and make sure to include descriptive titles for sections as well as brief summaries when necessary. Lastly, provide video or audio alternatives for any text-heavy pages in order to make them more accessible.
6. Accessibility Tools:
Include accessibility tools on your website such as screen readers and voice commands in order to help those with disabilities access the contents of your site without having to struggle needlessly. Additionally, make sure to include options such as font size adjustments and color contrast changes in order to make the site more accessible for those who need them.
Summing Up
By following these six steps, you can ensure that your website is compliant with the ADA and that all users can interact freely on your site regardless of their disabilities. This will not only increase customer satisfaction but also open up new growth opportunities for your business. So don’t wait, start implementing these steps today! You’ll be glad you did!