Website Accessibility Demystified: Home: uclaextension.edu

Website Accessibility Demystified

Rich Text Content

The internet has become one of the world’s most important venues for commerce, networking, and information. Studies show that over 65% of the world’s population have internet access. Whether you’re a student submitting a paper to a professor or a researcher corresponding with colleagues from other countries, it’s hard to imagine a world without the benefits of the internet.

However, many users with disabilities are unable to enjoy these benefits due to inaccessible websites, excluding them from the global online community. This article will discuss what website accessibility really is, why making your website accessible is a moral imperative, and how you can make the internet more accessible in your own way as a website owner.

What Is Website Accessibility?

While different organizations have different concepts of website accessibility, the most comprehensive definition consists of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2, the latest iteration of a set of guidelines that have been in place since 1998.

The WCAG is designed to ensure that all individuals can use websites effectively, regardless of their disabilities. These guidelines include specific instructions for color contrast, text size, support for keyboard navigation, and support for screen readers and other assistive technologies. It is so comprehensive that many countries refer to it as the definitive standard for website accessibility.

Why Should You Make Your Website Accessible?

Most people think of website accessibility as a moral obligation; that is, it is something that should be done because it is the right thing to do. While this logic is the most important reason to implement accessibility, there are a handful of other reasons to make your website accessible.

First, there are laws that mandate accessibility in websites and other public accommodations. For example, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that websites achieve a certain level of accessibility. Failure to comply with the ADA can result in potential lawsuits filed by individuals who cannot use your website. The number of ADA-related lawsuits has been on an upward trend recently, resulting in reputational damage, fines, and settlements, and you wouldn’t want your organization served with one too.

Second, people generally prefer accessible websites as they also incorporate a number of user experience best practices, particularly for readability and content organization. Accessible websites enjoy longer visit durations, lower bounce rates, and better search engine rankings as the incorporation of image alt text and content headings and subheadings make website navigation easier for everyone. These improved website performance metrics contribute to more site visits and increased sales.

How Do You Make Your Website Accessible?

Given all the benefits of digital accessibility, it shouldn’t be surprising that many organizations and institutions are scrambling to implement it across their websites. While a total overhaul of your website to help it comply with WCAG 2.2 AAA (the highest level of accessibility possible) is both costly and time-consuming, there are a few ways you can add accessibility to your website that do not require much time and effort.

Add alt text to images: Alt text is a description of an image, around 125 characters long, that you add to its HTML code. It allows screen readers to interpret the image for users with visual impairments. In addition, it boosts the image’s visibility on Google Images.

Provide captions for video and audio content: While alt text helps users with visual impairments, captions help users with hearing disabilities understand audio and video content. On the other hand, transcripts help users with both hearing and visual issues.

Make keyboard navigation easier: Users with mobility impairments use keyboard shortcuts to navigate their screens. For example, the up and down keys allow them to scroll up and down, respectively, the tab button leads them to the next hyperlink, and the Enter key or spacebar are the equivalent of mouse clicks. If your website does not respond to these keyboard shortcuts, you might need to look at your code and see what’s going on.

Use a high-contrast website theme: A high-contrast color combination results in better readability, especially among users with low vision or color blindness. The WCAG recommends a contrast ratio of 3:1 for large text and 4.5:1 for normal text. You may use a color contrast analysis tool to determine your website’s contrast ratio.

Website Accessibility: A More Inclusive Internet for Everyone

The number of internet users has grown exponentially in the past 20 years, and users with disabilities make up a significant proportion of this demographic, However, they cannot participate online fully unless more websites implement accessibility. Website owners have the duty to make their websites accessible, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but also because it makes perfect legal and business sense to add accessibility. Implementing website accessibility does not need to be too costly or complicated; instead, you can start with a few simple steps. As your website becomes more accessible, you are helping transform the internet into a space where more people can participate and feel that they belong.

Allow Comments on this Page

Make Comments Public

HTML Editor

[{:section_type=>"rich_text", :content=>"<p>The internet has become one of the world’s most important venues for commerce, networking, and information. Studies show that over 65% of the world’s population have internet access. Whether you’re a student submitting a paper to a professor or a researcher corresponding with colleagues from other countries, it’s hard to imagine a world without the benefits of the internet.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>However, many users with disabilities are unable to enjoy these benefits due to inaccessible websites, excluding them from the global online community. This article will discuss what<span>&nbsp;</span><a href=\"https://userway.org/\">website accessibility</a><span>&nbsp;</span>really is, why making your website accessible is a moral imperative, and how you can make the internet more accessible in your own way as a website owner.&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>What Is Website Accessibility?</h2>\n<p>While different organizations have different concepts of website accessibility, the most comprehensive definition consists of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2, the latest iteration of a set of guidelines that have been in place since 1998.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The WCAG is designed to ensure that all individuals can use websites effectively, regardless of their disabilities. These guidelines include specific instructions for color contrast, text size, support for keyboard navigation, and support for screen readers and other assistive technologies. It is so comprehensive that many countries refer to it as the definitive standard for website accessibility.&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>Why Should You Make Your Website Accessible?</h2>\n<p>Most people think of<span>&nbsp;</span><a href=\"https://www.open.edu/openlearn/education-development/education-careers/accessibility-elearning/content-section-1.3\">website accessibility as a moral obligation</a>; that is, it is something that should be done because it is the right thing to do. While this logic is the most important reason to implement accessibility, there are a handful of other reasons to make your website accessible.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>First, there are laws that mandate accessibility in websites and other public accommodations. For example, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that websites achieve a certain level of accessibility. Failure to comply with the ADA can result in potential lawsuits filed by individuals who cannot use your website. The number of ADA-related lawsuits has been on an upward trend recently, resulting in reputational damage, fines, and settlements, and you wouldn’t want your organization served with one too.</p>\n<p>Second, people generally prefer accessible websites as they also incorporate a number of user experience best practices, particularly for readability and content organization. Accessible websites enjoy longer visit durations, lower bounce rates, and better search engine rankings as the incorporation of image alt text and content headings and subheadings make website navigation easier for everyone. These improved website performance metrics contribute to more site visits and increased sales.</p>\n<h2>How Do You Make Your Website Accessible?</h2>\n<p>Given all the benefits of digital accessibility, it shouldn’t be surprising that many organizations and institutions are scrambling to implement it across their websites. While a total overhaul of your website to help it comply with WCAG 2.2 AAA (the highest level of accessibility possible) is both costly and time-consuming, there are a few ways you can add accessibility to your website that do not require much time and effort.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Add alt text to images: Alt text is a description of an image, around 125 characters long, that you add to its HTML code. It allows screen readers to interpret the image for users with visual impairments. In addition, it boosts the image’s visibility on Google Images.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Provide captions for video and audio content: While alt text helps users with visual impairments, captions help users with hearing disabilities understand audio and video content. On the other hand, transcripts help users with both hearing and visual issues.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Make keyboard navigation easier: Users with mobility impairments use keyboard shortcuts to navigate their screens. For example, the up and down keys allow them to scroll up and down, respectively, the tab button leads them to the next hyperlink, and the Enter key or spacebar are the equivalent of mouse clicks. If your website does not respond to these keyboard shortcuts, you might need to look at your code and see what’s going on.</p>\n<p>Use a high-contrast website theme: A high-contrast color combination results in better readability, especially among users with low vision or color blindness. The WCAG recommends a contrast ratio of 3:1 for large text and 4.5:1 for normal text. You may use a color contrast analysis tool to determine your website’s contrast ratio.</p>\n<h2>Website Accessibility: A More Inclusive Internet for Everyone</h2>\n<p>The number of internet users has grown exponentially in the past 20 years, and users with disabilities make up a significant proportion of this demographic, However, they cannot participate online fully unless more websites implement accessibility. Website owners have the duty to make their websites accessible, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but also because it makes perfect legal and business sense to add accessibility. Implementing website accessibility does not need to be too costly or complicated; instead, you can start with a few simple steps. As your website becomes more accessible, you are helping transform the internet into a space where more people can participate and feel that they belong.</p>"}]

Rich Text Content