Introduction
Can everyone use your website? The law (ADA) says they should be able to!
ADA stands for the Americans with Disabilities Act. It means websites need to work for people with disabilities.
This includes people who can’t see well, hear well, use their hands easily, or have trouble understanding things.
What does ADA website compliance mean?
It means following rules called WCAG. These rules make websites work for people with disabilities.
Some of the WCAG rules say:
Think about the colors you use. Are the words easy to read against the background? This helps everyone, especially those with vision problems.
Don’t forget about your images. Add short descriptions so screen readers can explain what’s in them to visually impaired visitors.
Make sure videos have captions. People who are deaf or hard of hearing won’t miss out on important info.
Could someone ditch their mouse and still use your website? Keyboard navigation is essential for accessibility.
Why is ADA Compliance Important?
It’s the law! Not following ADA rules can get your business sued.
Makes your website better for EVERYONE. Easy-to-use websites make all visitors happy.
Shows you care. An accessible website tells customers you are inclusive.
Helps your SEO. Search engines like Google rank accessible websites higher.
How to Make Your Website ADA Compliant
Check your website: Use website accessibility tools to find problems.
Fix the issues: Such things as texts with colors that you can easily see, descriptions of images etc., captions for videos, and functioning of the site with a keyboard are among many others.
Consider an overlay: Layers allow fixing some applications instantaneously. The minority of them can just fake your website out of ADA compliance state.
Write an accessibility statement: This shows you care about making your website work for everyone.
Let people give feedback: Have a way for users to tell you about accessibility problems they find.
ADA Compliance for Small Businesses
The ADA applies to websites of all sizes.
Luckily, there are easy first steps! Fixing colors, adding image descriptions… these things make a big difference.
Where should you start? Tackle your busiest pages – homepage, products, you know the drill.
Feeling overwhelmed? Accessibility experts are there to help if your website has complex needs.
Winning the ADA Compliance Contest of Website:
Is it easier for more people to access your website. This is of paramount importance as people with disabilities can access it as well.
As it is more precisely described on Google. Sites that come up as relevant in searches are raked higher. So to speak.
This tells me you appreciate and affirm every single person around. The existence of an accessible and open website implies that your business is somewhat inclusive.
Conclusion
Don’t wait for a lawsuit to address ADA compliance. Make your website accessible to everyone. Start with small changes and work towards full compliance over time.
