What is Web Accessibility?
Web accessibility is the practice of making websites usable by as many people as possible. This includes people with disabilities and other limitations that can make it difficult to use a website.
Making the web more accessible also comes with many other benefits. For example, it can make websites easier to use for everyone, not just those with disabilities. It can also make websites more search engine friendly, and improve the overall user experience.
Why is Web Accessibility Important?
There are two main reasons why web accessibility is important. First, it is a legal requirement in many countries. This means that if your website is not accessible, you could be breaking the law.
Second, accessible websites are simply better websites. They are easier to use, more user-friendly, and offer a better overall experience. This can lead to more website visitors, and ultimately more customers or clients.
How Can I Make My Website More Accessible?
There are a few different ways you can make your website more accessible. These include adding alt text to images, using clear and concise language, and providing transcripts for videos.
You can also use a web accessibility tool to review and check your website for accessibility issues. This can be a great way to get started, and to identify any potential problems.
Making your website more accessible is good for everyone involved. It’s good for your website visitors, and it’s good for your business.
What is remediation?
Remediation is the process of making a website more accessible. This can involve fixing existing accessibility issues, or adding new features to make the site more accessible.
What is the WCAG?
The WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) are a set of guidelines that outline how to make a website more accessible. These guidelines are used by many organizations, including the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium).
Can an accessibility plugin make my site fully accessible?
No. Accessibility plugins can sometimes help to make a website more accessible, but they cannot make a website fully accessible. This is because they can only address a limited number of accessibility issues, and they cannot account for all potential users and all their needs.
In order to make a website fully accessible, it must be designed and developed with accessibility in mind from the start. This includes ensuring that all content is accessible, that navigation is easy to use, and that the website can be used with assistive technologies such as screen readers.
What are some common accessibility issues?
There are many potential accessibility issues that can occur on a website. Some common accessibility issues include:
- Inaccessible content: This can include content that is not available in an accessible format, such as alt text for images or transcripts for videos.
- Poorly designed navigation: Navigation should be easy to understand and use, but this is often not the case. Poorly designed navigation can make it difficult or even impossible for some users to find the content they need.
- Lack of support for assistive technologies: Assistive technologies, such as screen readers, can help people with disabilities access web content. However, many websites do not provide adequate support for these technologies.
Accessibility Makes The Web Better
Real accessibility starts with the proper commitment and processes to truly make your software, code, and designs more accessible to all users.
Accessibility can’t be an afterthought. Accessibility must be integrated into your processes so when work is being done, accessibility is at the forefront of design, tested during development, tested with real users, and then maintained. It’s not something you can check off your list later and call it a day.
When done properly, making the web more accessible also comes with many other benefits.
For example, when you make your site keyboard navigable, you’re also making it navigable for people with visual impairments who may use screen readers. When you design for people with color blindness, you’re also making your site more legible for people with low vision.
In other words, by making your site more accessible, you’re also making it better for everyone.
Remember, making software and websites accessible doesn’t just stop when the first round of work is finished. You’ve got to constantly check, maintain and always be working towards improving the users experience. This is why it is crucial that accessibility becomes a part of design and development.
