So, You Want a Fully Accessible Website?

November 17, 2024 | Robert Campbell

You want a fully accessible website because you want your commercial pitch or charitable message to be available to everyone, and not restricted to those ‘enabled’ Canadians who can read the words printed on your webpages.

You want a fully accessible website because you know there are more than six million Canadians over the age of 15 with physical disabilities which constitute a barrier to internet accessibility. Just because there are special devices for them to use doesn’t mean they can cover the costs or find the right equipment to match their needs. And then, to add insult to injury, once they do find ways to overcome their challenges, the last thing they deserve is to encounter your inaccessible webpages.

Whether you’re a business owner, a charity director, or you work in the web development industry, you want to ensure your website is accessible to all consumers. If users with hearing or visual impairment encounter difficulties navigating your site, it can lead to missed opportunities and lost business. Prioritizing web accessibility is key to ensuring your site serves everyone effectively, enhancing both user experience and commercial or charitable outcomes.

Why do we need web content accessibility guidelines?

The internet is important to all citizens and web accessibility ensures people with disabilities have equal opportunities online. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are part of a series of web accessibility guidelines published by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), the main international standards organization for the Internet. This body has set guidelines which are the go-to reference for ensuring your website is accessible to all users.

What are the updated WCAG 2 Guidelines?

Released in December 2008, WCAG 2 is the second, more complete version of their W3C’s inclusivity principles and it’s this more comprehensive set of rules, with some modifications, which are followed today. The list covers a wide range of disabilities, including visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, language, learning, and neurological conditions. WCAG 2.1 was published in 2018, and WCAG 2.2, the most updated version was published in 2023.

The latest version of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines are the world’s best suggestions for making your website accessible to everyone. Think of WCAG as a crowd-sourced to-do list which has been compiled by experts to ensure your website is user-friendly regardless of whether the user is navigating with a screen reader, or using a keyboard instead of a mouse, or accessing your site using other devices.

Consider someone who types using a mouthstick due to limited arm mobility, or someone else who relies on captions because of hearing loss, or a person who uses a screen reader because of low vision. Making the web accessible has advantages for all people. For instance, captions are handy in both noisy and quiet settings and high-contrast colors improve visibility in bright light. Even those with age-related challenges, like decreased dexterity, find accessibility features helpful.

This author is over fifty and even now in the year 2024, frequently encounters websites with text which is difficult to read because it’s light grey on a white background. I curse the ‘youngsters’ whom I imagine are the web designers as I cut & paste the text into a Word doc which is more easy to visualize. This is bad for the host business because I cannot buy anything or interact with the organization from my text document.

What does it mean to have an accessible website?

Having an accessible website means it can be used by everyone, regardless of the user’s abilities. This includes people with visual, auditory, motor, cognitive, or learning impairments. In many countries, including the United States and Canada, and throughout the European Union, web accessibility is more than just a best practice but rather it’s a legal requirement and offenders can be civically challenged under disability discrimination laws. Here in Ontario, we have the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), enacted in 2005, which mandates WCAG 2.0 Level AA compliance for web content across the public and private sectors.

1. 2. 1. Screen readers can read your site because all the information presented can be crawled and understood when ‘voice search’ mechanisms are enabled, search engines will navigate your documents’ hierarchical header structures to find the appropriate text to read (because the headers descend in a logical order, otherwise the crawler bot would be lost in the mix.) This helps users who are visually impaired. They rely on Google to find text and their own screen readers to convert the print into speech because they can’t see enough to type, or read the words in the results. This technology has come a long way in just the past two years with the advent of Artificial Intelligence.
   4. 2. Voice control enabled websites allow voice commands for navigation and are very convenient for users in hands-busy situations and less physically enabled users. User can navigate your site using only their keyboards. Keyboard navigation is essential for users with limited mobility and good websites allow that function.
   6. 3. Accessible web design includes responsive design and compatibility with other reputable assistive technologies which ensures all members of our society can access your products, services, and data without barriers. Users who are mouth-typing can do just about everything possible including highlighting and cutting & pasting text as required. Electronic braille is a Bluetooth device that pairs with computers and translates what appears onscreen into a line of braille. This is an especially important device for anyone who is both deaf and blind as they would not otherwise be able to hear a screen reader.
   

   Voice assistants like Siri or Alexa can also come in handy; when users ask, ‘do I have any unread emails?’, the voice assistant will answer their query and read any unopened email.

   1. 4. Faster loading times means the media presented is properly formatted and rightsized for speed. Accessibility practices involve media optimization and leads to faster-loading websites to benefit all users.
   3. 5. Improved Search Engine Optimization (SEO) includes semantic HTML: Accessible websites often use semantic HTML, helping search engines better understand content structure, which can boost search rankings. Adding alternative text bytes of ALT Text: Descriptive alt text for images ensures that search engines can index these visuals, improving search visibility.
   5. 
   6. 6. Enhanced User Experience (UX) includes Clear Navigation. WGAC’s accessibility guidelines promote clear and consistent navigation, making it easier for all users to find information. Ultimately, better design and layout enhance the web experience for all users. Fortunately, many accessibility features can be seamlessly integrated into the core code of the latest websites and applications.

   WCAG 2 breaks down accessibility into three levels:

   Level A covers the basic essentials of accessibility.
   Level AA is a commonly targeted standard, striking a balance between accessibility and practicality.
   Level AAA is the gold standard, providing the highest level of accessibility. This level includes better compatibility with other reputable assistive technologies.

   As a business owner, staying updated with WCAG 2 not only to enhances all user experiences, but also safeguards your business from legal risks. By following WCAG, you can make your website more inclusive while also complying with federal and provincial legal standards.

   

   In a lawsuit against VIA RAIL, these Canadians argued their case in front of the Supreme Court of Canada. Seated: Paul Claude Bérubé, Mary Louise Dickson, Mark Brose, Traci Walters, Pat Danforth, David Shannon. Standing: Joe Foster, Janice MacNamara, David Baker, John Rae

   Accessibility Beyond Disability: The Broader Benefits of Accessible Web Design

   When we think of web accessibility, we often focus on accommodating individuals with disabilities, such as those with visual, auditory, cognitive, or physical impairments. While this is crucial, the benefits of web accessibility go far beyond helping minorities. Inclusive design principles not only promote equal access and inclusiveness, these rules are proven to enhance online experiences for all users, regardless of their abilities. Web accessibility ensures that digital content is usable by everyone, creating a more equitable online environment. It improves user experience, findability (search engine optimization) and usability, while also driving technological innovation. By prioritizing accessibility, we not only meet the needs of people with impairments but also unlock a range of advantages that benefit all users.

   KPDI Digital has been embracing inclusive design for our clients since our inception because we have case studies which prove it produces better user experiences, improved search engine rankings, and reaches larger audiences. We help our clients adapt to all environments, and stay ahead of the curve by implementing future technologies today.