Why is Web Accessibility Important for a Better Online Experience

Having a website that's accessible to everyone is crucial for a better online experience. According to the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), web accessibility is about making your website usable by people of all abilities, including those with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive disabilities.

The benefits of web accessibility go beyond just helping people with disabilities. In fact, making your website accessible can also improve search engine rankings, increase user engagement, and reduce bounce rates. For instance, the W3C estimates that making your website accessible can improve search engine rankings by up to 25%.

A well-designed accessible website can also help businesses avoid costly lawsuits and fines. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires businesses to provide equal access to their services and products, including their websites. Failure to comply can result in costly lawsuits and fines, as seen in the case of Domino's Pizza, which was sued for not having an accessible website.

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Web accessibility is about making the internet and websites usable by everyone, including people with disabilities.

Individuals with disabilities face barriers when they encounter inaccessible web pages, which can lead to feelings of frustration, exclusion, and discrimination.

The internet is a vital tool for day-to-day tasks, and people with disabilities should be able to use it easily.

According to Wikipedia, accessibility refers to the design of products, devices, services, or environments for people who experience disabilities.

Web accessibility is a way to make everyone, including people with disabilities, have access to the web and internet in its entirety.

People with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with the web, and they can contribute to it.

To achieve web accessibility, we need to align with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

The WCAG has four main principles:

Web accessibility is important because it provides equal access and equal opportunity to people with disabilities, allowing them to participate actively in society.

The web is an increasingly important resource in many aspects of life, including education, employment, government, commerce, healthcare, and recreation. An accessible web can help people with disabilities overcome barriers to print, audio, and visual media.

The shift to online services is not limited to necessities, but also extends to leisure and social activities. For example, if a movie booking site lacks clearly labeled buttons, screen reader users may not be able to get tickets. This prevents them from being able to enjoy entertainment like everyone else can.

In some cases, web accessibility is required by laws and policies. This means that organizations have a responsibility to ensure their websites are accessible to people with disabilities.

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Having a website that's hard to navigate can be frustrating, but for people with disabilities, it's a major barrier. Website visitors who speak English as a second language may need translation assistance to comprehend content.

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About 16% of the global population and 26% of people in the U.S. face disabilities, which is over 1 billion people worldwide and 86 million in the United States. Making your website accessible means you reach this often-overlooked portion of your audience.

Visually impaired users may struggle to find context when images are missing suitably descriptive alt tags. This is especially true for students with disabilities who face educational hurdles and social isolation when platforms are not designed with accessibility in mind.

Those with hearing impairments are denied audio information when on-page video content is not presented with captions. This is a critical issue in the healthcare industry, where telehealth usage is now 38 times higher than before the pandemic, as reported by McKinsey.

Here are some common accessibility issues that can impact comprehension and understanding:

The Web is an increasingly important resource in many aspects of our life, including education, employment, government, commerce, health care, and recreation.

Having an accessible Web is crucial for providing equal access and equal opportunity to people with disabilities, allowing them to participate more actively in society.

An accessible website is one of the easiest ways to do business with people with disabilities, such as those who cannot read print material or have difficulty going to a physical store.

Overcoming accessibility barriers to print, audio, and visual media can be much more easily achieved through Web technologies.

Reading "Social Factors in Developing a Web Accessibility Business Case for Your Organization" can show how the Web impacts the lives of people with disabilities and Web accessibility as an aspect of corporate social responsibility.

Web accessibility is also required by laws and policies in some cases, making it essential for organizations to address these factors within their organizations.

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About 16% of the global population face disabilities. That's a staggering number, and it's essential to remember that people with disabilities are not a minority, but a significant part of our community.

In the United States, the situation is even more striking, with 26% of people facing disabilities. This translates to over 86 million individuals who may face barriers when interacting with websites and apps.

The reality is that disabilities are more common than we often think, and making our online presence accessible is not just a moral obligation, but a business necessity.

About 16% of the global population and 26% of people in the U.S. face disabilities, that's over 1 billion people worldwide and 86 million in the United States.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) broadly applies to businesses deemed 'public accommodations,' and in recent years, U.S. courts and the Department of Justice have extended this definition to the online domain.

Making your website accessible means you reach this often-overlooked portion of your audience and do right by these potential customers, increasing your chances of winning their loyalty.

Accessible websites have a wider reach and broader audience, tapping into the various disability communities' massive spending power – over $13 trillion annually.

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Companies with inaccessible websites are losing approximately $6.9 billion a year to competitors who prioritize accessibility.

Prioritizing web accessibility puts the focus on the customer, it's the right thing to do AND a wise business decision.

Here are some benefits of prioritizing web accessibility:

Designing for accessibility is crucial for creating an inclusive online experience. A well-designed website should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities.

Properly structured content is essential for accessibility. This includes using semantic HTML structure and headings, as well as clear and concise content that is easy to understand.

Alternative text on images is a must-have for accessibility. This includes providing a description of the image that can be read by screen readers, such as "Woman drawing design flow chart including accessibility, usability, branding, and design".

Accessible forms and downloads are also crucial for an inclusive online experience. This includes providing clear and consistent navigation, including keyboard-only navigation.

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Responsiveness across a range of devices is also important for accessibility. This includes ensuring that your website is accessible on mobile devices, which are used by 96% of people globally.

Here are some key design considerations for accessibility:

By incorporating these design considerations, you can create a website that is accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities. This is not only the right thing to do, but it also has significant benefits for your business, including improved SEO and a better user experience for all users.

Web accessibility is crucial for building websites that everyone can use. A 'big-bang' audit route is not suitable for smaller companies, as it tends to have short-term actionability.

There are many online tools available to help you check and validate your website's compliance to accessibility. Here are some online website accessibility checking tools you can use:

AccessiBe is another web accessibility solution that uses AI to make websites fully compliant according to all regulations.

Making your website accessible is not just a moral imperative, but it also has numerous benefits for your business. People with disabilities control $8 trillion in annual spending, and their friends and family add another 3.4 billion potential consumers, increasing the total annual disposable income to $14 trillion.

By making your digital platform inclusive, you can improve your brand reputation, customer satisfaction scores, and market share. For instance, building a portfolio of loyal brand ambassadors is a significant benefit, as it leads to more loyalty and word-of-mouth recommendations.

Accessible websites also demonstrate corporate social responsibility and community support, which is a key factor in modern consumers' purchasing decisions. A staggering 52% of consumers consider a company's values when making a purchase.

In addition to these benefits, accessible websites can also achieve better SEO results. According to case studies, sites with inclusion have better search results, reduced maintenance costs, and an increased audience reach.

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Here are some specific ways accessibility best practices can improve your website's SEO:

In fact, a collaborative study by Accessibility Checker, Semrush, and Builtwith found that 73.4% of sites that improved their accessibility also saw an increase in organic traffic. This is a significant advantage for businesses looking to improve their online presence.

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Compliance with legislation is a crucial aspect of web accessibility. Many countries have laws that require website accessibility, making it a legal requirement for businesses and organizations.

In the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to businesses deemed "public accommodations", including websites and mobile applications. The ADA requires compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), with WCAG Level A/AA guidelines frequently cited in legal arguments and court opinions.

In Canada, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) requires public and private organizations in Ontario to make their services accessible to people with disabilities, including ensuring their websites conform to WCAG 2.0 Level AA.

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In the European Union, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) focuses on accessibility in digital services, with an emphasis on websites and online platforms. The EAA aligns with the EN 301549 standards, which follow WCAG, and is expected to be implemented by June 28, 2025.

Some notable laws and regulations that require website accessibility include:

Failure to comply with these laws can result in lawsuits, fines, and damage to a business's reputation.

Creating an inclusive environment is crucial for businesses and organizations. People with disabilities control $8 trillion in annual spending, and their friends and family add an additional 3.4 billion potential consumers, increasing the total annual disposable income to $14 trillion.

By making your digital platform inclusive, businesses can improve their brand reputation and customer satisfaction scores. The spending power of disabled people and their families is rising by 14% per year.

Creating an inclusive workplace doesn't just empower employees with disabilities, it leads to a healthier culture and improved retention. This is because modern consumers are becoming increasingly socially conscious in their purchasing habits, with 52% considering a company's values when making a purchase.

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Building a portfolio of loyal brand ambassadors is just one of the specific benefits of making your digital platform inclusive. This is achieved by providing positive experiences for customers, which can lead to loyalty and word-of-mouth recommendations.

Making your website accessible is a vital ethical commitment, extending beyond complying with legislation like the ADA, AODA, and Section 508. It's a testament to your brand's dedication to inclusivity and transforms the digital experience into a welcoming space for all.

Here are some key benefits of creating an inclusive environment: