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Why does your website need to be ADA Compliant?

[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1592533955168{margin-top: -150px !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1592533164105{padding-left: 100px !important;}”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1592532962706{padding-right: 100px !important;padding-left: 100px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1592544042481{margin-top: 50px !important;}”]So you’ve had your company website built, and it’s feature-rich and aesthetically pleasing, as well as offering all the information website visitors are looking for.[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1592543796660{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Maybe you didn’t know that there are some types of disabilities that may make it difficult for some to properly access, view, and utilize your website and that’s okay.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]It’s something that tends to be out of mind when focusing on all the other aspects of website design.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]However, it is advisable that you ensure your website is, in fact, ADA compliant; and if it isn’t, make the necessary adjustment as quicky as possible.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]If you don’t, you not only risk losing potential customers and clients who are unable to use your website, but you also open yourself to the risk of a lawsuit.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1592532998028{padding-right: 100px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”33940″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text](Before we start: if you’re looking for help with accessible web design or ADA-standard web development, we can help.)[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]And then someone asks you if website is ADA, and your mind goes blank as you ponder the answer.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”33942″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1592534651475{margin-top: 20px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”What Does ADA Compliant Mean?” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%230074c8″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1592548227315{margin-top: -25px !important;}”]The American Disabilities Act (ADA) ensures that commercial and public entities provide access and accommodation for individuals with a range of disabilities.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]That’s why nearly every establishment you frequent will have handicapped parking spaces, wheelchair ramps, and bathrooms that can accommodate individuals with disabilities.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]In 2010, the law was amended to include websites as well, since they were also classified as a “place of public accommodation.”[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]However, according to the current standards, you may be wondering if your website needs to be ADA compliant.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The answer is: probably. Let’s dive in.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”33945″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1592546218101{margin-top: -30px !important;margin-bottom: -30px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”How Do I Make My Website ADA Compliant?” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%230074c8″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1592548214684{margin-top: -25px !important;}”]The final standards for website accessibility have yet to be officially released (the standards are expected sometime in 2018).[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]However, there is a current standard that businesses can utilize as a guideline the WCAG 2.0 level AA technical requirements.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Established in cọnunction with Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) and the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), these standards serve as a highly useful reference tool.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Additionally, the guidelines also showcase exactly how some disabilities may affect people when they try to view your website and what steps you can take to ensure interaction.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Consider taking the following steps to ensure your website ADA compliant:[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”1. Make Sure the HTML is Accessible & Clean” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left|color:%230074c8″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Proper HTML utilizes meta descriptions, title tags, bulleted lists, and other components that ensure visually impaired individuals can easily locate items on the web pages, and those screen readers can efficiently locate and read the content.[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”2. Offer Text Alternatives” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left|color:%230074c8″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]If your website includes graphics and videos that display pertinent information, you’ll need to include text alternatives for those that may not be able to effectively view the multimedia.[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”3. Offer a Simplified Version of Your Website” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left|color:%230074c8″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Understandably, you are proud of how our website looks, but offering a simplified version can make it easier for individuals with a variety of disabilities to easily find content and navigate the site. Simply separating the content into different sections in a basic layout can make things much easier for many.[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”4. Offer a High Contrast Option” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left|color:%230074c8″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Individuals with visual impairments can often read a web page better if the contrast is high. You can design your website with this in mind, or offer an option for pages that can be viewed in higher contrast.[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”5. Avoid Flashing Graphics” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left|color:%230074c8″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Flashing graphics or videos with flashing lights or images that move very rapidly can cause seizures in individuals with some disabilities or those that may be susceptible to the effects.[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”6. Include Keyboard Support” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left|color:%230074c8″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Not everyone will be able to use a mouse to navigate to different areas of the site and click on tabs. Keyboard support enables visitors to the site to move around the web page using keys on the keyboard.[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”7. Include ARIA Landmarks” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left|color:%230074c8″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]This refers to Accessible Rich Internet Applications, which means individuals that are utilizing assistive technologies to read a web page can easily ascertain what they are reading, where on the web page the content is located, and what actions they can take next.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”72007″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Why Else Should You Care About ADA Compliance?” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%230074c8″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Aside from the legal ramifications, it’s just a good business decision to ensure that your website is ADA compliant.

When you stop thinking of your website as just a visual representation of your brand, you open your website to an audience of 60 million disabled Americans.
And since over 70% of potential customers will leave a website if it isn’t accessible, it’s in your best interests as a business to be sure that it is.

Think of it as another form of search engine optimization—only instead of optimizing your website via keywords and other digital marketing methods for search engines, you are optimizing it for a large audience of individuals with disabilities who are just as much a potential part of your target market as anyone else.

Making your website ADA compliant isn’t overly difficult—it essentially entails inserting tools, code, and other functions and features that enable individuals with disabilities to utilize their own tools in conjunction with your website.

For example, a visually impaired person can use a braille display or a screen reader, while an individual with hearing loss of limited mobility can utilize other devices to access and use your website.

At Psycray, our team can offer assistance in ensuring ADA website compliance for all our clients.

Offering consultation on all aspects of WCAG 2.0 and helping you keep up-to-date on new additions and changes to the current regulations, you’ll be able to identify and adjust problematic areas of your website, subsequently enabling all individuals with disabilities to effectively access and utilize your website without difficulty.

Contact us today for more information about ADA website compliance.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]