Is Accessibility Top of Mind for Your Business?
Mangrove Web, a Certified B Corp
Websites that make it easier for good people to do great work.
More provocative opinions about digital accessibility from Mangrove, where we've been working on inclusive and accessible design for nearly 20 years.
Scroll to the end to learn why we named this newsletter "Clearing the Digital Ramp.”
The value of POUR for your website
Your website may not be reaching the widest audience it can. Despite its importance, truly accessible websites are still not the norm, meaning many people are unable to use them or connect to the organizations that run them. Beyond doing the right thing by ensuring those with a disability, injury, or other encumberment can navigate your site with ease, an accessible website can connect you to more customers and help your business stand out.
If the concept of digital accessibility feels nebulous, it may help to explore the principles that form the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These four pillars—perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust—make up the acronym POUR and collectively ensure accessible content for all users.
Humans do accessibility better
Accessibility overlays, a tool often touted as a quick fix for website accessibility issues, are becoming more popular as accessibility becomes more regulated. They usually come in the form of a toolbar, plug-in or app.
There are many reasons to avoid the use of accessibility overlays, but perhaps the most important is that they can give a false sense of compliance. Rather than ensuring genuine accessibility and creating an inclusive web experience, overlays can mask underlying issues and leave your site prone to regulatory ramifications.
Strategic shift reflected in Metropolitan Planning Council's accessible new site
Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) is a nonprofit that addresses built environment issues like housing, sustainability, transportation, and public systems through a racial and economic justice lens. Their mission is to create thriving communities, equitable infrastructure, and just public systems for everyone who calls the Chicago region home.
When we started to work with MPC, their team had recently experienced a strategic change in the organization that reshaped its pillars of impact. The organization had shifted to center diversity, equity, and inclusion—a change that wasn’t feasible to represent on their outdated site’s infrastructure.?
Leveraging the features of WordPress, our development team created a backend for their new site that efficiently organizes the wealth of MPC resources. We built the site to WCAG Level A as well as upleveling the design and user experience, making it easier for visitors to explore.
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Accessibility lessons from LEGO?
The team at LEGO? are responsible for designing some of the most iconic and memorable toys for all generations. What you may not know, is that they are also committed to ensuring everyone can play well with what they create, regardless of ability. Author Ros Lederman dives into the lessons LEGO? can teach us about accessibility and how they apply to websites.?
More accessibility news and insights delivered to your inbox!?
Accessibility Weekly is a carefully curated newsletter from David A. Kennedy featuring news, resources, and professional insights to help you keep accessibility top of mind and present in your work. Check it out for a weekly dose of accessibility knowledge.?
Why did we title this newsletter "Clearing the Digital Ramp"? The cartoon below illustrates how clearing or shoveling a ramp creates access for all. When we improve digital accessibility, we are clearing "ramps" to create an easier path forward for ALL users.
f you are interested in understanding more about digital accessibility or engaging Mangrove to support you to design or develop a more accessible brand and website, reach out!