Why Business Owners Should Care About Web Accessibility

Web accessibility is essential not only for people with disabilities but for all users. Web accessibility ensures that all users have equal access to the internet and resources. But what does it mean? ADA and WCAG compliance are acronyms for two organizations that regulate web accessibility.?

ADA stands for the Americans with Disabilities Act, which means that when a website is built, it must comply with specific standards and laws set forth by the ADA so that everyone has equal access to the information on the site.?

WCAG, which stands for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, describes how web content should be made more accessible so people with disabilities can easily access those pages.

Unfortunately, most businesses fail to ensure web accessibility compliance that creates issues for individuals with disabilities.

Why Web Accessibility Matters

Web accessibility lets people with cognitive difficulties, vision impairment, or those who are deaf or hard of hearing gain access to online content such as webpages, e-documents, social media, and multimedia. The WCAG standards can help website owners design accessible websites.

The fact of the matter is that people with disabilities deserve proper web accessibility. It’s a big market that businesses can no longer ignore. However, web design and accessibility can be complex and unaffordable tasks for small businesses and website owners, and this is where AI-based diagnostic tools come into the picture.?

One great solution for businesses is to opt for assistive technology programs like accessiBe that allow individuals with a disability to access, navigate, and interact with a site and its content.?

What Constitutes Web Accessibility?

One of the reasons web accessibility matters is that it can help people who have a range of disabilities, including visual impairment, hearing loss, dyslexia, etc.??

Web accessibility refers to the digital accessibility of a website, software, program, or app to be accessible to individuals with a disability who face additional barriers to access websites due to their disability.

The Role of Web Accessibility in 2021

We live in a new era with a unique technology with 20% of the population are disabled and that less than 5% of websites are accessible; in 2021, this shouldn’t be the case. Web accessibility means that websites, tools, and technologies are designed and developed so that people with disabilities can use them. More specifically, people can: perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with your website and fully immerse in the experience.

As more and more people get internet access, they need to navigate readable websites by screen readers or web pages in larger font sizes on their devices when required.

The other issue is that many people do not have access to the appropriate assistive technologies to improve their web experience. This leads them to rely solely on navigating through content using their browser, resulting in an experience that isn’t inclusive for all.

The Surge in Web Accessibility Lawsuits

Overlooking web accessibility can create grave consequences for businesses. Web accessibility-related lawsuits continue to increase each year. From small businesses to large corporations, web accessibility violations require companies to pay penalties as high as $75,000.

A survey from last year indicates that 73% of sites were inaccessible for disabled users, while only 17% were completely accessible. It may be assumed that a company of their size might not experience negative repercussions for small business owners. However, there are many instances where this has still occurred, and litigations have happened. Nevertheless, it's essential to consider these matters before they arise.

What Does it Take to Improve Website Accessibility?

Businesses need to adopt a progressive approach to make their web content available to people with disabilities. Besides, there has been a significant shift to online shopping and digital services because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Accessibility features are crucial for both disabled and non-disabled visitors alike. Providing intuitive navigation to content like shopping carts, search fields, checkout pages are critical areas of concern when designing an accessible site.

Business owners can now find cost-effective and efficient AI-based solutions to improve their overall web accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Improving site flexibility and user experience on your website should be perceptive, intuitive, and straightforward at the same time. And that’s because the “right” design can reduce unintended or accidental actions.

The design and content should also be accessible comfortably to prevent any physical effort. Also, use suitable size, space, and structure that favor the posture, body size, and mobility of users with disabilities.

Why Business Owners Should Care About Web Accessibility

Business owners shouldn’t see web accessibility as a barrier. Instead, it allows businesses to open their virtual doors to more potential customers. With consistent web accessibility compliance, companies can improve their brand. Once there’s an optimal user experience, companies can count on users to spend more time on their websites. A more accessible and functional site means a better user experience, which improves SEO standards.

Web Accessibility and the Role of Automation

Business owners can now use automation and AI-powered tools to ensure their sites are accessible for people with disabilities. It is fundamental for businesses to understand that different disabilities, screen readers, browsers, assistive technology, regulations, and guidelines create compatibility problems. But automated AI solutions can make sure website content is accessible for all users.

“accessiBe is a game-changer in web accessibility, making the entire process to compliance automatic and immediate using machine learning and computer vision technologies.”

“Don’t just do it to be compliant, do it because it’s the right thing to do.”