Websites are effective ways to provide helpful information with a few clicks. They are designed to offer easy and faster information access without hassle. Unfortunately, not all people can read the content of websites easily, especially when the website isn’t inclusive.
People with physical challenges and visual impairments often find it difficult to use the website because they are not designed to cater to their needs. Fortunately, laws now promote inclusiveness by making it mandatory for all websites to be accessible for physically challenged people.
Most website owners and companies are unaware of solutions like a website accessibility checker that helps identify the problem areas and suggest appropriate modifications to make the website more accessible for all. If you own a website, you must refrain from making some common mistakes that can violate the website’s compliance.
Here are four such website accessibility mistakes to avoid.
Using a poor color contrast ratio
Color contrast is the ratio of light of text color and background. It can make a lot of difference for a person with visual impairment to read text with poor contrast. According to the compliance laws, the color contrast ratio must be 3:1 for large-scale text and 4.5:1 for regular text. Using these color contrast ratios on your website makes the text easier to read and comprehend.
Not incorporating keyboard accessibility
People with disabilities can find it challenging to use the input devices like mouse and keyboards. They often rely on the keyboard to access the browser and scroll through websites. Unfortunately, not being able to use the mouse can make it challenging to scroll through a website.
That’s why there should be keyboard accessibility modifications that allow them to use the website with a keyboard. Moreover, they often use voice recognition programs to input the text, so the website must have the necessary provision to make it easier.
Not using accessibility checkers
Accessibility is a collection of various elements that determine the user experience. Modifying these elements can significantly improve the accessibility of a website. It can be challenging to manually check all the details and their impact on accessibility.
Therefore many websites and companies use a website accessibility checker to audit their websites for problems and make the necessary changes. These checkers review your entire website and make suggestions to make your website easily accessible for people with disabilities.
Thinking of accessibility as just another compliance
Many companies often neglect accessibility as just another compliance rule. But it can be a mistake. Website accessibility isn’t an option but mandatory. There are over 1 billion people in the world with disabilities. Following the accessibility compliances makes your website more accessible and significantly increases your reach into a new audience segment. It can help you improve your web traffic and your sales as well.
Accessibility and user experience go hand in hand. Improving your accessibility can significantly improve the website user experience. Even minor tweaks, such as the provision to enlarge text, can substantially impact the user experience. Besides, the increased user experience positively impacts the search engine rankings.
The right to access information regardless of their physical condition is for everyone. When your website is accessible to a person with a disability, you make it easier to access information and make them feel more inclusive.
