Accessible Websites Should Be A Standard In 2020
Accessible websites are starting to become more important each and every day. As the number of users online continue to grow, it’s important that anyone - regardless of their physical abilities - can enjoy a positive user experience. Simply because someone is seeing impaired, hearing impaired, or needing technological assistance does not mean that they should have to be limited to the information they can access online.
More importantly for businesses in highly sough after travel destinations, it means you can reach every tourist, snowbird, and local. You will not be limited to who can access your website and make a purchase or book an appointment. Website accessibility is crucial if you want to keep up with current Internet trends and abide by ADA regulations.
Accessible Websites Requirements
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does more than simply require ramps and braille in public places. It also is working closely with W3C to ensure anyone can understand what is on a webpage.
Those who are required to have accessible websites are:
- Businesses who fall under ADA Title I or ADA Title III
- Businesses with 15+ full-time employees at least 20+ weeks during a regular calendar year
- Business considered “public accommodation”
Now, businesses that do not fall under these conditions are not required to have an ADA compliant website. However, it only hurts business at the end of the day to not provide website accessibility features. How, you may be wondering? Every time someone with a disability cannot access your website to buy products or book services, your business loses their lifetime customer value. It’s that simple.
What Are The Accessible Websites Regulations?
At this time in Q1 of 2020, no official regulations are in place. However, businesses required to have website accessibility features are reviewed by the ADA to ensure those who are deaf, blind, or require technological assistance can easily access most features of your website.
In order to ensure these individuals can understand what is on your site, you must have at least the following:
- 404 errors with recommendations that go beyond “return to the previous page”
- Video transcripts that can be easily understood so those who cannot see them follow along
- Alt tags on images that accurately describe what the image is (this can still be your SEO keyword as long as the image is relevant to that keyword)
- Place site language in the header tag so it can be easily translated to the user’s language when necessary
- User-friendly navigation that includes clear menu item names and ability to move through the site with a keyboard
Additional steps can be taken to truly provide a fully accessible website, but they are not required at this time. By this, we mean you can add a button that takes your users to a full ADA website rather than your current ADA complaint website.
Custom ADA Websites Available
The team at OE Marketing truly believes in providing the best experience for our clients and their customers. All of our websites are accessible websites. We do not add on a charge for website accessibility features because they are built right in. Contact us today to begin a new ADA website for your business.