The importance of website accessibility

Page 1

The Importance of Website Accessibility An accessible website is a must have in today’s scenario where everyone uses the internet on the go. Such a website is not meant for the regular users only. Even individuals with disabilities can access them. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was amended by the United States Congress in 1998 so as to strengthen the provisions of section 508. This amendment ensured the protection of online access to information which is shared by the Federal government with disabled individuals. In the recent past, the U.S. Access Board upgraded the WCAG 2.0 that deals with the international standard for web accessibility. As such, it became mandatory for all the educational institutes to comply with WCAG 2.0 latest by 2016. While accessibility to the internet is significant for disabled individuals, at the same time everyone should enjoy accessibility in addition to a user-friendly experience. As per the United Nations, one out of ten individuals suffers from some form of disability – it can be sensory, motor or cognitive impairments. With the mortality rate on the rise and the ever increasing population, the number of disabled individuals is only going to increase with the passage of time. For this in addition to the ever changing technology, it becomes all the more important to have websites that are easily accessible. How to Make Websites More Accessible To make a website more accessible, you can follow the below-mentioned points. 

There are some fonts and interface styles that look great and exciting but for people with poor vision and eyesight issues it becomes difficult to navigate through the website. Hence, it is best to avoid graphic related content. Instead it’s better to opt for a sitemap that makes navigating the website an easier affair.

Opt for a colour scheme that is easy on the eyes and attractive. Avoid poor contrasting colors that are difficult to read and comprehend.

If you think complex page layout will help your website standout, you could not be more wrong. Simple layouts are easier to navigate and browse through rather than unusual interface functions or characteristics.

In addition to the latest technologies, make use of the older technologies too when creating the website. There are still many rural areas in the United States and other parts of the world that do not have access to high speed internet.

In your zeal to use the latest technologies don’t opt for those that are unsupported by current web browsers, devices and operating systems.

Responsive web design makes a website much more accessible than a parallax website. These websites can be accessed from any device – be it smartphones, tablets or laptops and desktops. The resolution adjusts itself to the screen size of the particular design ensuring that the user enjoys a happy experience.




Opt for larger buttons and clearly defined controls so that not only disabled individuals but also users with poor touch screen ability can check out the website in a better way.

Without Accessibility Testing Services the Entire Effort Is Wasted To ensure that your website is easily accessible, it becomes imperative that you opt for Accessibility Testing Services. This testing is time saving, increases test coverage, DevOps implementation becomes easy and helps monitor changes in a continuous manner. There are many service providers in the market who offer Accessibility Testing Services. Opt for the one who is well known for the quality of testing offered. Hire a reputed service provider if you want quality service.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.