Is your website accessible?
First of all, what is website accessibility?
Website accessibility guidelines are a set of standards that allow everyone to easily access and interact online including those with impairments such as vision or hearing loss, people with physical disabilities, the aging population, or simply people with limited bandwidth.
In Canada, it is estimated that half a million people are living with significant vision loss. Unfortunately for them, browsing websites can be challenging if accessibility standards, such as colour contrast, haven’t been met.
While it might sound simple in theory, designing a website that is accessible to everyone isn’t an easy task. Several pieces need to work together to meet the required standards. More companies are seeing the importance of web accessibility and are making the required changes to ensure their sites are accessible to everyone. In fact, some websites (including the Government of Canada’s sites), are already required by law to follow these standards.
Following the accessibility standards while keeping a company’s branding and look consistent can be challenging, but it is something that will ultimately benefit your business. If your designer isn’t aware or isn’t following these standards – your site may not be accessible by everyone and you could be missing out on a large audience simply because they have difficulty accessing or using your site.
From communicating with others to accessing a whole wealth of information at the click of a button, the Internet has made everyday tasks much easier for millions of people all over the world. It has become an essential part of our everyday life, which is why it is important to take the necessary steps to make the web accessible to everyone.
Take a look at this article to learn more about website accessibility, its benefits, and some quick tips to improve the accessibility of your website.
