Is your website ADA compliant?

Is my website ADA compliant? 

You might think of the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, as pertaining to buildings and structures but it is also expanding into the digital world. So your website is now also going to come under the scrutiny of the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

What is the ADA?

The purpose of the ADA is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. It guarantees equal opportunity in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services and telecommunications.

Even if you’re not yet legally obligated to do so, building accessible features and design into your website is good business. Accessibility makes websites easier to use for everyone, not just those with disabilities. This could mean more business for you. 

And, of course, Google is going to take ADA compliance into account when qualifying your website for search. That’s a given. 

Part of the problem with older websites is that it used to be a skill set to create sites with embedded technologies and design elements that created a unique experience for desktop computer users. But more and more of the traffic on the Internet is coming from mobile devices. 

This means that websites that don’t automatically conform to the device that they’re being viewed on also get demoted and even delisted by Google. 

Sites with features that used to be popular can create barriers for people using assistive devices to browse the Internet. Assistive technologies such as screen readers, text enlargement software and programs that enable people to control the computer with their voice should be able to read your site easliy. Accessible website design recognizes these differences and does not require people to see, hear or use a standard mouse in order to access the information and services provided.

---

What are the guidelines?

The most detailed best practices were established by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3) as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). The WCAG established a set of requirements for digital applications like websites and emails. For each guideline, there are three levels of testable success criteria: A, AA, and AAA. For most RV parks and campgrounds, the goal should be WCAG 2.1 AA.

​Six things you can do to get started on making your website more accessible 

1. Add an “alternative text” tag or alt tag to images.
   Individuals who are vision impaired use tools called screen readers to read your website. However, when these readers reach images, they generally can’t describe them. That’s where the alternative text tag comes in. Often called an “alt tag,” this descriptive text can be understood by the reader tool and spoken to the site visitor. Many of the most popular website content management tools include a field for adding an alt tag which make this a very easy upgrade.
   Pro tip - this is also used by Google to find images which is a popular way for your website to get found. 
2. Post documents in text-based formats.
   PDF documents are a great way to post information to your websites. However, many assistive tools like screen readers can’t decipher PDFs. It’s a good idea to post text-based versions of your documents in addition to a PDF. A simple HTML webpage or a Rich Text Format (RTF) document will meet this requirement.
3. Minimize distracting elements.
   There are so many reasons to just have simple page layouts rather than ones with complex moving pieces including appealing to those with challenges. 
4. Add tags to your forms.
   If your site uses online forms, be sure to include descriptive tags. These provide the information visitors with disabilities may need to complete and submit the forms. Most of the popular form-building tools include description fields making this another easy update.
   
5. Add audio descriptions and captions to your videos.
   Videos can be tricky because hearing impaired people may be able to see–but not hear–your video, while for many people with visual disabilities, the opposite is true. Be sure to provide audio descriptions of images and provide text captions.
   
6. Include an accessibility statement on your website.
   A website accessibility statement is a message to your visitors about your commitment to making your website content accessible to everyone. Specifically, it’s often a single page on your website outlining the policies, goals and current methods on making your website content and services accessible to people with disabilities, including visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, language, learning and neurological disabilities. The lack of an accessibility statement is often the first thing a plaintiff’s lawyer will look for when deciding who to sue for discrimination and non-compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations.

But wait, there’s more

If you truly want to learn more about building websites that are ADA compliant the U.S. Department of Justice has a document about just that which you can get here. 

Of course if you want to make sure your website is compliant and adjusts to the ever-changing landscape that’s out there don’t forget I am happy to work with you on a new or revised site.