A key component of the Americans with Disabilities Act is website accessibility. To ensure that your website is accessible, it must meet the Web Accessibility Initiative’s website accessibility guidelines.
A failure to satisfy the necessary website accessibility guidelines can lead to a discrimination lawsuit and the need to pay a settlement. If you have received such a lawsuit, you must speak with an ADA accessibility lawyer today.
What Are The Key Principles Of Website Accessibility?
The key principles of website accessibility are outlined in the Web Accessibility Initiative’s website accessibility guidelines. And, with that in mind, following these guidelines mean that your website is:
- Perceivable
- Operable
- Understandable
- Robust
To ensure that your website meets these standards, you can find descriptions of what they mean, and how to conform, right below.
Your Website Must Be Perceivable
Every single user interface component must be perceivable to those with disabilities. And, this same basic rule applies to the content on your website.
Just as an example, if you have an audio file, then that audio file must also come with a written transcript. This written transcript ensures that those who cannot hear will be able to understand the content.
Some of the ways you can ensure your website is perceivable are as follows:
- Include audio versions of written content.
- Develop written transcripts for audio/visual content.
- Rely on clear, easy-to-read fonts.
- Allow your website to be presented in multiple orientations.
Every single one of the above will ensure that your website is perceivable.
Your Website Must Be Operable
The act of navigating your website, and relying on specific user interface components, must be operable to those with disabilities.
Some of the ways you can ensure your website is operable are as follows:
- Make sure that every key function of your website is accessible with just a keyboard.
- Rely on headings and/or labels to organize content.
- Do not use timing mechanisms or time limits.
- Make sure your website is not designed in a way that can cause seizures.
All of the above will ensure that your website is operable.
Your Website Must Be Understandable
The act of navigating your website’s user interface, and the information this user interface leads to, must be understandable.
Some of the ways you can ensure your website, and its content, is understandable are as follows:
- Offer text suggestions, when using the search bar.
- Label mechanisms that require user input, such as a search bar.
- Outline the pronunciation of unusual words.
- Information is easy-to-read and easy-to-understand.
Every single one of the above will ensure that your website, and its content, is understandable.
Your Website Must Be Robust
A robust website is, within this context, a website that can be understood using different types of assistive technologies.
Some of the ways you can ensure your website is robust are as follows:
- Allow text-to-speech applications to be used.
- Make sure other screen readers can access, and view, your website.
- Offer easy-to-understand user controls.
- Make sure user information components can be used in conjunction with assistive technologies.
- Each one of the above will ensure that your website is robust.
Speak With An ADA Web Accessibility Lawyer Today
A discrimination lawsuit is a very serious threat to your business. Speak with an ADA web accessibility lawyer today and we will defend you in court.
Max Akin Writing 