As the modern world progresses, so do we humans. Every human has the right to access different necessities or luxuries of life. Over thirty years ago in America, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was established. This act was made to protect the rights of those with disabilities.
Throughout America and many other countries, steps have been taken to make life a little easier for disabled people. This includes handicapped parking, handicapped public bathroom stalls, handicapped public transport seating, etc.
Recently, in 2018, the ADA was implemented online as well. This means that by law, your website must be made in accordance with specific guidelines to make websites easier to view and interact with for disabled people. In this article, we will explore how you can make your website more inclusive for disabled people.
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What Is The ADA In Web Development?
When you look at the ADA in web development, it means that your website must be inclusive for everyone. Your website should not be restricted to only able people, i.e., those who can see and hear properly.
The website must be accessible to everyone; this includes those with disabilities that may use the internet. Some users use screen readers to read text aloud to them. Some people may find videos challenging to interact with, while others may find it easier if there are videos. There are many ways web development firms can do this, which we will get to in just a moment.
The Importance Of ADA In Website Design:
While creating your website, you might be thinking, why do I have to go through this procedure to make my website legal? You may think that following ADA guidelines is a hassle, that it is unnecessary and useless. This is not the case. ADA compliance website designs are vital both economically and lawfully.
When you make your website inclusive for disabled people, you make life easier for a whole group of people. Not only this, but you’re also opening your website to a vast category of people. The easier your website is to use, the more disabled people will interact with it. This, depending on the type of website you’re creating, can be very useful to your success.
Not only that, it is the law to follow ADA guidelines while creating a website. If your website ignores these guidelines, it can lead to substantial lawsuits and fines.
How To Make Your Website Comply With ADA Guidelines?
Let us finally get to making your website ADA-approved. To make your websites ADA compliance interface more comfortable for disabled people, you must scout what disabilities you cater to.
Usually, those with disabilities that have access to the internet may be blind or deaf. Even those with physical disabilities can also use artificial intelligence (AI) to make their journey through the internet more accessible. Some ways you can become ADA-compliant are as follows:
- Make sure any videos or audio featured on your website contain subtitles for the audibly-impaired.
- Keep in mind to add alt-tags to your images and videos so that AIs can read them out loud to those with visual impairments.
- Make sure your fonts are set to a large size so that those who cannot read text clearly or have dyslexia can read it correctly.
- Create a menu structure where those with or without disabilities can easily reach what they’re looking for.
- Keep your content interactive and straightforward to create the best experience possible.
- Use headings to break your content into smaller bits that are easier to process.
- For diminutives such as ADA, you can separate each letter with periods so that screen readers can read them properly. (e.g., A.D.A)
- Hire an auditor to review your code, make sure everything is in place, and make suggestions if something is missing.
Conclusion:
Reviewing your website to match ADA guidelines is crucial to making your website successful. Not only does it help you avoid legal trouble, but you open up your website to a wide variety of people. This convenience may make people recommend your website to others, thus spreading your website’s popularity and influence.
About the Author:Elena Alehno is a technical copywriter at PixelPlex, a web development company. Her sphere of interest lies in such disruptive technologies as Blockchain, AI, IoT, AR/VR, and in translating information about them into a comprehensive language, making the concepts easy for not tech-savvy users.
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