Five Ways To Make Your Website Accessible Immediately
Many websites are large and complicated, and can take weeks to remediate. However, users with disabilities do not have access to the content while the sites are being remediated. Especially if you are being sued, it’s a good idea to put in a stop-gap measure to allow users to access the content right here, right now. This can be a good, cheap way to show the courts and plaintiffs that you are serious about upping your game with regards to accessibility, and can engender a sense of loyalty in your company and/or brand for users with disabilities. Below is a list of five good strategies for allowing users with disabilities to access the content on your website. Keep in mind, these are not replacements for remediating your website; they are simply an extra step that your company can take to make the content accessible right now.
In America and Europe, there are laws on the books that require websites to be accessible to people with disabilities. However, these are not the only places where there are users with disabilities. Disability occurs in all parts of the world, and all people with disabilities need services to assist them in living their everyday lives. Even if the government of a country does not require companies and organizations to make their websites accessible, it is still important that your website be accessible for all markets you serve.
In 2016, Facebook unveiled their AI (artificial intelligence) technology, which attempts to automatically describe images to benefit people who are blind or visually impaired. While we are pretty excited about its potential, it’s important to understand where this technology might be helpful, and what its limitations are.
One of the most fundamental tasks when making a website accessible is ensuring that all of your images are also accessible to people who can’t see them.
Accessible360 periodically showcases a digital superuser with personal insights into the digital landscape and assistive technology. By getting to know them, we learn more about the importance of digital accessibility, borrow their knowledge, and gain insights into important personal preferences.
Katherine Schneider, Disability Rights Activist Would you tell us a little about yourself? I am a retired clinical psychologist. I am also an activist and author. What are a couple of your favorite websites or mobile apps?
Accessible360 periodically showcases a digital superuser with personal insights into the digital landscape and assistive technology. By getting to know them, we learn more about the importance of digital accessibility, borrow their knowledge, and gain insights into important personal preferences.
Joe Carr, Adaptive Sports Athlete Would you tell us a little about yourself? I am a 14-year-old boy and am a freshman at Richfield High School. I have spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy.
