For millions of people with disabilities, persistent barriers exist when trying to gain access to websites, mobile apps, and other information and communication technology. Whether it’s poor semantic HTML markup, a lack of responsive design, or a lack of alternative text for images, there is no shortage of barriers individuals with disabilities may face when visiting and using their favorite websites. Simply put — website accessibility is essential.
Keep reading to learn more about web accessibility compliance, including why it’s important, an overview of ADA vs. WCAG vs. Section 508 regulations, pioneering State-specific regulations (e.g., Colorado HB 21-1110), and common barriers faced by individuals with disabilities and how assistive technologies like Accessibly’s widget can work to retrofit websites to achieve web accessibility compliance.
Overview of Accessibility Regulations and Standards
In the United States, the ADA, WCAG guidelines, and Section 508 provisions are all specific frameworks within the larger Americans with Disabilities Act that offer guidance in different areas, from digital content to brick-and-mortar locations.
Let’s examine the differences between each of these accessibility laws.
ADA vs. WCAG vs. Section 508: Battle of the Heavyweights
The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), and Section 508 all work together to ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal and full participation in public accommodations and the digital world.
The ADA prevents discrimination against individuals with disabilities. WCAG refers to internationally recognized guidelines that inform technical standards and accessibility principles widely used by public and private organizations in the United States and worldwide.
In turn, Section 508 is the federal law that requires federal agencies to make all communication technologies fully accessible. This may include software applications, websites, audio content, video content, and telecommunications.
Any organization that fails to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 Level AA compliance with Section 508 standards faces significant penalties, with the most notable being exclusion from bidding on government contracts, earning grants, participating in community development, and other impactful sanctions that could derail an organization’s prospects.
In short, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 508, and the WCAG are important in promoting accessibility guidelines in the brick-and-mortar and digital realm, advocating for individuals with disabilities.
A Note on WCAG 2.1
One of the most essential facets of website accessibility is WCAG 2.1. This web accessibility initiative focuses on the following accessibility principles to inform web design: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust.
Perceivable
Perceivable refers to user interface features that assist individuals with disabilities to better digest content, such as color contrast ratios, and larger cursors for the visually impaired, such as those suffering from color blindness.
The needs of people with disabilities must be recognized. For example, the deaf must have access to video captioning to understand spoken words. Additionally, the visually impaired may need to rely on screen readers for assistance. It’s crucial to understand the individual needs of each disability group when establishing web accessibility principles that comply with legal requirements.
Operable
Operable refers to the input methods used to interact with an accessible site, such as a keyboard or screen reader. Focus indicators provide visual feedback to users based on keyboard navigation. For example, placing the cursor over an element could create a thicker-than-average border. Alternatively, WCAG 2.1 recommends the use of animations or transitions to draw attention to a website feature.
Understandable
Understandability pertains to the way content and navigation are displayed on the website. It must be presented understandably to individuals with disabilities. The best practice is to keep it simple with a simple and clean UI.
You’re ensuring equal access to information while reducing cognitive load for people. Some ways to achieve this include using clear and descriptive headings, applying alternative text to images, providing captioning, and using semantic HTML to streamline your interface and simplify navigation.
Robust
When contact information is shared across websites and mobile apps, assistive technologies and standardized coding may be implemented to ensure accessibility across Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and dozens of other browsers, and adhere to their specifications. Full and equal participation means retrofitting as many existing websites as possible or applying accessibility standards to new websites as much as possible.
ACA and AODA (Canada)
Started in 2019, the Accessible Canada Act (ACA) is one of Canada’s flagship accessibility legislation, enforcing WCAG accessibility standards for federally regulated businesses and organizations. Not only limited to brick-and-mortar locations, the ACA believes that individuals with disabilities have equal access to products and services, such as handicap ramps, closed captioning for digital content, and designated parking spots at the local supermarket.
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) mandates Ontario to be fully accessible to individuals with disabilities by 2025. Under this initiative, several standards are in play, including the Customer Service Standard and the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR). Each standard has its own set of guidelines and recommended solutions based on business area.
Another critical aspect of the ACA is its association with the Canadian Accessibility Standards Development Organization (CASDO). This organization helps recommend accessibility standards and assesses the needs of individuals with disabilities across Canada.
EAA (European Union)
Similar to the Accessible Canada Act (ACA), the European Accessibility Act (EAA) works to improve accessibility standards across all member states, from Austria to Sweden. This legislative framework covers virtually all public domain areas, including banking services, transportation, digital platforms (including mobile apps), and much more.
Note that the EAA guidelines do not strictly adhere to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) but promote many of its principles.
There are many popular examples of famous court cases throughout the European Union that exemplify what accessibility is all about.
For example, in a 2016 case in the United Kingdom, a nearly blind woman won a case against the United Kingdom for not making their rail ticket website accessible enough under the Equality Act of 2010. As a result, the United Kingdom government had to pay damages.
Another example took place in Denmark in 2016. The Danish Association of the Blind filed lawsuits against the Danish Ministry of Transport for not making their facilities accessible enough. After thorough deliberation by the courts, the public transportation provider was found to be discriminatory and had to pay damages.
All in all, there’s no shortage of court cases that exemplify the legal issues that could arise if you fail to meet web and brick-and-mortar accessibility standards in adherence to European principles.
A Word on Colorado HB 21-1110 and the California Unruh Civil Rights Act
Two important pieces of legislation that have rocked the website accessibility world are Colorado HB 21-1110 and the California Unruh Civil Rights Act.
Both legislations serve individuals with disabilities by enforcing equal access to health care and services. In the web sphere, this means complying with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines by retrofitting or installing new features to make it easier for individuals with disabilities to use them.
Both pieces of legislation allow individuals with disabilities to file lawsuits and seek help alongside advocacy groups against non-compliant businesses and organizations.
One important thing to note is how Colorado HB 21-1110 and the California Unruh Civil Rights Act differ. Colorado HB 21-1110 is a state law focusing on web accessibility. In contrast, California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act is a state law protecting individuals based on protected classes, with no reference to digital accessibility, although its interpretation among advocacy groups varies.
Both pieces of legislation intend to provide public accommodations to people of all protected classes, including religion, sex, race, and disability. Whether it’s a state agency, regional office, or a business establishment, Colorado and California citizens are protected under accessibility rights to ensure full and equal participation for people with disabilities.
Common Barriers Faced by Individuals with Disabilities
Unfortunately, individuals with disabilities face significant challenges when accessing some websites.
The most common issues faced by individuals with disabilities are inaccessible design, a lack of compatibility with assistive technologies like screen readers, and complex forms. An inaccessible design could mean lacking alternative text for images, color contrast issues, or complex navigation structures, making it challenging to find the desired information. Undersized cursors and fonts should not be underestimated. No wonder there are accessibility laws for websites.
Secondly, many assistive technologies, such as screen readers, screen magnifiers, Braille displays, alternative input devices, and voice recognition software, may not function properly due to incompatibility, lack of semantic HTML structure, lack of keyboard accessibility, and overly complex forms and menu options that only frustrate users.
Lastly, another barrier faced by individuals with disabilities is complex forms and transactions. Improper labeling, non-accessible error messages, and confusing captchas or other verification forms can be challenging for the visually or cognitively impaired, preventing equal and full enjoyment of website features.
Web Accessibility Testing and Evaluation Methods
There are several ways to conduct website accessibility testing. One preferred method is automated accessibility testing, which uses software tools to scan web pages and identify issues. While automated testing tools can quickly identify missing alternative text for images or a lack of semantic HTML, they may not catch all accessibility barriers.
Another method is manual testing, where a team reviews web content by hand to ensure logical content sequencing and keyboard accessibility. Ideally, testers should be trained in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines to inform decision-making.
To determine whether manual or automated testing is better, you have to consider the strengths and limitations of each. Manual testing relies on user feedback, focus groups, and surveys, which can require a significant amount of time to manage. On the other hand, automated testing tools can swiftly scour your entire website for accessibility issues and return a key set of stringent guidelines to follow.
If you’re aiming to conduct large-scale testing, then automated web accessibility testing is your best bet.
A third innovative method is engaging people with disabilities in the testing process. Focus groups, surveys, and one-on-one sessions can provide valuable feedback on accessibility barriers.
Automated testing, manual testing, and user engagement are three effective methods for conducting website accessibility testing.
Of course, one quick way to improve accessibility is by using widgets like Accessibly, which allows website owners and developers to follow WCAG 2.1 and ADA guidelines with innovative features that enable individuals with disabilities to customize their browsing experience, including options for larger cursors, inverted colors, and readable fonts.
Benefits of Achieving Web Accessibility Compliance
Achieving website accessibility compliance offers numerous benefits, including:
- Risk Mitigation: Meeting accessibility standards helps lower legal risks, including potential lawsuits, reputational damage, and fees associated with non-compliance.
- Better User Interface: Accessibility features enable equal participation for individuals with disabilities, leading to improved brand perception, repeat business, and brand loyalty. Widgets like Accessibly can instantly improve your user interface and enhance your visual presentation with larger cursors, reading lines, captioning for video content, and much more.
- Accessibility and SEO: Accessibility best practices improve website performance, leading to higher search engine rankings and increased organic traffic.
Accessibly’s Comprehensive Solutions for Web Accessibility Compliance
One effective way to improve website accessibility compliance is by using the Accessibly widget, which offers several features to improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Accessibly’s website also provides helpful insights and resources, including guidance on email accessibility and AODA compliance.
How to Ensure Ongoing Accessibility Compliance
Here are three methods to ensure ongoing accessibility compliance:
- Regular Auditing. Conduct regular audits to identify and address accessibility barriers on your website or other communication technology like screen reader software and automated tools.
- User Feedback. Engage in ongoing training, seek user feedback, and collaborate with advocacy groups to address accessibility concerns.
- Use Widgets Like Accessibly. Utilize widgets like Accessibly to quickly implement website accessibility features and improve the user experience for individuals with disabilities. With 98% of websites not complying with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1, you’ll already be ahead of the curve.
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