A website is more than just an online presence — it’s a gateway to your business. However, you could lock out a significant portion of potential customers if your site isn’t accessible to everyone. That’s where website accessibility comes into play. For businesses embracing accessibility isn’t just about compliance; it’s about inclusivity, expanding your customer base, and enhancing your brand reputation.
What is Website Accessibility?
Website accessibility refers to the practice of ensuring that your website is usable by everyone, including people with disabilities. This involves designing and developing your site so individuals with visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairments can access and interact with the content.
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) have been developed to provide a single shared standard for web content accessibility that meets the needs of individuals, organizations, and governments internationally.
Why Does It Matter?
Inclusivity and Ethics: Accessibility is about making your business welcoming to everyone, including the nearly 1 in 4 people in Canada and the USA who live with a disability. It’s about providing an equal opportunity for all users to engage with your brand, access your services, and make purchases.
Legal Compliance: Due to the increased internet usage, many countries have incorporated web accessibility into existing civil rights legislation that protects people with disabilities or have created new legislation. In both Canada and the USA, there are legal requirements for website accessibility. In the USA, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandates that businesses must provide accessible websites. Similarly, Canada has the Accessible Canada Act (ACA) and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Non-compliance can lead to legal actions, fines, and a damaged reputation.
Enhanced User Experience: An accessible website improves the overall user experience for all visitors. Features like larger text, high-contrast design, and keyboard navigation are useful for everyone, not just those with disabilities.
SEO Benefits: Search engines favour accessible websites. By making your site more accessible, you can improve your search engine rankings, attract more traffic, and ultimately, generate more leads and sales.
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Why Businesses Should Invest in Web Accessibility
Everyone should be able to access your website , regardless of ability! But if that is not enough, you should also consider the following:
Avoid Legal Risks and Penalties
As mentioned earlier, non-compliance with accessibility laws can result in costly lawsuits, fines, and a tarnished reputation. By investing in accessibility solutions, you safeguard your business from these legal risks. The cost of the service is minimal compared to potential legal fees and the damage to your brand’s image.
Broaden Your Customer Base
When your website is accessible, you open your doors to a broader audience. The purchasing power of people with disabilities in Canada and the USA is substantial. By making your website inclusive, you’re not just doing the right thing ethically — you’re also making a smart business decision by tapping into a larger market.
Boost Your Brand’s Reputation
Consumers today are increasingly aware of and concerned with social responsibility. By prioritizing accessibility, you show that your business values inclusivity and cares about all customers. This enhances your brand’s reputation and can lead to increased customer loyalty and positive word‑of‑mouth.
Improve SEO and Online Visibility
Google and other search engines prioritize websites that offer a great user experience. An accessible website often performs better in search rankings, helping you attract more organic traffic. The result? More visibility, more leads, and more sales.
Enhance User Experience for Everyone
Many of the features that make a website accessible are beneficial for all users, not just those with disabilities. By improving navigation, readability, and overall usability, you create a better experience for every visitor to your site, which can lead to higher engagement and conversion rates.
Leading AI Solutions for Web Accessibility Compliance
We live our lives online. It’s where we read the news, order groceries, connect with people, and do business. But 24% of the population has disabilities that exclude them from using it. Our goal is to help make the online world inclusive.
Solutions for ADA, AODA, and EAA Compliance, Based on WCAG
The accessWidget is a game-changer in web accessibility, simplifying and streamlining the process of becoming accessible and compliant using AI, machine learning, and computer vision. It utilizes two applications that work together to remediate your website. The accessibility interface is responsible for the UI and design-related adjustments, while the AI-powered process handles the complex requirements — optimization for screen readers and keyboard navigation.
Cost-Effective and Scalable Solution
The accessWidget offers a cost-effective solution for small businesses. The monthly or yearly plans are designed to fit different budgets, and the widget scales with your business as it grows.
Your customers are online, your business needs to be too