Are you making sure your site provides website accessibility for all viewers? This also includes those with visual disabilities. If not, you could be missing out on potential clients who find it difficult or impossible to navigate through your site.
Why does website accessibility matter?
Website accessibility refers to the practice of designing and developing websites that can be used by people with disabilities, including visual impairments. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 2.2 billion people worldwide have vision impairment or blindness. By making your website accessible, you can ensure that all viewers, regardless of their visual abilities, can easily access your content and services.
Website accessibility is not only essential for meeting the needs of your potential clients; it’s also crucial for legal compliance. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that businesses make their websites accessible to people with disabilities, and failure to comply with this law can result in legal action and penalties. (This is actually something most people aren’t aware of!)
Here are some tips on how to make your website more accessible:
Install a website accessibility tool
One easy way to make your website accessible is to install a website accessibility tool, such as the WordPress plugin One Click Accessibility. This plugin provides a range of accessibility features, including the ability to add skip links, adjust the font size and color contrast, enable keyboard navigation, and much more.
Use legible fonts
When choosing fonts for your website, make sure they are legible and easy to read. Avoid using decorative fonts or any fonts with low contrast, as they can make it difficult for viewers with visual impairments to read your content.
Prioritize color selections
The color scheme of your website is crucial for accessibility. Choose colors that have a high contrast ratio to ensure that all viewers can distinguish between text and background. You can use online tools like WebAIM’s Color Contrast Checker to test your color selections.
Use image alt tags
Adding alt tags to your images can help viewers with visual impairments understand the content of your site. Alt tags are descriptions of images that are read aloud by screen readers. By including descriptive alt tags, you can ensure that all viewers can understand the images on your site. Alt tags are also great for SEO!
Remember, having a functional website that serves your ideal clients is more than just throwing together pretty fonts and colors; it’s about creating an inclusive online space where everyone can access your content and services. So let’s make our websites more accessible and welcoming for all!
To sum things up, here’s how you can provide website accessibility:
- Install the One Click Accessibility plugin.
- Use legible fonts.
- Prioritize color selections.
- Use image alt tags.
What questions do you have about this topic? Drop them below!
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