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In today’s world, more is done digitally than ever. Your clients can now access forms, investment portfolios and other items on your website to conduct their business. However, do you know if a disabled person could use your website? If not, you could potentially miss out on helping an underserved population and standing out from your competition.
UseableNet states that two percent of banking and financial companies faced legal action for failing to provide accessible platforms in 2019. Fortunately, your company can easily remedy this and take steps to correct accessibility concerns.
The top five web accessibility concerns are:
1. Insufficient color contrast.
Font and background color combinations with low contrast can be challenging to see for anyone with a visual impairment. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines require a contrast ratio 4.5 to 1 for normal text, and 3 to 1 for large text. Large text is defined as 14 point and bold.
2. Inadequate keyboard access and visual focus indicator.
browsers show a visible outline, like a blue or dotted line around a content element that has keyboard focus which is an important feature for web accessibility. If your site lacks effective navigation through the keyboard, individuals with motor disabilities and blind and screen magnification users will have difficulty using it. They rely on a keyboard because they may not have the ability to pinpoint a highlighted selection with precision or see what the mouse has selected on the screen. Keyboard focus makes highlighted items visible when you use the tab key to navigate.
Accessible websites enable people to access all content and functionality (e.g., links, forms, media controls) through a keyboard. Visual indicators inform keyboard users of their location on the page.
3. Missing or poor alternative text on images.
Images without descriptions are meaningless if you can’t see them. Pictures, graphics and images need captions so all users get the same information.
4. Meaningless link text.
Those using screen readers, software programs that read text aloud, often move around a web page by headings or tabbing, skimming information in between. This allows for more efficient maneuvering around the page. Meaningful links allow one to navigate the page with less complication. Links should not be ambiguous and should give a clear understanding of what the link is. Additional link text can be added via attributes that are specific to screen readers.
5. Illegible resized text.
Many visually impaired people increase font size to better read web text. This often leads to a loss of important information, or information overlaps. The information viewed on a page should flow, and the browser should allow for resizing of font.
Compliance with WCAG allows more people to access your platforms and expands your market. A pervasive gap exists with accessibility and digital platforms, but creating sites and apps with built-in accessibility resolves the issue. Being digitally accessible means your business can tap an underserved market. According to Melissa Eggleston on Content Marketing Institute, “For now, being a leader on accessibility benefits you by broadening your reach to as many people as possible. Who doesn’t want more people consuming their content?”
Composed of professionals with vision loss, Outlook Business Solutions provides accessibility testing for organizations and companies. Skilled technicians – people with disabilities – test various aspects of your online/digital platforms and provide suggestions you can implement to ensure your content meets with ADA and WCAG guidelines. We can help you make sure your website can be used by the disabled, giving you an opportunity to expand your client base. Visit our accessibility services page to learn more.