What is Accessibility?
TL;DR
Making your website usable by people with disabilities, visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive. This includes proper Alt Text, keyboard navigation, sufficient color contrast, and screen reader compatibility. Accessibility is both ethical and legally required in many cases (see WCAG). It also improves Search Engine Optimization and general User Experience.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Accessibility
Why does website accessibility matter for my business?
About 15-20% of people have some disability. That's a significant portion of potential customers you might exclude. Accessibility also helps SEO, improves UX for everyone, and protects you from lawsuits, ADA web accessibility lawsuits are common and expensive.
What are the most common accessibility issues?
Missing alt text on images, poor color contrast (hard to read), forms without labels, no keyboard navigation, videos without captions, and complex layouts that confuse screen readers. Most issues are easy to fix once identified.
Can I get sued for having an inaccessible website?
Yes. ADA web accessibility lawsuits have increased dramatically, especially against businesses with physical locations. Settlements typically cost $10-50K plus legal fees. Proactive accessibility is cheaper than reactive legal defense.
How do I check if my website is accessible?
Use free tools like WAVE or axe DevTools to scan for issues. Try navigating your site using only a keyboard. Test with a screen reader. Or hire an accessibility audit. Don't rely solely on automated tools, they miss context-dependent issues.
Terms Related to Accessibility
Alt Text
Descriptive text added to images that tells search engines (and screen readers) what an image shows. Good alt text is sp...
Read definition Web DesignUser Experience
The overall experience a user has when interacting with a website or application, encompassing usability, Accessibility,...
Read definition Web DesignWCAG
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, the international standard for web Accessibility. WCAG levels are A (minimum), AA...
Read definition Web DesignA/B Testing
Comparing two versions of a webpage to see which performs better. You show version A to half your visitors and version B...
Read definition Web DesignAbove the Fold
The portion of a webpage visible without scrolling. Critical content, headlines, and Call To Actions should appear above...
Read definition Web DesignCall to Action
An element prompting visitors to take a specific action, "Call Now," "Get a Free Quote," "Schedule Appointment." Effecti...
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