The ADA is an American law that requires websites to be easily accessible and user-friendly for everyone, even for people living with disabilities. The law generally states that a website should be able to cater to all manner of disabilities, be it the deaf, blind, and any other groups of people that would need specialized assistance to access a website.
Additionally, not all people use standard browsers such as Google and Mozilla. Some people use audio scanners or text readers to achieve the same information that people that have no disabilities consume. While 100% compliance may be difficult to achieve, the following ways can help in making sure that a website is accessible and caters to the needs of people living with disabilities.
Work With an ADA Company or Agency
Most web developers are clueless when it comes to ADA. Mention that word, and you’ll probably be met with a stare. However, this doesn’t mean that there’s a shortage of web developers that can design ADA compliant websites. You should start by outlining the needs of your WordPress site and find an agency that specializes in your area of interest. If possible, contact some of the clients listed in the portfolio section of their website for verification.
Review Guidelines Using Web wave
The website content accessibility guidelines outline how to make an ADA-compliant website. Review the WCAG guidelines and audit your site using Google’s Web wave tool to determine the current state of the website. The web wave tool will give insights into any accessibility issues that your site might be having. If there are any issues to be rectified, contact a professional web developer for a perfect WordPress ADA compliance solution.
Ensure Images Have Descriptive Alt Tags
Alt tags come in handy when using screen readers. They should accompany the photos on your website as visually impaired people use the alt tags to understand the photos. When an image cannot be loaded, alt tags should take its place. Moreover, alt tags give a better description to crawlers and search engines for better indexing. Even when your site has the alt tags, ensure they’re properly optimized for SEO.
Review the Elements and Styles of Your Site
The interface of your site should be easy to navigate. Images and text should be strategically placed within the interface to avoid inconveniencing the visually impaired. With a professionally done and ADA-compliant WordPress website, your site will have a higher chance to convert the potential client to customers.
Use an ADA-Compliant Plugin
When developing a WP website, installing a WordPress accessibility plugin helps fix ADA compliance issues. Additionally, it adds skip links and enhances alt attributes to your site’s photos.
Since the internet has become part and parcel of our everyday life, achieving ADA compliance for your website is prudent for the ultimate goal of your business, which is the conversion of more clients. Besides, ADA compliance has become a mandatory requirement for people wishing to run dynamic and converting websites. Contact a professional web developer to have your site’s ADA compliance issues fixed.
