ADA Compliant Websites
Incorporate WCAG 2.0 recommendations for better website accessibility.
What is website accessibility?
Website accessibility ensures that there are no barriers preventing users from interacting with or accessing the content on your websites. When websites are designed for accessibility, they present all users with equal access in terms of information and functionality regardless of physical or mental abilities.
- Visual ImpairmentsThis can include including blindness, poor eyesight, and various forms of color blindness.
- Motor ImpairmentsDifficulty using the hands, including both tremors and slowness due to such conditions as Parkinson’s, cerebral palsy, or stroke.
- Hearing ImpairmentThis includes deafness and partial hearing loss.
- Cognitive ImpairmentFor those with developmental disabilities or learning disabilities that affect memory, attention, problem-solving, and logic.
- SeizuresEpileptic seizures that are triggered by strobing or flashing effects.
“As a health care provider, Heart City Health knows the importance of making our website accessible to those that are challenged with hearing, vision or physical capabilities.”
3 Levels of Website Accessibility
Level A
This is required for any website to be compliant with the WCAG 2.0 guidelines.
- Provide text alternatives for all non-text content.
- Provide an alternative for video-only and audio-only content.
- Provide captions for all videos with sound.
- Provide a second alternative for video with audio.
- Logical structure.
- Present content in a meaningful order.
- Use more than one sense for instructions.
- Don’t rely on color for presentation
- Don’t play audio automatically
- Must be accessible by keyboard only.
- Must not rely on the keyboard for inputs.
- Time limits have user controls.
- Provide user controls for moving content.
- No content flashes more than 3 times per second.
- Provide a “skip to content” link.
- Use helpful and clear page titles.
- Logical order.
- Every link’s purpose is clear from its context.
- Page has a language assigned
- Elements do not change when they receive focus
- Elements do not change when they receive input.
- Clearly identify input errors.
- Label elements and give instructions.
Level AA
This level builds on Level A, so in order to meet the standard of Level AA, Level A has to be in effect.
- Live videos have captions.
- Users have access to audio description for video content
- The contrast ratio between text and background is at least 4.5:1
- Text can be resized to 200% without loss of content or function
- Don’t use images of text
- Offer several ways to navigate to different pages
- Use clear headings and labels
- Ensure keyboard focus is visible and clear
- Tell users when the language on a page changes
- Use menus consistently
- Use icons and buttons consistently
- Suggest fixes when users make errors
- Reduce the risk of input errors for sensitive data
Level AAA
Assumes Level A and Level AA has already been met.
- Provide sign language translations for videos
- Provide extended audio description for videos
- Provide a text alternative to videos
- Provide alternatives for live audio
- Contrast ratio between text and background is at least 7:1
- Audio is clear for listeners to hear
- Offer users a range of presentation options
- Don’t use images of text
- Accessible by keyboard only, without exception
- No time limits
- Don’t interrupt users
- Save user data when re-authenticating
- No content flashes more than three times per second
- Let users know where they are
- Every link’s purpose is clear from its text
- Break up content with headings
- Explain any strange words
- Explain any abbreviations
- Users with nine years of school can read your content
- Explain any words that are hard to pronounce
- Don’t change elements on your website until users ask
- Provide detailed help and instructions
- Reduce the risk of all input errors
Understanding Web Accessibility Regulations
Guidelines for web accessibility were first drafted in 1999 by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). Those these guidelines are not backed by law, they are the standards most countries use to define site accessibility.pot.
Bars the Federal Government from procuring electronic and information technology that is not fully accessible to those with disabilities, including web design
To date, the ADA language does not directly address ADA compliant websites. However, it has been used in court cases and rulings to state that communication with persons with disabilities must be “as effective as communications with others.” The Department of Justice had announced plans to update the language of the ADA in 2018, but those updates have been delayed. However, that has not stopped them from taking action against websites that are not in compliance with WCAG 2.0.
Provides a “free appropriate public education” for all children with disabilities. A failure to allow web accessibility for disabled students may have consequences for local education agencies.
Request a Website Accessibility Report
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- 20+ years of experience in website design and development.
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