By resolving to make web accessibility your top resolution this year, you'll increase your legal compliance, reach a wider audience, improve user experience, and even benefit your taxes!
We're at that time of year again when resolutions flood our minds and social media feeds. We vow to eat healthier, exercise more, and finally learn that elusive new skill. Yet, statistics show that around two-thirds of us abandon our resolutions by February. So why do we set ourselves up for failure year after year?
Often, resolutions fail because they're vague, overly ambitious, or lack a solid plan. For example, some people make resolutions to "get in shape" without a specific exercise routine or healthy eating regime. But what if there was a resolution that wasn't just achievable, but also incredibly impactful? Enter web accessibility.
What is web accessibility?
Simply put, web accessibility ensures that everyone, regardless of ability, can access and interact with your website. This includes people with disabilities such as blindness, deafness, cognitive impairments, and motor limitations. Thus, accessibility is tremendously impactful, and as we'll see it's definitely achievable if you make a specific plan.
Why is web accessibility necessary (and required)?
Making your website accessible isn't just a good deed; it's a legal requirement in many countries. In the US, for example, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to all public accommodations, including websites. Since it’s a legal requirement, there are plenty of sharks (ie lawyers) circling in the water to make sure you’re following all the rules. You can learn more about this in our Sharks in the Water series.
Beyond legal obligations, though, accessibility opens your business up to a wider audience, improves user experience, and boosts brand reputation. It’s likely that tackling your website accessibility will help you reach all your other goals for your business.
Getting into compliance and staying there is easier than you think!
The good news is that initial compliance is surprisingly simple. We can take care of most of the technical work for you, ensuring your website meets WCAG 2.1 (or the newly-released WCAG 2.2, if you’d prefer) accessibility standards. This includes features like alt text for images, bold color contrast for high visibility, keyboard navigation, and screen reader compatibility.
We can evaluate your site for all these issues and a host of other ones with a comprehensive accessibility audit. Even better, you can set up an accessibility-focused retainer with us to chip away at outstanding accessibility issues on your site, so you don’t have to deal with a huge bill right away to fix it all. Working at it over time demonstrates to your visitors (and the sharks) that you are committed to accessibility, and inch by inch it’s a cinch.
Maintaining compliance is also manageable. We'll provide you with the knowledge and resources needed to understand accessibility best practices and integrate them into your workflow. Think of it as learning a new skill that benefits everyone involved. Furthermore, we’ll set you up with accessibility monitoring to make sure that you know if unintended accessibility problems crop up as you add content and updates to your site.
And the cherry on top? You can actually get a financial incentive for making your website accessible. In the US, businesses can claim a tax credit of up to 50% of the expenses incurred in making their websites accessible.
So, why not make web accessibility your top resolution for the new year?
It's a win-win situation. You'll be doing your part to make the web a more inclusive space, expand your reach, and improve your brand image, all while potentially securing valuable tax savings. With our help, making your website accessible is easier than ever before.
