Is your WordPress website accessible to everyone? The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandates that businesses provide equal access to people with disabilities, including the digital realm. This means ensuring your website is ADA compliant. While it might seem daunting, understanding the basics can be the first step to making your website inclusive.
From government agencies to private individuals, anyone can assert that a website is inaccessible and potentially face legal repercussions. Common accessibility issues include poor color contrast, missing alternative text for images,difficulty navigating with a keyboard, and lack of clear headings. These obstacles can significantly hinder the experience of users with visual, auditory, or motor impairments.
Ensuring your website is ADA compliant not only helps you reach a wider audience but also keeps you aligned with legal requirements. Let’s delve into what it takes to make your WordPress website accessible to everyone.
Understanding ADA Compliance
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandates that all public spaces, including websites, must be accessible to individuals with disabilities. ADA compliance for websites means making your online content accessible to everyone, regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities. This includes providing alternatives for visual and auditory content, ensuring easy navigation, and more.
Developing an ADA Compliance Strategy for Your Website
Make your website more accessible today! Business owners and their website developer and/or their SEO consultant can implement a simple ADA compliance strategy for your WordPress website: evaluate your site, fix issues, and install an ADA plugin. Here’s an three-step ADA compliance strategy to get started:
1. Use WAVE to Run an Evaluation
Begin by using the WAVE Accessibility Evaluation Tool. This free tool allows you to check your website for accessibility issues. Simply enter your website URL, and WAVE will provide a detailed report highlighting areas that need improvement.
2. Fix Identified Issues
After running the WAVE evaluation, focus on addressing as many issues as possible. Common problems include missing alt text for images, poor color contrast, and lack of proper headings. Prioritize fixes that improve the user experience for people with disabilities, such as adding alt text, adjusting color contrast, and ensuring your site is navigable via keyboard.
3. Install the Free Version of UserWay
To further enhance your website’s accessibility, install the free version of the UserWay WordPress plugin. This plugin offers various features, such as screen reader support and keyboard navigation enhancements. Here’s how to configure it:
- Go to your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Plugins, and search for UserWay.
- Install and activate the plugin.
- Follow the setup wizard to customize the accessibility options according to your site’s needs.
Additional ADA Compliance Considerations
While the free version of UserWay provides essential accessibility features, consider investing in the paid versions of UserWay or other ADA compliance tools for more comprehensive solutions. However, for many small business owners, this might not be financially feasible.
In conclusion, starting with WAVE and the free UserWay plugin can significantly improve your website’s accessibility, helping you create a more inclusive online environment.