5 Best Website ADA Compliance Practices

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5 Best Website ADA Compliance
Practices

Technology is constantly evolving, and the world
wide web is technically a public space and falls under some rules and
regulations.

One of these regulations is the Americans with
Disability Act (ADA), which, in summary, states that as a website creator, you
must provide a website that is easily accessible to all potential customers.
This means keeping your website from accessibility problems that your users may
encounter.

The Website Content Accessibility Guidelines
(WCAG) have three levels: A, AA, and AAA, all different levels of ADA
compliance. Level A is the minimum; AA is the mid-range level; AAA is the
highest level.



According to Audioeye, a website that is not
disability-friendly “increases the legal exposure to a potential
accessibility lawsuit.” Thus, use a free ADA compliance checker to scan your
website for the needed ADA compliance. The following are five ADA website
compliance practices to implement on your website.

 

1.   
Add Alternative Text for Images

Individuals with visual impairment depend on
screen readers to read content on your website. Screen readers can understand
all the HTML text available on the page. However, they can’t detect images. So,
adding a simple but compelling line of image alt text in your HTML code will
help the screen reader explain the meaning of the image to your site visitors.
Alternative text is among the primary elements of content designing and
creation.

 

2.   
Use Fonts That Are Easy to Read

Throughout your website, avoid overly stylized
fonts such as Brush Script or Ballers Delight. Currently, there is no
particular requirement for choosing accessible fonts. However, easy-to-read and
ADA-friendly fonts include Helvetica, Verdana, Calibri, Arial, Tahoma, and
Bookman-Old Style. These fonts are simple and have no frills.

Although there is no minimum font size for
website use, experts recommend setting the size between 12px and 16px and
ensuring sufficient color contrast between the text and the background. Also,
avoid poor color combinations between the text and background.

 

3.   
Support Keyboard Navigation

Your users should be able to navigate the entire
website using the tab key because some may be unable to use a mouse. Thus,
every navigational item should have a focus indicator so you can determine
where you are as you continue tabbing through it. As you design the site,
consider how you want this to look. These are not the same as click states and
hover states, although it is essential to develop all of them simultaneously.

 

4.   
Use Sufficient Color Contrast

Color contrast, simply put, is how well colors
differentiate from each other. If the colors associated with menu buttons are
not distinct from the surrounding colors, it can be difficult for individuals
with disabilities to distinguish them, making it difficult to use them.

Using sufficient contrast of colors makes your
website content sharp enough for an individual with poor vision to read with
ease.

 

5.   
Create Transcripts for Audio and
Video Content

Your website needs to offer equal access to
information for users with various disabilities. Transcripts describing the
audio and video content and providing closed-captioning on the website help
users with hearing and visual disabilities to engage with your web content.
Remove any videos that auto-play and let your users determine when to interact
with your videos.

It is crucial to remain up-to-date on web content
accessibility standards that continue changing as new technologies emerge. ADA
compliance helps you reach a wider audience and improve your search engine
results, giving you an edge over the competition.

 

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