The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is an important civil rights law prohibiting discrimination based on disability. The ADA guidelines apply to websites because 16% of the population — over one billion people — cannot access content if it is not ADA-compliant.
Due to this, these guidelines are updated once in a while to accommodate those with limited abilities. Creating websites that everybody can access not only improves your content’s reach but also accommodates a wider audience.
Imagine throwing a digital party where everybody feels included. That makes you a fantastic host who ensures everyone has a good time!
This may leave you wondering, is my website ADA compliant? Let’s look into accessibility checks to know what you’re missing!
What Is ADA Compliance?
ADA compliance is the adherence of digital content and websites to the American with Disabilities Act. This means that individuals with disabilities should access digital spaces with ease.
With the help of website accessibility standards, ADA rules and regulations make sure that websites are compliant. These guidelines are created to monitor the accessibility rules of the online world. For example, your website needs to have color contrast to accommodate people with poor eyesight.
Similarly, other accessibility checks for the functionality and practicality of your websites make sure that your content is easily accessible without forming restrictive barriers for those with disabilities. Complying with ADA standards also makes websites avoid lawsuits.
When Is a Website Considered ADA Compliant?
A website is considered to be ADA-compliant when it conforms to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) at Level AA.
Since ADA itself does not have specific guidelines for a website, compliance is measured by a website’s adherence to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
The WCAG guidelines make your web content accessible to a broader audience with visual, physical, speech, cognitive, language, learning, auditory, and other neurological disabilities.
The three levels for conformance are Level A (minimum level), Level AA, and Level AAA. Your website should conform to Level AA, which addresses the most common barriers.
What Makes a Website ADA Compliant?
The WCAG has detailed documentation for the new online approaches to accessibility. However, it does narrow down these approaches into four primary principles which are perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust (POUR).
So the next time you ask yourself, is my website ADA compliant, look into these four principles to know better!
1. Perceivable
Perceivable means that users who access information on your website can perceive it easily. The information available on your website should include text descriptions, alt texts, captions, audio versions of content, etc. These features help people with disabilities navigate your website easily.
2. Operable
Operable refers to the user interface and navigation of your website. If users with disabilities cannot navigate your website, it does not comply with ADA.
For example, the available content should be compatible with keyboard-only setups. Users should not be timed out of your website from reading directions or using specific tools.
3. Understandable
Applying this principle means that the information on your website should be easy to understand. Readable text with color contrast, clear and concise paragraphs, and easy to understand instructions are all part of this principle. Users should be able to understand the web menus and other tools with ease.
4. Robust
Robust means that users can access your content with assistive technology. For example, screen readers can use software programs that can convert the displayed text into speech or braille.
This helps people with visual impairments. Therefore, the content on your website should be compatible with the current assistive tools.
Most Common Accessibility Issues
You have to make sure that your website does not make anyone feel left behind. The information should be accessible by all, including those with disabilities.
Many websites face common accessibility issues that keep their website from being user-friendly and inclusive.
Using an ADA compliance website checker can identify such issues and help web developers resolve them to meet ADA requirements. Here are some common accessibility issues.
Lack of Alternative Text for Images
This common accessibility issue may not seem like a big deal to you at first. Now imagine accessing content such as a guide for resolving a problem.
Consider opening a website to read a blog such as ‘how to install windows.’ If the available content on the website features images of steps but they lack text descriptions, visually impaired users are going to feel left out.
This hindrance keeps your website from being ADA-compliant. Most websites fail to provide alternative text descriptions for images and videos, making the content inaccessible to visually impaired or deaf individuals.
Poor Color Contrast
Another common accessibility issue is poor color contrast between the background and the text, which makes it difficult for users with low vision to read the content. People with color blindness also face the same problem.
Poor Navigation
Poor navigation brings many challenges. For example, users with motor disabilities cannot interact with your content if the complex menus are not keyboard accessible.
An ADA compliance checklist for websites makes sure that a website addresses such issues to make the content available to everyone.
Make Your Website ADA Compliant With These 10 Accessibility Checks | A Complete Guide
Actively addressing the common accessibility issues can help build a strong online presence. This stands true for your website if you’re welcoming to all users.
With these ten accessibility checks from the ADA compliance checklist for websites, you can align your website with ADA standards and build a more inclusive digital space!
1. Keyboard Navigation
People with motor disabilities have difficulty navigating a website if it doesn’t allow keyboard navigation. This aspect places keyboard navigation at the top of an ADA compliance checklist for websites.
You have to make all the elements of your web content accessible to users via the keyboard. Each part of the website should be reachable with the keys.
If users want to perform a specific action, they should be able to do so with certain keys. For example, many websites allow users to submit forms with the Enter key.
When you design a website with the keyboard users in mind, it aligns your website content with the web accessibility standards too.
While designing, keep the interactive elements in mind such as links, buttons, and forms. Make sure that keyboard users can navigate the site using the Tab and Space keys.
Activate button and links with Enter or Space keys. Simplifying such interactive elements does not only help you increase your reach but also assists users.
2. Text Alternatives for Non-text Content
Text alternatives for non-text content means providing a detailed text description for images, icons, videos, and multimedia.
About 2.2 billion people in the world have a near or distance vision impairment. This significant number highlights the importance of providing accessible information on your website.
Users with screen readers are better able to interpret the content on your website through alt text. The alt text must be accurate, it should describe the function, and must not be redundant.
3. Color Contrast
ADA compliance checklist for websites also highlights the importance of color contrast. This important accessibility check refers to color contrast and choice.
While ADA does not provide a specific color palette, it does give you guidelines for creating accessible design. For example, web designers have to choose a strong contrast between the text and background to enhance readability for users with visual impairments such as color blindness.
The requirement for WCAG contrast ratio is 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text. These ratios imply that the content must have a distinct difference between the colors and brightness of the text and the background.
Think about a webpage with a dark blue background and white text. The striking contrast makes it easier for users to read.
On the other hand, picture a website with a yellow background with gray text. This low contrast ratio would make it difficult for many users with color vision deficiency to read the text with ease.
Such designs fall short of the ADA recommended contrast ratios. If your website aligns with the color contrast accessibility check, your content is good to go.
4. Resizable Text
Resizable text is another important accessibility check. Your website should have text that users can resize up to 200% without the content losing its functionality.
Now you may wonder who is this important for? People with low vision can benefit from this feature. They can better access your content by zooming in.
5. Use of Semantic HTML
What exactly is semantic HTML? Semantic HTML elements describe the meaning in a human and machine-readable way.
For example, elements such as <header>, <footer>, <article>, and <main> explain the structure of your website to screen readers and assistive technologies.
This important accessibility check makes your website’s structure more navigable as all the headings are nested correctly, such as H1, H2, H3, etc, which makes it easier to understand the content hierarchy.
6. Accessible Forms
ADA compliance checklist for websites also emphasizes accessible forms. This refers to form elements such as checkboxes, text fields, and buttons having instructions and labels.
The labels help screen readers identify and convert necessary information to visually impaired users. For example, think about filling out a contact form on a website.
A blind user using a screen reader would not be able to identify what field requires information. Therefore, labels are important for screen readers.
For example, if a form has clear labels such as First Name: [blank], Last Name: [blank], Email Address: [blank], it becomes possible for the screen reader to communicate so the person knows what information is required in each field.
7. Video and Audio Transcripts
Video and audio transcripts are important features to boost a website’s accessibility. If your website has video or audio content, it must have text transcripts and captions to help users with auditory deficiencies. The captions should well-synchronize with the video and audio.
8. Focus Indicators
Focus indicators are visual cues that play an important role in assisting users in navigating a website through a keyboard.
A focus indicator highlights the currently active or focused element on the web page. For example, it highlights where the keyboard focus is.
This is beneficial for assistive technologies as they can identify and interact with elements. The focus indicators must be clear for elements such as buttons, links, and form fields to boost web accessibility.
9. Avoid Automatic Content Changes
ADA compliance checklist for websites strictly regulates the content, such as pop-ups and auto-plays. Sliders, pop-ups, and auto-play content can disorient people with disabilities. Such features are difficult to interpret.
While avoiding them is the best practice, if they are of absolute importance on your website, then you must provide controls to stop, pause, or adjust the timing of these changes. In default settings, it becomes difficult to navigate and interpret automatic content changes.
10. Accessible Error Identification
Your website should display error messages clearly. When errors arise in interactive elements, they should provide clear instructions for corrections.
Overly technical language can deter many users with disabilities. This can affect your website’s reach. This accessibility check is not only beneficial for your website but also for users that access your content.
You can use ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) to improve screen reader interpretation for such error messages.
Accessibility Checks With Tools and Best Practices
Before you learn the best practices of boosting web accessibility, let’s become familiar with a website accessibility checker.
A website accessibility checker is going to become your best friend when it comes to designing websites that are ADA compliant.
An ADA compliance website checker assesses a website for accessibility standards such as Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). This checker scans the website for accessibility issues.
For example, if your website misses alternative text for pictures or has improper structure, insufficient color contrast, a website accessibility checker will highlight these areas.
Flagging the content that does not comply with accessibility standards helps you identify and resolve the problems.
You can make the required adjustments to ensure your website becomes ADA-compliant. So the next time you find yourself thinking, is my website ADA compliant, make use of accessibility checkers!
Top Accessibility Testing Tools
Keeping an eye on the accessibility checks is easier than ever. An efficient ADA compliance website checker will keep your website and content on track.
Let’s look into some of the best accessibility testing tools.
1. Accessibility Spark
Accessibility Spark is made for analyzing your website through AI and machine learning to remediate the accessibility violations in elements. This app helps create a website that provides a good experience to everyone, regardless of their abilities.
Accessibility Spark conducts quick scans of your website to monitor ADA compliance. It addresses new content, forms, images, videos, widgets, and other elements. The implementation and setup process takes just about five minutes.
After running a scan, this app provides an accessibility statement and a performance certification which confirms that your site is ADA compliant. Within a few hours, your website can be up and running without the fear of lawsuits as it automatically adjusts all the accessibility issues that pop-up.
2. WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool)
WAVE is another excellent website accessibility checker that provides detailed visual feedback of your web pages, making it easy for you to spot the accessibility issues. It has a user-friendly interface.
So even if you lack technical knowledge about how these programs run, worry not. WAVE can address the accessibility problems for you. The free browser extension makes it available to many users.
3. aXe (Accessibility Engine)
aXe, an open-source accessibility engine, is another beneficial website accessibility checker that integrates with Chrome and Firefox. Web developers find Axe pretty useful for gathering technical feedback.
The automated testing for WCAG guidelines allow aXe to look into web accessibility and compliance. You can also customize aXe to fit your needs. However, aXe is relatively more technical so it may be less user-friendly to non-developers.
4. Google Lighthouse
Google Lighthouse, an open-source tool from Google features automated tests that improve your website’s quality. It has audits for performance, SEO, and accessibility.
The accessibility audit follows WCAG guidelines, so it can provide deep insights into accessibility issues.
Since Google Lighthouse focuses on more aspects of web performance, it may not be the most reliable option for comprehensive accessibility testing. However, it surely is a dedicated tool serving its purpose.
Best Practices in Accessibility Testing
Web developers aim to reduce design flaws that make content inaccessible to people relying on assistive technology.
Some of the best practices in accessibility testing allow developers to correct the design flaws, enhance traffic to their websites, and create a welcoming environment for all users.
Here are some of the best industry practices in accessibility testing.
1. Utilize Automated Testing Tools
Automated testing tools, such as the website accessibility checkers that we discussed previously, can make a major difference.
These automated tools not only identify design flaws causing accessibility issues but also fix them. For example, they provide alt text and correct heading structures. However, the best practice would be to not always rely on automation.
Manual testing after an automated tool highlights the issues can prove more beneficial as you’re able to better evaluate the problems.
2. Conduct Manual Testing
Manual testing requires you to get input from people interacting with your website. This highlights issues that automation might miss.
Automation cannot always highlight the problems users experience. Therefore, one of the best practices for accessibility testing requires using screen readers, navigating through the keyboard, checking for focus indicators, etc.
This practice makes your website more accessible in the sense that you practically tick off real-world scenarios.
3. Test With Diverse User Groups
If we know one thing from website and product designs, it is that feedback is really important. Using real-world feedback will get you in places automation cannot.
For example, automation might miss out on certain problems that users face due to cognitive impairments.
When you involve people with different disabilities, you can better assess the flaws. Fixing them and focusing on feedback would make your website ADA-compliant and really accessible.
4. Follow an Accessibility Checklist
An ADA compliance checklist for websites is like your roadmap. It guides you every step of the way.
Look into the accessibility checks and double-check them on your website to see what you’re missing.
When you make sure that your website has everything the accessibility checklist mentions, you’ve nothing to worry about!
5. Regularly Update and Retest Your Website
Accessibility testing should always be an ongoing process. Fixing newly identified issues keeps your website accessible and ADA-compliant as you add new content or features.
What Type of Disabilities Should You Include in Your Testing?
Focusing on factors that restrict users from accessing and using a website can help you design better. Once you become familiar with the problems, you can start developing a website by keeping a checklist in your mind.
As the internet is an inherently visual place, you must start by focusing on visual disabilities. Blindness, low vision, or color vision deficiencies are some disabilities that keep a wide range of audience from interacting with your website.
Websites also require user interaction through elements such as links and forms. People with motor disabilities experience a setback here.
Here is a broad category of disabilities you should keep in mind when designing your website and checking it for accessibility.
- Vision
- Hearing
- Manual dexterity (unable to use a mouse)
- Speech and voice-related
- Mobility
- Cognitive (dyslexia and autism)
Wrap Up
Is my website ADA compliant is a question every web developer should ask themselves. We need to stop thinking of ADA compliance guidelines as the bad cops.
They are here to ensure that everyone, regardless of their ability, can have equal access to the content available on the internet.
Following the best practices for making your website more accessible welcomes all users. This is not only important for inclusivity but also for accessibility.
With the best website accessibility checkers, you can also create a better digital experience for all users. Not only that, you’d also be avoiding many legal issues!