As a business owner with an online presence, it’s important to ensure that your website is accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. Failure to do so could result in lawsuits, which can be costly and damaging to your brand reputation. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the 5 signs that your website isn’t ADA compliant and how you can fix it to prevent lawsuits.
Lack of Alternative Text for Images
Images are an essential part of any website, but they can also be a barrier for people with visual impairments. Alternative text or alt text provides a description of the image, allowing screen readers to communicate the content to users who cannot see the image. If your website is missing alt text, you’re not providing equal access to all users.
To fix this issue, you need to add alt text to all images on your website. This can be done through your website’s content management system or by editing the HTML code directly.
Explore our blog to discover the best tips for writing effective image alt text: “The Best Tips for Writing Alt Text“
Inaccessible Forms
Forms are another common barrier for people with disabilities. If your website’s forms are not accessible, it can prevent users with disabilities from completing important actions such as submitting an order or signing up for a newsletter.
To make your forms accessible, ensure that they can be completed using a keyboard only. Add labels to all form fields, and provide clear instructions on how to complete the form.
Videos Without Captions
Videos are an effective way to engage with your audience, but they can also be a challenge for people with hearing impairments. Without captions, users who are deaf or hard of hearing cannot fully access the content.
To make your videos accessible, add captions or transcripts to all videos on your website. This will ensure that everyone can access the content, regardless of their hearing ability.
Poor Color Contrast
Color contrast is a significant factor for individuals with visual impairments, as it directly influences their ability to read and navigate your website. If your website’s color contrast is suboptimal, it could pose challenges to certain users in accessing your content. To address this issue, ensure that the contrast between the background and the text is sufficiently high to facilitate easy reading. Various online tools are available to assess the color contrast ratio and allow for necessary adjustments.
Inaccessible Navigation
Navigation is a critical component of any website, but it can also be a challenge for people with disabilities. If your website’s navigation is not accessible, it can make it difficult for users to find the information they need.
To make your website’s navigation accessible, ensure that it can be navigated using a keyboard only. Use clear and descriptive labels for all links, and organize your content in a logical and easy-to-understand manner.
Conclusion
Ensuring that your website is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities, is essential for providing equal access to information and services. By addressing the 5 signs outlined in this blog post, you can make your website ADA-compliant and prevent costly lawsuits.
With an understanding that many individuals may not possess the technical expertise required to tackle the aforementioned challenges, EcomBack is dedicated to assisting you in resolving these essential matters. We are pleased to extend our services through a complimentary website accessibility audit, enabling you to identify any accessibility issues effectively.
