Create an Accessible Website Experience: Public Health Services
Creating an accessible web experience for public health services is crucial, as it ensures that all individuals, including those with disabilities, can access vital health information and services, such as disease prevention, treatment options, and health advisories.
Here’s a comprehensive guide to web accessibility tailored for public health services.
Understanding ADA Title II Rules for Websites
Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has specific regulations underlying the technical requirements for web accessibility. This includes ensuring websites, apps, digital tools, and technologies are designed and developed so that people with all disabilities can use them, such as visual, auditory, physical, cognitive, and neurological disabilities.
The ADA uses WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) as a framework for entities to follow, particularly WCAG 2.2 at the AA level, which covers the most critical accessibility issues.
Developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), the WCAG is an internationally acknowledged set of requirements for improving the accessibility of digital content. It declares that all online documents and multimedia content like videos and audio files should be accessible. Also, the navigation of a website should be able to function with screen readers and other similar devices.
Who Needs to Comply with Title II?
All healthcare entities open to the public should prioritize web accessibility to ensure that vital health information and services are available to everyone, including those with disabilities. Non-compliance with ADA Title II rules can lead to legal issues and, more importantly, can prevent individuals with disabilities from accessing crucial health information and services.
Here are specific types of public health services that should follow ADA Title II rules:
- Public hospitals
- State-run clinics
- Local pharmacies
- Doctor offices
- Urgent cares
- Labs and diagnostic facilities
- National and regional health departments
- Other public entities in health care settings
Web ADA Compliance 101
For your public healthcare website to be accessible to patients with disabilities, follow these steps:
- Use readable fonts and ensure sufficient contrast between text and background. Text should be resizable without loss of content or functionality.
- Label form fields clearly and provide error messages that help users correct mistakes.
- Ensure all interactive elements (links, buttons, forms) are navigable using a keyboard alone.
- Provide descriptive alternative text for images, charts, and other non-text content.
- Offer captions for videos and transcripts for audio content to support users with hearing impairments.
- For important visual content, provide audio descriptions that narrate visual information.
Consider EcomBack for Professional Web Accessibility Services
Web accessibility platform EcomBack, with its wealth of expertise, is your best bet for achieving web accessibility. We’re committed to providing premium digital accessibility solutions, giving you the confidence that your website is in good hands.
EcomBack offers a range of services:
- Manual Testing
- Expert Feedback
- Ongoing Maintenance
- Regular Updates
- Training
- Accessibility Statement Template
- And more!
We can help create an accessible website for all users, especially those needing public healthcare access. Visit our website and contact us today.
