It's a common misconception that making a website or application accessible means sacrificing aesthetics. This couldn't be further from the truth! With the right design principles, you can ensure your site looks great while meeting all accessibility standards. Designers use various techniques to create creative and accessible user experiences. They use clear typography, high-contrast colors, and proper whitespace utilization to follow clean design principles. Incorporating creative elements like illustrations, photographs, and videos into the design in an accessible manner is always achievable. These strategies guarantee that every user can effortlessly interact with the content, enhancing their overall experience.
With the right approach, accessible websites can be both functional and beautiful.
Myth # 2 - Web accessibility only serves people with disabilities
Even if that were the case, should we ignore them? Of course not! They have the right to access websites just like any other user. And people without disabilities will also benefit from this enhanced experience. Have you ever pressed the automatic door button designed for people with disabilities in public places? Yes, because sometimes it can be practical even if we do not have a disability. For instance, when our hands are full or we have a temporary injury. The same principle applies to the web. Ensuring website accessibility is crucial for people with disabilities and helps improve the experience for everyone. By making websites accessible, we create an inclusive and user-friendly online experience for all. Even Google considers web accessibility to be a ranking factor. As a website owner, it is crucial to understand the different types of barriers that can affect user experience on your website. Familiarizing yourself with these barriers will help optimize your website for better user engagement and satisfaction.
Web accessibility ensures the growth and success of your digital presence.
Myth #3 - Accessibility isn't necessary for my clients
Many people mistakenly believe that accessibility only benefits a small percentage of users living with a disability or a certain limitation in their ability to use the internet. So let's check some interesting facts:
- 8 million (27%) of Canadians aged 15 and older have at least one disability that limits them in their daily activities.
- Up to 1 in 4 adults (27%) in the United States suffers from some disability.
- New Brunswick has the second highest rate in Canada of people living with a disability, with 35.3% of its population.
- An estimated 1.3 billion people (1 in 6) globally have a significant disability.
These numbers clearly show that accessibility is an important issue for a substantial portion of the population. It's crucial to recognize that disabilities aren't always visible or perceivable. This makes it even more vital to address the issue. Plus, each of us may face a temporary disability or limitation in using the internet. For example, picture yourself with one hand in a cast, trying to use your phone with your non-dominant hand. Or, imagine a concussion blurring your vision or the sun altering your screen's brightness. The key takeaway is that an accessible website can benefit numerous individuals, regardless of their abilities.
Accessibility ensures that everyone can access the information they need in any situation.
Myth #4 - Making websites accessible is too complicated and expensive
WebAIM has carried out an accessibility evaluation of 1 million home pages of the most popular sites. They discover an average of 50.8 accessibility errors per page. The most common errors found are related to low contrast, missing alternative text for images, empty links and buttons, missing form input labels, and missing page language. All these issues are easy to address and would significantly improve accessibility across the web. If you have a website, you can certainly start by fixing these simple issues.
It is also important to know that there are different levels of web accessibility. While creating a fully compliant and accessible website based on WCAG guidelines can be more intricate and costly in terms of design and development, having a basic accessible website should not be more expensive. At our agency, we ensure that all our client's websites incorporate a level of accessibility that suits their budget requirements. By prioritizing accessibility and inclusive design right from the start, we can save time, effort, and resources that might otherwise be spent on retroactive modifications. So, let's embrace accessibility as an integral part of the design and development process to create better websites with positive online experiences.
Web accessibility is a relatively low-cost process that can greatly impact a website's user experience and brand reputation.
Myth # 5 - It's only legal in certain countries
While it's true that web accessibility is only legally enforced in some regions, it is evident that those regulations are coming your way sooner rather than later. In Canada, several provinces have already established their own provincial regulations on web accessibility, while the European Accessibility Act has been in effect since 2019. In other parts of the world, such as Australia and New Zealand, governments are also introducing new legislation on website accessibility. All this points to an unavoidable reality - web accessibility is now a business necessity for all companies, regardless of location. It's not about where you are operating your website; it's where your visitors come from. If your site has a global reach, you might need to follow accessibility laws from elsewhere.
Here's our advice: Don't make your website accessible just because of regulations or laws but because you genuinely care about giving every visitor equal access to the best possible experience and information.
Conclusion: Web accessibility is no longer an option; it's a must.
Companies, organizations, and individuals should all strive to create accessible websites that are inclusive of everyone.
Web accessibility is not just a trend or a regulatory requirement—it's a necessary practice that fosters inclusivity, promotes equality, and ensures everyone can freely navigate the digital universe. By debunking the myths surrounding web accessibility, we pave the way for more accessible websites, providing a seamless online experience to all users, regardless of their abilities or circumstances.
Understanding and implementing web accessibility may seem daunting, but the benefits far outweigh the efforts. The merits are plentiful, from enhancing the website's visibility and reach to improving its SEO ranking and avoiding potential legal complications. Ultimately, it's about extending the same respect and courtesy we show each other in physical spaces into the digital world. Remember, a more accessible web benefits far more people than you can imagine—and you benefit from it every day!