Website accessibility is more than a moral duty. It’s a key component to unlocking your website’s full potential and contributing to a more inclusive society. A website that is accessible opens doors to everyone, even those with disabilities such as visual, hearing, physical, cognitive and neurological. This accessibility reaches a wider audience and more potential customers.
A website that is accessible can have many benefits for business. They include:
- Improved user experience for everyone
- Customer engagement and loyalty increased
- Search engine optimisation and improved rankings
These benefits can increase sales and inquiries.
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The spending power of people with disabilities and their families is estimated to be £249bn each year. Your business will likely miss out on this market share if your website is not accessible. The same can be applied to education websites, such as those for special schools. For Websites for schools, contact FSE Design
Meeting Diverse Needs in Web Accessibility
Many people initially consider accommodating blind or deaf persons when considering accessibility of websites for people with disabilities. Screen readers are able to convert written text into an audible language. Captions and online transcripts make multimedia and video content accessible.
Web accessibility is more than just addressing visual or auditory impairments. Here are a few examples of how various disabilities can impact web usage.
- Physical limitations: Not everyone is able to use a keyboard or a mouse. Some users may use specialised input devices.
- Cognitive challenges: Users who have learning disabilities may find it difficult to understand complex layouts or banners that rotate rapidly. It can be hard to understand content that moves quickly.
- Motor Skills Impairments: Some users may find it difficult to fill out forms embedded on your website. All tables and forms on your website must be accessible to all users.
It’s important to recognise that disabilities can take many forms when designing for web access. Although visual and auditory impairments are often the first to come to mind, there are five categories of disabilities that a site must address:
- Auditory: Provide captions and transcripts for audio content.
- Cognitive/Learning: Use simple, clear language and consistent layout. Avoid time-sensitive content whenever possible.
- Physical: Provide ample time to complete forms and support different input methods.
- Speech: If your site includes voice-based services, provide alternative input methods.
- Visual : Use high contrast text and scalable images. Also, ensure compatibility with screen readers.
You can create a website that is more inclusive and accessible for all users by addressing these needs.
