If you are in the process of designing a website, you need to make sure it is as accessible to people as possible. This includes individuals with disabilities. It is important for you to ensure that you follow the Americans with Disabilities Act, and it applies to websites as well. There are several important tips you need to keep in mind when you are designing a website to ensure it is accessible to people with disabilities. Do not forget to use a tool such as accessiBe that can help you make sure that as many people can use your website as possible.
1. Think About Your Color Scheme Carefully
First, you must make sure that you think about your color scheme carefully. Even though you might have a variety of colors that you want to use to make your website pop, keep in mind that there are some people who are color-blind. If there is genuinely important information that you want to communicate to your readers, make sure you put it in black and white. Then, only use other colors if you want to enhance certain aspects of the webpage itself. Make sure your colors do not blend together, or it will be difficult for people to see what is happening on the page. Remember that you should take a look at a few accessiBe reviews as well.
2. Put Captions To Work for Your Website
You probably have a lot of images and videos that communicate important information. What about people who visit your website who are deaf? You need to make sure you put captions on any interviews or videos that you include on your website. That way, even if someone cannot hear what is being said, they can still read along. Even if you use captions that are automatically generated, you need to review them before you publish them. Make sure the captions are correct before you share them on the website. That way, everyone will have an easier time figuring out what is going on.
3. Use Meta Titles and Descriptions
One of the best ways for you to increase your online visibility is to use images and videos. Unfortunately, there are some people who are blind and may not be able to interact with the images and videos.. That is where meta titles and meta descriptions are helpful. There are a lot of people who believe these are important for search engine optimization. While that is the case, they are also important for people who experience barriers watching the videos or seeing the images. Make sure you use meta titles and descriptions when you are building your website.
4. Beware the Flashing Lights
Finally, you need to be very careful if you use flashing lights on your website. Even though flashing lights might be a great way for you to make your website stand out from the crowd, they can also trigger people with a variety of medical conditions. For example, there are some people who have been diagnosed with epilepsy. These are individuals who might not be able to expose themselves to flashing lights. You need to make sure you do not have any elements on your website that flash more than three times in one second. Otherwise, you could dramatically increase the chances of someone having a seizure when they visit your website, which would be a medical emergency.
Make Sure Your Website Is Accessible
It is critical for you to audit your website from time to time to ensure it is accessible to individuals with disabilities. Today, it is very difficult for someone to get through the day without access to the internet, and that includes people with disabilities. You should ensure that your test your website from time to time to make sure everyone can use it. Furthermore, if you make sure your website is accessible to as many people as possible, you can increase the number of visitors that come to your website. Keep in mind that this is not necessarily something that you need to go through on your own. You may want to reach out to an expert who can help you.
