Universal Accessability: Building an ADA 508 Compliant Website

The internet is a resource for information, education, and commerce. Because of this, it’s crucial that all websites be available and accessible for all internet users. We relied on our experience to create a quick guide to understanding and creating accessible websites.

Who uses universally accessible websites?
The precedent for this movement was set by section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. It was enacted to make information technology available to people with disabilities. It required federal agencies to give employees with disabilities, as well as all members of the public, access to information in a way that is equal to that of any other internet user.

Websites for organizations under federal contract or receiving federal funding must comply with these standards. While these entities are required to comply, it’s still considered a best practice to include accessibility options for private business websites as well. No business would knowingly make their resources or items inaccessible to a customer, regardless of their abilities or preferences.

It is also worth noting that many readers simply have personal browsing preferences that include changing text size or screen color, so accommodating these online customers is valuable as well.

What are the requirements of a Section-508 compliant website?
There are a few small changes that can have a big difference for online visitors using a screen reader or exceptional visual preferences.

These websites have a text equivalent for every non-text element. Pictures are described and buttons are explained. When design your website with these limitations in mind, you realize just how much is dependent on visual cues. This includes videos, as a sufficient alternative is available to convey the information within the video.

Web forms are accessible by assistive technology. Screen readers and other alternative web navigation tools are able to display every element of the website. Input, textarea, and select elements are accompanied by descriptions.

Information conveyed in color is also available in grayscale and there is an option to change text size. Documents are organized to be readable without an associated style sheet.

I want to have my online resources available to ALL internet users. How can I make my website compliant?
Check out the work we did on the Willamalane Park & Recreation District website. We designed a compliance checker and our team expertly developed a modern and functional online resource for their wide range of visitors.

We’re more than happy to offer help on your quest to build a compliant website. Our automated ADA Section 508 Compliance checker makes it easy to make sure your website is compliant. Not only does it include the most-comprehensive list of accessibility standards available, but push-button process will let you know about any problem areas (and how to fix them).

If your organization is looking for ADA Section 508-Compliance tools, you’ve come to the right place.

Learn more about our ADA Plugin for WordPress launching Spring 2017.

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