Website Accessibility Audits
Be Wise. Be Accessible.
Increased market reach, enhanced brand image, reduced legal risks, improved SEO and increased conversions.
It’s a wise business strategy that is within your reach.
What is an accessible website in Canada?
In Canada, the Accessible Canada Act (ACA) establishes that the most recent approved version of the WCAG will serve as the standard for website accessibility. Additionally, Ontario’s Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and Manitoba’s Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA) require that websites conform to WCAG 2.0 Level AA standards.
By evaluating your specific needs and requirements, I can provide you with a clear understanding of your current accessibility status and what steps might be necessary to improve compliance. To help begin, provided below is a glimpse of the process.
Creating an Accessible Website
Step 1
Evaluate your needs and objectives
To begin, the nature and depth of your website accessibility assessment will depend on the unique circumstances of your organization and your strategic goals. Are you looking for a quick overview, a comprehensive audit, or something tailored in between? For example, consider these compelling benefits to understand how accessibility can align with and enhance your business objectives.
Benefits of Website Accessibility
Boost Conversions
Naturally, a seamless user experience leads to higher conversion rates. By making your site accessible, you not only attract more visitors but convert them into loyal customers.
Elevated Search Rankings
An accessible website naturally enhances your SEO, significantly improving your visibility in competitive search results.
Reach a Bigger Audience
An accessible website welcomes all kinds of people, widening your potential customer base. When customers see that you embrace inclusivity, they’re more likely to choose your business over competitors that might not be compliant.
Reduced Legal Risk
Importantly, achieving accessibility compliance lowers the risk of costly legal obligations and penalties, providing you peace of mind.
Stronger Brand Image
Showing you care about accessibility boosts your public reputation. It highlights your organization’s values and commitment to inclusivity.
Positive PR
Finally, accessibility isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s smart business that positions you as a leader in the online world and can even attract positive media coverage.
Step 3
Identify Requirements
Once you’ve figured out what kind of assessment you need for website accessibility, it’s time to lay out the details for your website. This means defining how accessible you want to be and identifying which browsers and technologies you’ll evaluate.
Step 4
Conduct the Website Accessibility Assessment
Depending on the thoroughness required, your assessment may utilize automated tools, visual testing, and even detailed manual evaluations to pinpoint the current state of your website. We employ a systematic approach to sample selection and evaluate key sections of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), reviewing up to 50 different criteria based on the assessment’s depth.
Information and user interface components must be presented to users in ways that they can perceive. For example, it’s important to present information that can be perceived in different ways, where a user can adjust color contrast or font size, or view captions for videos.How to do this in your website
- Use text descriptions for images and other non-text objects.
- Provide captions and options for videos and audio.
- Share content in various formats to suit different user needs.
- Make it easier for everyone to see and hear the information.
User interface components and navigation must be functional for users in ways they can operate. For example, a user must be able to perform required interactions using a keyboard or voice commands, not just using a mouse.How to do this in your website
- You can use the keyboard for everything you need.
- There’s plenty of time to read and interact with the content.
- The content is safe and won’t trigger any seizures or bad reactions.
- It’s easy to explore the site, find what you’re looking for, and know where you are at all times.
- You can use different ways to input information, not just the keyboard.
Information and user interface operation must be understandable. For example, information and instructions should be clear and navigation methods should be easy to understand and use.How to do this in your website
- Text is readable and understandable
- Content appears and operates in predictable ways
- Users are helped to avoid and correct mistakes.
Content must be robust enough so that it can be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of users and types of assistive technologies. As technologies evolve, code and content should remain accessible for users of common and current assistive devices and tools.How to do this in your website
- The content should work well, with no errors, both the tools we have now and any that come out in the future.
Step 5
Findings and Recommendations of your Website Accessibility Audit
The outcome can range from a comprehensive report to a concise summary detailing which criteria were met or require improvement for website accessibility. Along with the findings, you’ll receive a prioritized list of issues and practical suggestions for developers, content creators, and designers to tackle any accessibility obstacles. This way, you can fully unlock all the amazing benefits of having an accessible website!
Let’s connect to initiate your accessibility plan
Whether you need a simple review, a full audit, or something in between, I can assist you. Our Website Accessibility Audits and Reviews are tailored to meet your business requirements.
Realted Services to Elevate Your Business
Digital Marketing
If you have a website, then your digital marketing strategy will include an accessible website to maximize the business advantages and make the digital world a better place.
Web Development
If you have a website, then your digital marketing strategy will include an accessible website to maximize the business advantages and make the digital world a better place.
Graphic Design
If you have a website, then your digital marketing strategy will include an accessible website to maximize the business advantages and make the digital world a better place.