Your online resources should be adaptable to all people. This way you will reach everyone interested in your medical services. This is called web accessibility. It ensures that your site is designed and developed so that everyone, including potential clients with different disabilities, can use it effectively. Unfortunately, many platforms still have problems with it. The barriers limit the use of sites for people with impairments. Prioritizing accessibility not only promotes inclusivity! It benefits business and society as a whole.
International standards set by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) provide clear guidelines for achieving these goals. Let’s consider how to achieve web accessibility and how to make your web resource popular and adaptive for people with any needs.
What is Website Accessibility?
1.3 billion people worldwide live with disabilities, including 27% of adults in the United States. Yet 96% of websites remain partially or completely inaccessible to them. Website accessibility ensures that people with disabilities can:
- Consume and interact with online content.
- Contribute to the digital space.
This includes addressing issues related to hearing, cognitive, neurological, physical, speech, and visual impairments.
Website accessibility also includes advanced benefits. With such quality of an online resource, users of mobile devices, smart TVs, or other small screens should have equal opportunities to access information.
Older people experiencing age-related changes in ability, people with temporary disabilities, and people facing situational limitations (such as noisy environments) should also be able to get information from your site. This is especially true for people seeking medical care.
Most of them probably have some kind of health problem, at least at the moment. And it is very important that they find your site and get the information they need. This way, you will get more patience and show respect to all your potential customers.
Why is Web Accessibility Important?
The Internet was designed to serve all users, regardless of their abilities, devices, or location. People with disabilities should be able to communicate and access information without barriers.
26% of American adults (86 million people) have a disability. Ensuring equal access is consistent with the United Nations’ recognition of digital access as a human right.
Around the world, laws like the European Accessibility Act (EAA), ADA, and the Accessibility for Ontario Residents with Disabilities Act (AODA) mandate accessible digital content. Failure to comply can result in lawsuits, fines, and reputational damage. The disability community represents nearly $500 billion in disposable income. Accessible design expands your audience, increases customer loyalty, and drives innovation.
The United Nations recognizes digital access as a human right under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Accessibility promotes inclusion of all groups, including rural populations and people in developing regions. Website accessibility enhances brand reputation and facilitates wider market reach. It encourages innovation and compliance with legal standards. Poorly designed websites, apps, or various tools create barriers, undermining the very essence of inclusivity. How can this be prevented?
Four Principles of Website Accessibility (POUR)
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) define four pillars for creating inclusive digital experiences:
1. Perceivable
Content should be presented in multiple ways so that users can process it using sight, sound, or touch. e.g., alternative text for images, subtitles for videos, and resizable text.
2. Operable
All functionality should be accessible using a keyboard, voice commands, or assistive devices.
e.g., keyboard navigation, content jump links.
3. Understandable
Information and interfaces should be clear and predictable. Take care to provide users with consistent navigation, error messages with corrections, and plain language.
4. Robust
Content should work with current and future technologies. e.g., clean HTML/CSS, compatibility with screen readers like JAWS.
Describe images for screen readers. Ensure all keyboard functions (menus, forms) work without a mouse. Provide synchronized subtitles for video and text transcripts for audio. Think about accessibility in web design. Maintain a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 between text and background. Allow users to extend or disable time limits. Use headings, bullets, and consistent navigation. Warn users about seizure-inducing animations.
Implementing Web Accessibility
The core components of web accessibility include:
- HTML, CSS, and ARIA technologies for accessible rich internet applications.
- Developing software and browsers that support accessibility features.
- The W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are recognized worldwide.
Steps to Creating Accessible Websites
Integrate web accessibility into project planning to avoid costly rework. Use WCAG (perceivable, operable, understandable, and trustworthy) principles. Use WAVE or Axe tools to identify missing alt text or poor contrast. Aim for at least WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance.
Use best-practice resources. Work with professionals who understand inclusivity and web accessibility principles and know how to make your site meet best practices. It is important to identify web accessibility issues early in the development process.
Use automated tools. Scan for common barriers (e.g., missing alt text). Human review is necessary for detailed assessments (e.g., keyboard navigation). See the WCAG Quick Reference for compliance criteria. Web accessibility is a moral imperative, a legal requirement, and a strategic advantage in today’s business marketplace. By adhering to these global standards, organizations can create inclusive digital environments that are tailored to all users.
Equal Access Is a Right, Not a Privilege
Imagine having to schedule a doctor’s appointment. For millions of people with disabilities, it’s not always easy. Telemedicine visits have skyrocketed, but non-web-accessible platforms leave many patients stranded.
The disability community isn’t a niche group; it’s a driving force. People with disabilities account for over $13 trillion in global disposable income. Brands that ignore accessibility lose an estimated $6.9 billion each year to competitors that do it right. Show your patients respect by making your site web-accessible.
Conclusions
By adopting WCAG principles, organizations comply with the law and open up opportunities for growth, innovation, and trust. Fix critical issues, train your team, and create a culture where web accessibility is a priority. And we are always here to help you. Contact us for help in developing a high-quality website that complies with web accessibility principles. Make your online resource attractive to all potential customers!