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What is Website Accessibility and Why Does My Website Need it?
Web accessibility refers to making websites usable for people with disabilities. It involves designing and developing websites in a way that people with disabilities, such as those with visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairments, can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with the website and its content.
Why web accessibility matters
1 in 4 people in the US has a disability. Legislation is in place to prevent discrimination and ensure people with disabilities have equal access to content and services. Web accessibility ensures that all users can access and engage with your website, app, and digital assets.
Inclusion and compliance in one solution
In the US, businesses and organizations are required to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which requires accessible websites. This is accomplished by adhering to guidelines such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). The guidelines ensure that websites are perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for people with disabilities.
The Benefits of Implementing a Web Accessibility Solution
Tax Credits
It is important that your clients know that the U.S. government has chosen to promote and support businesses that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). By making a website accessible, your client's business can be eligible for up to $5,000 in tax credits.
Widen your clients’ user base
By making your websites accessible to 15% of the global population with disabilities, you tap into an $8 trillion market. Accessibility not only widens your user base but also improves the experience for all users, regardless of ability.
Brand Reputation
Once your website is live, we offer various powerful options to effectively deliver your message to your audience. and leave a lasting impression.
We Make it easy for you
What Are The Benefits of Web Accessibility
Fast and Easy Implementation
Once implemented, our widget scans, analyzes and fixes accessibility compliance gaps in up to 48 hours.
01
Website Monitoring Every 24 Hours
Our AI-powered widget scans and analyzes every website page at least once every 24 hours.
02
Technology and AI
We use the world’s leading Al-powered web accessibility solution that makes websites accessible to people with disabilities and helps you become compliant.
03
Are You Ready For Your Website Accessibility?
Why Web Accessibility Is Important?
What is web accessibility?
Web accessibility refers to making websites usable for people with disabilities. It involves designing and developing websites in a way that people with disabilities, such as those with visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairments, can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with the website and its content.
Web accessibility ensures that everyone has equal access to information and services on the web, regardless of their abilities. This includes individuals who use assistive technologies, such as screen readers, to access the web.
Improved Performance
Accessible websites enjoy increased traffic, reduced bounce rates, improved SEO rankings, and better conversion rates. An accessible website means that you’re making it easier for people to find your website.
A new study by Semrush analyzed 847 web domains and found that:
- There was a 12% average increase in overall traffic for all domains
- 73.4% of domains saw growth in organic traffic
- 66.1% of all domains saw growth in organic traffic of up to 50%
With Google constantly calculating search engine result page (SERP) rankings by evaluating sites based partly on web page usability and user experience, it logically follows that websites with more accessibility features would be prioritized over sites without those accommodations.
Additional resources:
Semrush study
The legal requirement - ADA, WCAG, and web accessibility lawsuit trends
The ADA is the Americans with Disabilities Act, an American civil rights law passed in 1990. The law prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places open to the general public. Since 2018, the ADA also covers websites, as they’re considered public places of accommodation. That is why making your website accessible is crucial for meeting ADA legal requirements.
It’s important to note that the ADA does not specify the criteria for a compliant website, yet today’s industry standard is to adhere to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG).
The WCAG is a technical guidebook explaining how websites should look and operate for people with disabilities. So, by following the WCAG guidelines, you are making your website ADA-compliant.”
Additional resources:
The benefits of being compliant
It is important to know that the U.S. government has chosen to promote and support businesses that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). By making your website accessible, your business can be eligible for up to $5,000 in tax credits.”
Additional resources:
An Explanation of the ADA Tax Credit for Accessible Businesses
ADA Tax Credit Meets Web Accessibility: How to Apply, Who Qualifies, and Key Stipulations
Web accessibility meets tax benefits: important information to know
Widen your clients’ user base
By opening up your websites to 15% of the global population that lives with a disability, you tap into a market with a spending power of $8 trillion (based on the Valuable 500 research).
Not only do you widen your user base when you become accessible, but you also provide a better experience for all users, regardless of their ability.
Brand Reputation
Brand reputation and social responsibility are crucial for businesses, and web accessibility is an essential part of this. In order to be in line with legislation and maintain a brand reputation, you should do something about web accessibility. Once you implement an accessibility solution, you will have an accessibility statement, and that says a lot about your brand.
Web accessibility lawsuit numbers and trends
In recent years, there has been a surge in state court lawsuits regarding web accessibility. 2023 saw a record-breaking number of lawsuits and demand letters under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), with 4,605 lawsuits filed. It is estimated that only 3% of demand letters go to trial, as the majority, approximately 97%, are settled beforehand. This indicates that over 100,000 business owners received demand letters in 2023 for failing to make their websites accessible. Moreover, organizations and businesses can be fined up to $150,000 for ADA violations, while the average ADA website lawsuit settlement typically ranges “from $20,000 to $50,000.
