Breaking Down Barriers: In the Digital Age, is Website Accessibility Essential?

In this digital age, where the internet serves as a doorway to information, services, and connections, it is essential to ensure that websites are accessible to all users. Website accessibility is more than just developing a visually pleasing site; it is about making the online world accessible to people of all abilities. This blog will discuss the significance of website accessibility and why it should be a top concern for every online developer and designer.

What is website accessibility?

The inclusive approach of creating websites that are accessible to all users, irrespective of ability or disability.

The principles of accessibility

The accessibility principles serve as guiding lights for developers and designers in ensuring that websites are welcome and usable for all users. Let's take a look at a few fundamental concepts that will pave the way for a more inclusive online experience.

Perceivable: All components must be presented in a way that users can perceive.

• Use alternative text for images.
• Provide captions and transcripts for multimedia content.
• Ensure sufficient color contrast for text and background.

Operable: Can be able to navigate and interact with the website.

• Enable keyboard navigation.
• Provide clear and consistent navigation.
• Avoid content that may cause seizures or physical discomfort.

Understandable: User interface must be clear and straightforward.

• Use clear and simple language.
• Provide input assistance for form fields.
• Ensure consistency in design and navigation.

Robust: Content must be compatible with current and future technologies.

• Use valid HTML and other coding practices.
• Provide text alternatives for non-text content.
• Ensure compatibility with assistive technologies.

Accessibility Standards

Accessibility standards are a set of guidelines and criteria that specify how digital material and technology should be designed and developed to provide those with disabilities with equal access and usage. These guidelines are critical for fostering an inclusive online environment, breaking down barriers, and offering a consistent experience for users of varying abilities.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG):

The World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) World Wide Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the most commonly accepted collection of accessibility standards. It provides a comprehensive framework for improving the accessibility of web content for individuals with disabilities. This has become a global standard, influencing laws, policy, and best practices for web accessibility.

Versions of WCAG:

• WCAG 1.0: Published in 1999, this version laid the foundation for digital accessibility.
• WCAG 2.0: Released in 2008, this version introduced the four principles and three levels of conformance (A, AA, AAA).
• WCAG 2.1: Published in 2018, this update introduced additional success criteria, addressing new technologies and user needs.
• WCAG 2.2: Released in October 2023, this update introduced 9 new success criteria.

WCAG levels

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) employ a tiered structure of conformance levels to allow flexibility and adapt to varied degrees of accessibility. These levels—A, AA, and AAA—provide a framework for developers and designers to examine and enhance the accessibility of their websites. Let's go over each WCAG compliance level to understand the complexities of their criteria and effects.

Level A: Minimum

Level A is the most basic level of accessibility. Level A compliance guarantees that the essential principles of accessibility are addressed, making information more accessible to a diverse range of users, including those with disabilities.

Achieving Level A conformance is the first step towards establishing a more accessible website, however it may not fully cover all user demands.

Level AA: Recommended

Level AA expands on the foundation established by Level A by applying higher standards. Level AA compliance not only improves accessibility but also accommodates a greater range of users, including those with special disabilities.

Level AA is frequently regarded as the gold standard for assuring a reasonably high level of accessibility and is recommended for most websites in order to create a more inclusive experience.

Level AAA: Highest

The highest level of accessibility is Level AAA. Conforming to Level AAA contains the most comprehensive set of standards, allowing those with disabilities the most comprehensive access.

Obtaining Level AAA conformity can be difficult and may not be feasible for all websites. It is frequently reserved for specialized circumstances requiring the maximum level of accessibility.

How Simple Information uses Open Source technology to fix accessibility issues

Simple Information initiates automated scans of our websites to identify potential accessibility issues. We check for compliance with established accessibility standards, such as WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines). Using a plethora of open source tools we generate reports that provide a clear overview of the issues, categorized by severity, making it easier for us to prioritize and address them.

For example, we use the Drupal (CMS), open-source platform. The Drupal community has put a great amount of effort into making their platform accessible. Drupal not only has accessibility built into the core, but also has specialized accessibility features, or plugins made by the community. One such module, called “Editoria11y Accessibility Checker” (yes, that’s the correct spelling) aids in ensuring that websites are built with accessibility in mind from the start by allowing content creators to see and fix accessibility issues before content is even published.

Need some help with accessibility? Talk to us for FREE here.