How to Optimize Your Website for Disabled Users: Easy Tips

Use the following tips to make your website more accessible and disability-friendly.

Some big changes are taking place in the world of business.

One of the biggest (and most exciting) changes is the switch towards accessible websites.

Now, businesses of all sizes, from small start-ups to international corporations, must make their websites ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)-compliant. What this means is that they must make their websites accessible to disabled people by including the features that they need. 

If your business website isn’t ADA-compliant, you’re potentially leaving yourself open to a lawsuit. Naturally, this is something you don’t want to happen, which is why you need to optimize your website for disabled users.

You’ll be happy to learn that this is much easier than it sounds. By the end of the year, you can upgrade your business website and make it accessible to everyone. As a result, you’ll get to experience the following benefits:

• Grow your audience
• Gain a positive industry reputation
• Avoid potential lawsuits and other legal problems

Really, it’s a no-brainer — so let’s take a look at some easy tips to make your business website accessible.

1.    Firstly, Use a Website Accessibility Testing Tool

The first (and most important) step is to test how accessible your current website is. This will allow you to uncover existing issues and quickly start to address them. For example, you might discover that your website has:

• Text size issues
• Contrast errors
• Poor mobile navigation

To test your website for accessibility issues, you’ll need to use a web accessibility testing tool. You can find reviews for web accessibility testing tools here and then decide which tool is best for you.

2.    Add Alt Text to Images

Next, you’re going to want to add alt text to your website images. This includes product images, employee headshots, and more. The purpose behind this is to allow visually impaired users to understand what the image is. Otherwise, they’ll be lost.

Remember, it’s especially important that your alt text is clear and descriptive. The clearer, the better. As a result, there’ll be no confusion, and disabled customers can go ahead and make more confident purchases.

3.    Include Keyboard-Only Navigation

Some disabled people aren’t able to use a PC or laptop mouse. As a result, the only way they can navigate websites is through their keyboards. However, if your website doesn’t have a keyboard navigation option, they won’t be able to browse or use it. From URLs to widgets, all elements of your business site need to be accessible by keyboard.

4.    Collect Feedback

Your website should have a digital feedback survey that disabled users can fill out to provide you with their feedback and thoughts. For example, a visually impaired user might want you to add a text enlargement option if there isn’t already one.

Even if you think your website is fully accessible, there might still be certain elements missing. This is why it’s so important to keep collecting feedback and make positive changes from it.

Summary

If you’re a business looking to make your website more accessible, then the easy tips provided above will get you started on your journey. All of the world’s biggest companies, from Apple to Microsoft, have built-in accessibility features — and now yours can, too.