Make your site accessible to the visually impaired
It’s not just being considerate, it’s the right way to manage your brand, online. Did you know that companies, large and small, are being sued because their site does not allow the sight impaired to navigate your site? It’s true.
In 2018 alone, there were 2,285 ADA website lawsuits filed in federal courts across the nation. The majority of these originated in Florida and New York.
This is all based on ADA, or the Americans with Disabilities Act*. The ADA is more than handicapped parking spaces, accessibility ramps and braille signs in elevators. It’s now being applied to websites. Is yours compliant?
A Simple Solution
Before we get ahead of ourselves, it’s really important to note, the fix can be a simple one. Our site, for instance, provides great functionality, giving sight impaired users more options when visiting your site.
See for yourself. In the upper right corner, you’ll note an icon, which stands for accessibility.
Click to access the Accessibility Menu and see the options.
Click, Read Page to see, or rather, listen to, the screen reader we’ve installed, As you go through just one page, you start to understand how this might effect someone who’s visually impaired.
Using tools like this is a great start. We take it steps further by providing other best practices built into your site, streamlining the user experience.
Screen Readers
Understanding how others view your website is what this is all about.
Screen readers are apps that read the contents of a site for the user. Often in painful detail, they describe every element on the page. By minimizing these elements, we craft a better experience. Depending on your business, this can be a quick fix or a continual effort.
Considering the needs of different users makes the difference. A little effort pays off—and might just avoid a lawsuit. Get ahead of this and win over this audience.
At GreenDev, we help resolve challenges like this, making your site more accessible. We’re here to help you navigate both the technical and human side of developing your internet presence.
In the News
Businesses ‘sitting ducks’ for lawsuits because websites aren’t ADA compliant
This article and video from Florida television station, News 8 in Tampa, shows how one local retailer is facing litigation. The article relates that…
In 2018, there were 2,285 ADA website lawsuits filed in federal courts across the nation. The majority of lawsuits originate in Florida and New York.
The retailer states that, “Lawyers tell me to just settle. You can’t fight ADA, the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you fight this, you’re going to quadruple your bill”.
* For more information on ADA, visit https://ada.gov