What Does Digital Accessibility Look Like?
The topic of digital accessibility has been a prominent theme in the digital marketing world thanks to recent lawsuits and guidelines. All of us at Pink Dog Digital wanted to take this opportunity to show how truly important it is for web content to be universally accessible.
If a website is digitally accessible, it means the website can be easily understood and navigated by all individuals, including those with disabilities or impairments. For individuals with visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive disabilities, it can be extremely difficult to use websites designed for the general public.
As more facets of the world turn digital, it is important for web designers to prioritize accessibility. Just as ramps provide an alternative access route to those who may use wheelchairs, digital accessibility allows all users to successfully access and utilize the Internet.
Add Alt.Text to Images
As you add images to your website, most content management systems prompt you to add alternative text. The main purpose of alternative text is to act as a replacement for when images fail to load correctly on a website. But the text can also serve to assist individuals with visual impairments who can not easily perceive color contrasts or identify images.
Web designers can use the alternative text box as a platform to describe the image in depth to users. This description will give visually impaired users the context to understand the image without necessarily having to view the image.
Avoid Automatic Media
There is nothing worse than clicking on a website and being subjected to automatic music or media. Not only is this unexpected content annoying, but it can also be disorientating and frustrating for many users.
Rather than enjoying your website and focusing on important content, users are now tasked with figuring out how to pause the automated media. For users suffering from physical impairments or disabilities, responding quickly might serve to be a challenge.
If your website includes automated media such as slideshows, which often include important information about the company or certain products, the slides might change too suddenly for users with cognitive impairments.
To avoid this information barrier, websites should never include automated media – all media should be designed to remain static until prompted by the user.
Add Subtitles to Videos
For the most part, web designers and videographers around the world have made a collective effort to be more inclusive of those with hearing impairments. This means putting subtitles over videos or gifs or at least providing subtitles as an option.
For many individuals with hearing impairments, videos can present real accessibility barriers because of their reduced ability to hear or audio processing delays. Subtitles allow users to not only view your moving web content but understand it fully.
If you would like more information about digital accessibility, need help designing a digitally accessibility website, or other digital marketing services please contact Pink Dog Digital at (410) 696-3305, email us at info@pinkdogdigital.com, or visit us on the web at www.pinkdogdigital.com.