5 Steps to ADA Compliance
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compels businesses to make a conscious effort to accommodate those with impairments by law. The act's jurisdiction extends to the internet, meaning your dental website must have accessibility considerations. Ensuring your website is ADA-compliant is crucial. Otherwise, you risk hefty financial penalties.
The following are five actionable steps you can take to help your website reach ADA compliance. Keep reading to learn more.
Step 1: Alt Text
When uploading an image to your website and most blogging platforms, you’ll be asked to set its alt text or alt tag. This text is not immediately visible on your website to every user. However, when users using screen readers highlight the image, usually by tabbing through the site, the alt text is read to them.
Adding alt text to images, including icons, helps visually impaired users better understand your website and services. As a result, it’s crucial to ensure that your alt tags are both descriptive and accurate. Misspelled alt text is liable to cause confusion, while no alt text at all reduces the context in which your website appears.
Step 2: Use Closed Captions
If your website features videos, whether they be explainers or office tours, they must include closed captions (CC). Most video broadcasting platforms like YouTube automatically generate CCs. Though this saves you time, it’s good practice to watch your videos back with the captions on to make sure that they are correct.
If, however, the streaming service you’re using to share video does not generate CCs, you can use transcription software to create an uploadable manuscript. For example, Otter.ai offers affordable and accurate video transcription options. CC files typically come with .srt .rt and .sbv file extensions.
Step 3: Clear Font and Size
Using a clear font may seem like an obvious consideration, but there are many websites that fail to fulfill this basic requirement. Using a readable font at a standard or enlarged size enables those with visual impairments to better view your content. Using a sans-serif font is usually your best.
Furthermore, you should also ensure that your website uses high-contrast colors, such as black text on a white background, thus making your content appear clearer. Using low-contrast colors like blue on purple makes it challenging for even those of us with 20:20 vision.
Step 4: Clear & Consistent Site Navigation
Implementing clear and consistent website navigation, i.e., structure, improves your site’s user experience (UX), making it plainly understandable. This makes it easier for users using keyboard-only controls to navigate your site without getting stuck on pages.
If possible, try not to double-nest menu items (having a dropdown menu within a dropdown menu). In other words, keep your site’s navigation minimal where possible.
Step 5: Hire an Expert Agency
Making your website ADA-compliant is an intimidating prospect, especially when legal penalties loom. So, if you don’t feel confident enough in your website development knowledge, you should consider hiring an expert web development agency.
The Dental SEO Experts specialize in digital marketing and dental website development. We can help build you a new website or update your existing site with ADA considerations. Schedule a free call with us today to learn more.