Accessibility Matters / Blogs / Perficient

Why Accessibility Matters

The global population has a significant number of people with disabilities, which includes physical, cognitive, psychological, and sensory impairments. It is estimated that around 20% of the population has a disability. That`s over one billion people and they are potentially not able to use your website unless you have made it easily accessible to them. For these individuals, accessing websites and digital content may be challenging or impossible without the use of assistive technologies such as screen readers, magnifiers, or captions.

Ensuring that your website is accessible can have numerous benefits, including reaching a wider audience, improving user experience for all visitors, and even complying with legal requirements in some jurisdictions. By designing your website with accessibility in mind, you can make it easier for people with disabilities to engage with your content and services, which can lead to greater inclusion and participation in society. Additionally, creating an accessible website can also enhance your brand reputation and demonstrate your commitment to social responsibility.

Here are some reasons why it’s important to improve website accessibility for people with disabilities:

Inclusivity

Inclusivity is a fundamental principle of web accessibility. By making your website accessible, you ensure that everyone, regardless of their disability, can access your content and use your services. This includes people with visual impairments, hearing impairments, cognitive impairments, motor disabilities, and other disabilities. Making your website accessible promotes inclusivity and ensures that no one is left out.

Legal requirements

In many countries, including the United States, there are legal requirements for websites to be accessible to people with disabilities. In the US, for example, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act require federal agencies and organizations that receive federal funding to make their digital content accessible to people with disabilities. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in legal action and significant penalties. In other countries, similar laws and regulations exist to ensure equal access to digital content for people with disabilities. Compliance with these legal requirements not only helps you avoid legal liability but also demonstrates your commitment to social responsibility and inclusivity.

Better user experience

Accessibility features such as clear navigation, descriptive links, and keyboard navigation not only benefit people with disabilities but also improve the user experience for all users. Clear navigation and descriptive links help users find what they are looking for quickly and easily, regardless of whether they have a disability.

Increased reach

Making your website accessible can help you reach a wider audience, including people with disabilities who may not have been able to access your content before. This can result in increased traffic, more engagement, and ultimately, more business. When you make your website accessible, you open up new opportunities to connect with people who may have been previously excluded from accessing your content or services. By ignoring the needs of people with disabilities, you may be inadvertently limiting your audience and missing out on potential customers or clients. By ensuring that your website is accessible, you can tap into a wider market and reach more people, regardless of their abilities.

Brand reputation

By making your website accessible, you demonstrate your commitment to inclusivity and social responsibility, which can enhance your brand reputation and improve customer loyalty.

Making your web site more accessible will not only benefit people with disabilities. Increased usability ensures that your visitors can carry out their tasks effectively and efficiently.

People are all equal in their rights to receive information. It doesn’t matter if they speak a different language, have a certain disability, or lack access to a certain technology. Choosing to make your website more accessible to all your visitors goes to show that you really care about your audience.

By making your website more accessible you will increase the customer satisfaction and, thus, improve or regain your website’s reputation.

Do not forget, there are no normal users outside.

Are you ready to make a difference on the web?   Contact us  today to learn more about how we can help make your website accessible.

Let`s build a better web for all.

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