Most business owners do not realize that accessibility is not just a solution but an organizational mindset. So if you have decided to transform your business for people with disabilities, we applaud your choice.
Overhauling an existing organization to make it accessible can prove to be extremely beneficial for the company in the long run. You will be able to reach customers living with disabilities. Your business can also showcase a social stand, which can prove beneficial to attract people who are against discrimination and want to associate with the companies which take a stand.
Even though accessibility is a legal requirement by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a digital transformation would mean much more than that. In this post, we are going to discuss some tips that can help you plan better for your digital transformation.
Learn the Process and Guidelines
The first thing you need to do is learn the rules of the game. You need to understand what are the factors that can hinder website accessibility so that you can avoid them on your website. You also need to know the things to keep in mind, such as:
- The use of color and contrast
- How to use images
- What to keep in mind for videos and media files
- Supporting the use of assistive technologies like screen readers
- Emphasis on keyboard use only
The latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) present the most comprehensive list of rules and regulations that you must follow while updating your website.
Choose the Right Solution
Whether you choose to hire a web developer or go with an AI-powered accessibility solution, you need a service provider who understands the WCAG guidelines.
Both of these methods can achieve the desired results, but make sure that you choose a solution that works for you. If your website design is dated and it already has plenty of usability issues, it’s best to go with a web development company for a complete overhaul. That way you end up with an updated website that’s also accessible.
However, if your website does not need redesigning or you have limited time and budget, you are better off finding an AI-based solution. These solutions create a skin on top of your original website that complies with the web accessibility guidelines.
A good place to start is by reading this review on accessiBe. The company sets the current benchmark by helping businesses achieve their website accessibility goals using smart AI solutions.
Hire Content Creators With Knowledge About Accessibility
Accessibility is an ongoing process, and optimizing your content is a big part of it. Every successful website needs to put up fresh content periodically. But if you need to hire experts to optimize your content at every stage, it might add up the expenses. Alternatively, you can hire content creators who know about digital accessibility, so that it becomes an ongoing process at your organization.
Build Accessibility Into the Work Culture
Introducing accessibility into the organization’s operations and management is one of the best ways to imbibe it in your digital transformation. That way, your employees feel equally responsible for ensuring that your company’s products and services get optimized for access to people with disabilities.
You can achieve that by including accessibility as a part of regular employee training activities. You can also make the training a part of the onboarding process for new employees.
Another way to ensure the digital accessibility of your organization is to invite people with disabilities to test the products and services at your organization. They can try to access them on your website and inform you about the challenges they face while using the product, services, or website. That way, you can ensure that all areas of your business get optimized for accessibility.
Include an Accessibility Statement for Your Company
Once you have achieved the desired digital accessibility transformation, you can prepare a public statement to declare your stand. Use the accessibility statement to elaborate on the steps that you have taken and how they differ from those taken by other organizations.
The decision to achieve a digital transformation that complies with the latest web accessibility standards is a commendable stand. However, several wheels must be turned simultaneously to achieve it. Planning, choosing, and implementing intelligent solutions play a big role in determining the success of your efforts. You can use these tips to ensure that you achieve accessibility in all areas of your business.