Accessible Design for Websites
Accessible Design spans its reach beyond the parameters of Architecture, Interior Design, and Urban Planning. For people with impairments or disabilities, the world can be more difficult to navigate. This does not exclude the virtual world by any means. To be more accessible as a business with a fully functioning website, you must consider all of those who visit it.
As of January 1, 2021, the AODA requires you to make all public websites accessible if you are:
- a designated public sector organization or
- a business or non-profit organization with 50 or more employees
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Compliance
Initiated in 2005, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) supports the wellbeing of any Ontarian who has a degree of disability, mental or physical, anyone with impairments or requires any assistance, at home or in public. The AODA standards are essential because they emphasize fundamental human rights and equality.
“The purpose of the AODA is to develop, implement and enforce standards for accessibility related to goods, services, facilities, employment, accommodation and buildings. The target date for reaching this goal is no later than January 1, 2025.”
WCAG 2.0 Guidelines
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines are suggestions to make your website more accessible. They are published by the Web Accessibility Initiative of the World Wide Web Consortium, the main international standards organization for the Internet. There are three levels of web accessibility, A, AA, and AAA. These guidelines help companies and web designers create fully accessible websites.
Website Compliance
Whether you offer a product or service, there will be people with various disabilities reviewing your content when it comes to your website. AODA Website Compliance takes any accessible design you may see out globally, from parking spaces to ramps to automatic doors to your website. If someone is impaired but still wants to know your offerings, it is wise to make your website compliant with the AODA standards. The most significant considerations for website design and copy relate to visual and hearing impairments, along with seamlessly integrating these tactics into any video content on your website. Here are some guidelines for website design that you will want to counter into your planning.
Audio Impairments
This list relates to any sound from your site, from clickable links to video or sound clips. Say you have a podcast or music embedded for playback. These considerations will help you be more accessible to website visitors.
- Audio or video must have a pause and stop function.
- Audio and Visual features must be presented simply.
- Background sound in audio content should be minimal.
Visual Impairments
This list relates to any webpage copy, branding colour choices and graphics, imagery, and video.
- Webpages must be keyboard accessible.
- All content must be legible before and during consideration of colour and design.
- The text must have the option to be enlarged for easy readability.
- All links, menus, and titles must be self-explanatory, underline and bold hyperlinked words, make the menus easily navigatable, etc. Be aware of your use of H1 and H2 headings as well.
- Consider imagery from the perspective of those who suffer from seizures, migraines, any strain, don’t pick jarring content.
- Non-text content must have text alternatives, which means video transcripts and picture captions.
These key tactics are of great benefit toward making a fully accessible website. When it comes to linking externally or to other pages on your site, consider a reasonable amount, and put yourself in the position of someone who might have neural issues hindering their hand mobility and dexterity. Regarding other impairments, it is wise to think of those with physical disabilities, making your website extremely easy to navigate, referring to the last point, but also clickable.
Being (hyper) aware of these design tactics is the web designer’s responsibility. Still, as a client, you also want to consider accessibility for any and all potential visitors to your website. Accessible (or Universal) Design is a major concept in the architectural and interior design industry. When designing a public building, everyone needs to be mobile in the space. At home, individuals recognized under the AODA umbrella need to have special adjustments to every part of their home. When we understand this concept, we can see how it correlates with website design. We at EB Media want to help bring more equality to the virtual world and our clients.
Interested in Making Your Website AODA Compliant?
To learn more about how we weave accessibility standards and best practices into our custom web design process, contact us today at 905.537.0442. We are committed to accessible design on our websites to be inclusive to all and promote equality.
