An ADA Compliance Check List

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An increasing number of businesses are asking us about ADA compliance, specifically what it actually means and if their website is compliant.

What Does It Mean To Be ADA Compliant?

In 1990, The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was set out which requires companies and organizations to provide reasonable accommodations. It also sets out that companies need to remove access barriers to persons with disabilities.

The “access barriers” that were referred to when the law was first created were specific to actual steps or ledges. Today, this law is applied to websites as well. This means that digital content needs to be accessible to people with auditory, visual, and other physical disabilities and limitations.

There are 3 main sections of ADA compliance that website owners need to know:

1. The website’s design – making sure all content is accessible, including images and videos

2. The website’s functionality – ensuring people can navigate the website easily, including using a keyboard instead of a mouse

3. The website’s language – making sure all text is readable, including captions for videos and audio files

How Do I Know If My Website Is ADA Compliant?

The best way to know if your website is compliant is to have it audited by an ADA compliance specialist, such as Connectica. They will be able to tell you what specific changes need to be made in order for your website compliant.

To give you a good idea on what to look out for, we’ve created this checklist.

ADA Compliance Checklist For Your Website

When it comes to ensuring compliance, there are certain considerations that need to be made. Here are a few of them.

1. Keyboard Navigability

The reality is that not everyone uses a mouse to navigate through a website. Some people use a keyboard instead. That’s why it’s important to make sure your website can be navigated using only a keyboard. This includes making sure all links and buttons are accessible as well as ensuring that the tab order is logical.

2. Image Alt Text

One of the most basic aspects when it comes to ensuring compliance is providing alt text for all images on your website. This is so people who are visually impaired can still understand what the image is about. It’s also a good idea to include a brief description in the alt text, especially if the image is complex or has a lot of detail.

3. Captions

Captions should be included for all videos and audio files on your website. They should also be brief and to the point, avoiding long blocks of text.

4. Headers

Headers are a great way to organize and structure your content. They also play an important role in ADA compliance. Headers should be used to indicate the beginning and end of different sections on your website. This makes it easier for people with visual impairments to navigate your website.

5. No Flashing Graphics

One of the stipulations is that no elements on your website can flash or blink. As per the ADA and WCAG standards, graphics that flash more than three times per second are prohibited. This is because they can inadvertently cause seizures.

6. Format Lists Correctly

Lists are an important part of web content (with proper <ul>, <ol>, and <li> tags). By formatting lists correctly, you’ll ensure they are more understandable by accessibility technologies, those such as e-readers.

7. Pause Option

Many websites have videos or audio files that auto play as soon as the page loads. It’s important to add a pause button to all videos and audio files on your website, or if you have carousels that rotate automatically. This will allow people to control when and how they want to listen to or watch the content.

8. Properly Formatted Tables

In order to be ADA compliant, it’s important that you use proper html structured tables and descriptive column and row readers. This helps users to orient themselves while they are using accessibility technology. The reality is that tables can be hard to interpret with such technology.

9. Create Accessible Forms

When it comes to the forms on your website, you must use well-positioned and descriptive labels for each input field.

Making Your Website ADA Compliant

If you’d like to make sure your website is ADA compliant, then you’ve come to the right place. We have passionate experts who understand the many intricacies of ADA compliance.

At Connectica, we have the skillset, some of the best digital marketing experts in South Florida, and the tools to get the job done for you. We’re also a really great bunch of people to work with! Chat to a friendly member of our team on 954-282-1698 or you can send us your details here and we’ll give you a call.

Get your website ADA compliant with Connectica today.

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An ADA Compliance Check List (with Infographic)

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