Improving the accessibility of your website simply means reaching a wider target audience, and increasing traffic and interaction on the website in question. Not working on the accessibility of a website considerably reduces the number of potential visitors…

This article looks at the issues surrounding web accessibility: why is it important? What are the main web accessibility recommendations? How to assess whether a website or Internet site is accessible?

Why optimize website accessibility?

Website accessibility refers to access to online services and content, with the aim of making a website accessible to all. An accessible website gives everyone access to the services and content it offers.

Making your site easily accessible has two main advantages: – guaranteeing equal access to all Internet users, without discrimination (resulting in gains in terms of brand image). – If you have an e-commerce site, for example, improving your site’s web accessibility will help you attract new buyers. Beyond the benefits achieved for disabled users, web accessibility greatly benefits all users and players, notably in terms of usability, control over content production, returns on investment and image.

Web accessibility recommendations

WCAG 2.0 also adopts a more rigorous thematic approach, structuring 12 main guidelines according to 4 fundamental principles:

Perceptible content

Provide text alternatives to all non-text content, so that it can be adapted in a form that meets users’ needs, Provide synchronized alternatives to synchronized media, Create content that can be formatted in different ways without losing information or structure, Make it easier for users to see and hear content, especially by separating foreground and background;

Usable content:

Make all functionalities usable with the keyboard, Guarantee disabled users sufficient time to understand and use the content, Do not format the content in a way that is known to cause damage, Provide aids for disabled users to navigate, search for and locate content.;

Understandable content:

Provide readable and explicit text Enable web pages to appear and behave in a predictable manner, Help users to rectify errors

Robust content:

Optimize compatibility with current and future user agents, including assistive technologies. Each of the twelve guidelines is broken down into one or more “success criteria”, which become the basis for site accessibility evaluation. For each success criterion, WCAG 2.0 indicates “sufficient and indicative techniques” that provide guidance limited to XHTML CSS, without making compliance dependent either on the exclusive use of these formats, or on techniques specifically detailed for them.

How to know that our website is accessible? :

A website is accessible when it meets certain criteria. There are three ways to assess the current accessibility level of your website: using tools, seeking expert opinions, or conducting user testing. User testing involves a platform that connects testers matching your target audience. These testers evaluate your site in real-time, providing feedback while focusing on the aspects you want to assess (in this case, the accessibility of your website).

Web accessibility is an issue often overlooked by website publishers. Is your website accessible to everyone? Consult a web agency to test your site and make the necessary adjustments to improve its accessibility. If you need to be visible and accessible, contact our web agency.