Question 1

What is web accessibility?

Accepted Answer

Web accessibility, or eAccessibility, is the practice of ensuring that websites are accessible to everyone. This includes people with physical (blindness, dyslexia etc.), situational (temporary disability), or socio-economic barriers (bandwidth or speed restrictions).

Web accessibility ensures that people with disabilities can:

• Perceive
 • Understand
 • Navigate
 • Interact with the web
 • Contribute to the web

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are a set of standards that outline four main principles of website accessibility: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust.

WCAG is the most-referenced set of standards in website accessibility lawsuits and is widely considered the best way to achieve accessibility.

Question 2

Is web accessibility required by law?

Accepted Answer

In most cases: YES! Web accessibility is legally required by law.

In the United States, The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires all websites to be accessible. Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination against people based on their disability. Title I of the ADA prohibits employment discrimination, requiring employers to make reasonable accommodations for qualified candidates and employees with disabilities, including on their websites.

Other countries have their own regulations (Equality Act in the UK, AODA in Canada etc.) that require websites to be accessible. To check if your country/jurisdiction requires web-accessibility, book a free call with us.

Non-compliance with accessibility requirements for a business's website can result in legal consequences, including hefty fines, lawsuits and other penalties.

Question 3

What are web accessibility standards?

Accepted Answer

Web accessibility standards are a set of recommendations for making websites, apps, and other digital assets accessible to people with disabilities.

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the most commonly used global standard in digital accessibility guidelines. WCAG is used as the official guideline for web accessibility laws in most countries.

WCAG is organized by four main principles, or POUR, which stands for Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust:

• Perceivable: Content is presented in an easily perceivable manner. Users must be able to perceive it in some way, using one or more of their senses.
 • Operable: Navigation is easy to operate. Users must be able to control UI elements, such as buttons that must be clickable in some way.
 • Understandable: Content is easy to understand.
 • Robust: Various devices and platforms can interpret your website's content.

WCAG 2.1 is the current version of WCAG, and websites are expected to update from the WCAG 2.0 version. WCAG levels are ranked on a scale from A to AAA, with WCAG 2.1 A conformance being the minimum level of conformance. WCAG 2.1 AA standards are midrange and widely considered legally acceptable, while WCAG 2.2 AAA is the highest and most optimal accessibility level.

Question 4

What is web accessibility testing?

Accepted Answer

Web accessibility testing is a process of evaluating and ensuring that websites, web applications, and digital content are usable and accessible to people with disabilities. The goal of web accessibility testing is to identify and address barriers that may prevent individuals with disabilities from interacting effectively with online content. Accessibility testing is essential for compliance with various accessibility standards, including the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Key aspects of web accessibility testing include:

1. Screen Reader Compatibility: Ensuring that content is perceivable by individuals using screen readers. This involves testing the compatibility of your website with popular screen reader software.
2. Keyboard Navigation: Verifying that all interactive elements and functionalities can be accessed and operated using only a keyboard. This is crucial for users who may have difficulty using a mouse.
3. Color and Contrast: Checking that color choices provide sufficient contrast for users with visual impairments and color blindness. Text and other important elements should be easily distinguishable.
4. Alt Text for Images: Confirming that all images have descriptive alternative text (alt text) to provide context for users who cannot see images.
5. Headings and Structure: Ensuring a clear and logical heading structure that aids in navigation for screen reader users and others who rely on document structure.
6. Forms and Interactive Elements: Verifying that forms and interactive elements are accessible, with clear labels and instructions. This includes testing error messages and ensuring proper form validation.
7. Multimedia Accessibility: Ensuring that multimedia content, such as videos and audio, is accompanied by captions, transcripts, or other alternatives for users with hearing impairments.
8. Responsive Design: Checking that the website is responsive and functions well on various devices and screen sizes, providing a consistent and accessible experience.
9. Testing with Assistive Technologies: Actively testing the website using a variety of assistive technologies, including screen readers, voice recognition software, and magnification tools.
10. Compliance with Accessibility Standards: Evaluating the website against established accessibility standards, such as WCAG. These standards provide guidelines and success criteria for creating accessible digital content.

Web accessibility testing can be conducted manually by testers or automated using specialized tools. A combination of both manual and automated testing is often recommended for thorough evaluation. Regular testing, especially during the development process, helps ensure ongoing accessibility and a positive user experience for all visitors to the website.

To test your website for accessibility compliance, use our free web-accessibilty scanner (https://www.accessheroes.com/web-accessibility-scanner)or book a call with our accessibility experts using the button below:

Question 5

Are wix websites ADA compliant/accessible by default?

Accepted Answer

Although Wix places a lot of importance on website accessibility and compliance, it would be impossible for Wix to automatically ensure accessibility for each website created on it's platform. This is because Wix customers have free reign to design however they want, and sometimes their design choices might not be accessibility.

To combat this Wix provides accessibility templates, a checklist and other tools to improve a site's accessibility but their official website clearly states that they cannot guarantee that all their services are compliant with all accessibility laws.

Thus the onus of ensuring web accessibility compliance for a Wix website falls on the business owner. If you have a Wix website that you would like to make compliant book a free consult with us:

Question 6

What tax credits and deductions are available for web accessibility compliance?

Accepted Answer

Various countries have different tax credits and subsidies but in the United States, the IRS offers an ADA Tax credit that includes website accessibility expenditures. This allows small businesses (under 1 million in revenue or less than 30 employees) to get 50% back on anything they spend on making their websites accessible (between $250 to $10,250) for a maximum credit of $5000.

To take the credit, business owners have to fill out and submit IRS Form 8826 with their tax returns.

The remaining 50% portion of the expenditure can be deducted as a normal business expense. This means an overall savings of almost 68% assuming an average income tax rate of 30%

For more information visit the official IRS ADA Tax credit page at https://archive.ada.gov/taxcred.htm (https://archive.ada.gov/taxcred.htm)

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