Web accessibility - it’s important, but it can be a real challenge to get it right.
If you’re a not-for-profit in 2024, you’re acutely aware that you need to provide an accessible online experience for your clients, mainly because:
1. You want as many people as possible to access and benefit from your service.
2. You don’t want to face sanctions for failing to provide an accessible website.
But knowing this doesn’t make it any easier to overcome the challenges of web accessibility.
To do that, you’ll need something else…
Why accessibility can be challenging
It’s complicated
The regulatory requirements outlined in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are very technical. They require a detailed understanding of visual design, web development and content principles. If your organisation doesn’t have employees with these skill sets or the right tools to help, web accessibility can feel overwhelming.
It’s time-consuming
If you’re a not-for-profit, you’re probably used to operating on tight budgets with small teams.
Unless you’ve got a web accessibility expert on your staff, implementing even the most straightforward improvements will take considerable time, which you probably don’t have.
You don’t know where to start
“How do I get my head around the WCAG?”
“I’ve discovered this tool that checks my site’s accessibility, but is it worth it?”
Even if time and money weren’t an issue, taking the first step towards web accessibility often raises more questions than answers. There’s so much to learn, and it’s all very technical. Without a guide, it’s hard to know how to proceed.
Learn more about how an accessible website helped Cockburn Arc better serve their community.
Why it’s still worth it
Despite these challenges, the benefits of web accessibility are clear:
Your clients get more out of your website
An accessible site is easier to use for ALL users, not just people with disabilities. By making your site more accessible, you’re creating a more engaging online experience for your current clients and may also find that you’re better equipped to attract new ones.
You get more out of your website
A website is a significant investment. If yours can’t effectively reach your audience, then you’re not getting the best return on that investment.
Making your website more accessible not only helps your content reach more people - it can also drive traffic to your site. This is because a lot of the things that make sites accessible, like clear headings, rich text and image tagging, are also likely to improve your search engine ranking.
You avoid penalisation
Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA), websites must be accessible to people with disabilities. Similarly, the Australian Human Rights Commission recommends compliance with the WCAG for all websites. WCAG compliance is not a legal requirement, but it will help ensure compliance with the DDA. Failing to comply with the DDA can lead to complaints and legal action.
So, how can the accessibility challenge be overcome?
The solution
Visibility.
The first step to getting on top of your site’s accessibility is knowing your baseline - how accessible is your site right now?
We can give you the answer to this question with a free, zero-obligation accessibility audit. We’ll use Silktide to audit your site against the WCAG and give you your baseline accessibility score.We’ll also give you a list of all the areas for improvement identified during your audit so you know what to target.
If you decide to move ahead with implementing these changes and need some assistance, we also provide bite-sized services for improving accessibility in a cost-effective and timely manner.
Click here to find out what your accessibility score is at zero cost.
