Your website could be excluding a large portion of your target audience.

The web should be inclusive and provide equal access to information for everyone, including people with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects people with disabilities from discrimination, helping to ensure that they have the same opportunities to access information as everyone else. Just as a ramp ensures everyone can enter a physical store, your website should designed to be accessible to all, regardless of ability.

Many businesses can face fines or penalties when their websites don’t consider accessibility. Ignoring ADA compliance is a missed opportunity to connect with a broader target audience. Making your website accessible also improves its SEO. Google can easily read and index accessible websites, making them more likely to be found by everyone.

To help you better understand website accessibility, we’ve listed five common ADA compliance issues and how to avoid them.

1. Missing Alt Text for Images

Images make a website visually appealing and informative. However, without alt text, they can also become a barrier.

Visitors who use screen readers rely on text descriptions, known as alt text, to understand image depictions. When alt text is missing, these visitors miss out on information. Every website image needs a clear, concise description that serves the same purpose the image does.

Screenshot of Alt Text on an image

2. Poor Color Choices

Relying solely on color to convey information (like red for errors and green for success messages) or using low-contrast color combinations make it difficult for users to navigate your site. Text becomes hard to read, and important messages get lost when readers can’t see them. Not everyone sees color the same way, and information tied to specific colors may not reach everyone as intended.

Use high-contrast colors between text and backgrounds, and don’t use color alone to show information.

Graph showing the difference between colors with high and low contrast

3. Overlooked Keyboard Navigation

Some users navigate websites entirely through a keyboard or a specialized device called a ‘screen reader’ that reads the website to them. Websites not optimized for keyboard navigation can be nearly impossible for them to use.

Every part of your site should be accessible using only a keyboard, including forms, buttons, and links. Check that you can tab through items in an order that makes sense and doesn’t cause significant barriers to access your content.

4. Complicated Contact Forms

Online forms should be straightforward and simple to fill out. Forms that don’t clearly label each field, fail to provide error messages, or have complicated instructions can make it hard for anyone to complete them.

Use straightforward form designs with clear labels and instructions so everyone knows what to do.

5. No Audio Captions on Videos

Videos and podcasts are great for engaging your audience, but not if some of your visitors can’t experience them. People who are deaf or hard of hearing rely on captions to access audio content on your videos.

Captions also help individuals in noisy environments or those who learn better through reading receive the message. Include captions in all your multimedia content.

ADA Compliance Requires Ongoing Monitoring

Every update you make to your website can potentially introduce new accessibility issues. A website might start off fully compliant but slip off the radar with changes.

ADA compliance is a continuous effort and should be a regular part of your website maintenance routine. Check every addition to your website, from small blog posts to big design changes, for accessibility. Perform regular audits for the above issues to maintain compliance and inclusiveness for all.

How Vervocity Helps With ADA Compliance

At Vervocity, we create accessible website experiences for all users. We offer comprehensive ADA scans to identify issues and provide actionable suggestions for improvement.

Contact us today to learn more about our website ADA accessibility services and how we can help your website avoid compliance violations.