At DeeperThanBlue, we coach businesses to develop their online presence, enabling access to new markets and embracing legislative requirements to ultimately achieve business goals.
And when it comes to achieving business goals and securing competitive advantage, accessibility is becoming increasingly important. UK Office for National Statistics data shows a rise to over 11 million adults with disabilities now using the internet. Internet use for the over 75s has also doubled over the past few years. Investing in online accessibility presents a significant business opportunity.
Achieving Gold, Silver or Bronze status in Accessibility
In 2021, the Paralympics brought into focus the importance of accessibility for everyone. And this includes for websites, which is defined in the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). So, it’s time to take inspiration from Team GB’s gifted Paralympians. Here’s how organisations can ensure their online presence conforms to WCAG standards to enhance user experience and deliver a Gold, Silver, or Bronze accreditation.
Gold
The highest conformance level
The total number of requirements defining the content in scope are all satisfied, passed the silver criteria, and have passed all holistic items. Verified to silver standard testing and have passed additional extensive holistic testing.
Silver
An intermediate conformance level
An intermediate number of requirements defining the content in scope is satisfied to an intermediate standard, passed the bronze criteria, and have passed fundamental holistic items. Verified to bronze standard atomic testing & fundamental holistic tests.
Bronze
The minimum conformance level
A minimum number of requirements defining the content in scope are satisfied to an MVP, does not have any critical errors, and meets the minimum standard defined by percentage. Verified using only atomic testing.
The three options above explore an important competitive advantage for online businesses by using enhanced features that provide a distinctive user experience to all. The model guidelines that the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines present enable businesses to reach people with disabilities and improve the usability of content to users in general.
Applying the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines framework enablers and enhancing online presence
| Accessibility recommendations and combinations to enable impaired, disabled individuals’ accessibility to web-content. | Recognition of requirements for disabilities such as cognitive, learning, blindness, low vision, vision impairments; deafness, hearing loss, movement, dexterity, speech, sensory disorders, disabilities. | Requirements on desktops, laptops, tablets, mobile devices, wearable devices, and other devices, as well as emerging immersive web technologies such as virtual and augmented reality. | Adopting various types of web content including static content, interactive content, visual and auditory media. | Addressing related web tools such as authoring, testing, user agents (browsers and assistive technologies), and content management systems. |
Finding the right assistive/adaptive technology
Currently there is plenty of assistive/adaptive technology on the market to choose from. This includes JAWS, Dragon, ChromeVox, NVDA, Apple VoiceOver, Google TalkBack, and Microsoft Narrator. The right technology will depend on your existing systems as well as the needs of the users.
And that’s where we can help. We tailor quality solutions to fit the customer and will work alongside you to find the right solution that works for your business, whilst taking the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines into account. Get in contact with us below for a chat.