Cullen Fischel of Cleveland is an entrepreneur in the web design industry. In the following article, Mr. Fischel discusses ways website owners and designers can make websites more accessible to people with special needs.
According to Cullen Fischel of Cleveland, an accessible website should allow someone with a disability to navigate, understand, and interact with web content, ensuring their place on the Internet. Many sites still fail to meet these guidelines, though, and several major companies have faced lawsuits as a result. Yet, making an accessible website isn’t as complicated as it may seem.
Cullen Fischel of Cleveland says that by adding alt texts to images, allowing for multiple font sizes, considering contrast sensitivity, adding keyboard navigation tools, and using ARIA roles, any web designer can create an online platform that caters to individuals with disabilities. Cullen Fischel of Cleveland discusses more below about why web accessibility matters and explains how easy it is to create a website that welcomes people of all abilities.
What is Web Accessibility and Why it Matters
The Internet is arguably the most powerful and revolutionary invention in human history. In a matter of mere seconds, anyone can access the entirety of recorded knowledge, connect with people across the globe, and purchase anything they desire. This is an incredible feat and one that should be celebrated. However, guidelines remind us that not everyone can take part in this digital utopia states Cullen Fischel of Cleveland.
According to research, approximately 15% of the world’s population lives with some form of disability. This means that millions of people are being left out of the conversation, due to the fact that many websites are not designed with accessibility in mind.
The current guidelines define accessibility as the ability of a website to be accessed by people of all abilities and disabilities. In other words, an accessible website is one that can be used by all people, including those with visual, auditory, physical, and cognitive impairments explains Cullen Fischel of Cleveland.
For instance, adding alt text to images ensures that people who are visually impaired can still understand the content of a page. When a website is accessible, it not only allows disabled people to access a wealth of information and opportunities, but it also creates a better user-friendly experience in general.
How Companies Can Design Accessible Websites
Cullen Fischel of Cleveland reports that there are many ways to make a website accessible, but some methods are more effective than others. Below are just
four principles of accessibility:
1.
Perceivable: Any information presented online should be delivered in a way that can be visually or auditorily perceived.
2.
Operable: Content should also be easily navigated and operable.
3.
Understandable: Any information presented online should be easy to understand or not written to confuse the reader.
4.
Robust: Content should also be robust enough that it can be understood and interpreted by assistive technologies.
These four principles can be applied to any website, regardless of its size or purpose. However, some companies may require more significant changes to comply with
WCAG 2.0 guidelines, depending on the scale of digital operations.
Easy Ways to Increase Accessibility
No matter the type of company, there are a few simple steps that anyone can take to make their website more accessible:
1. Adding alt text to images: Alt text is a short description of an image that is displayed when the image cannot be seen. This is important for people who are blind or have low vision, as they will not be able to see the image otherwise.
2. Allowing for multiple font sizes: People with visual impairments often have difficulty reading small text. As such, it’s important to allow for multiple font sizes on a website. This way, users can adjust the size of the text to suit their needs.
3. Considering contrast sensitivity: People with visual impairments often have difficulty seeing text that has low contrast. As such, it’s important to consider contrast when designing a website. The WCAG 2.0 guidelines recommend a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.
4. Adding keyboard navigation tools: Keyboard navigation is an important accessibility feature, as it allows people who cannot use a mouse to navigate a website. There are many keyboard navigation tools available, so be sure to choose one that best suits the website.
5. Using ARIA roles: ARIA roles are attributes that can be added to HTML elements to provide additional information about their purpose. This is important for people who use screen readers, as they will not be able to see the elements otherwise.
By adding these simple customizable options, any website can transform into an accessible platform.
The Bottom Line
Cullen Fischel of Cleveland states that providing an accessible website is important, and not too difficult to achieve. By following the WCAG 2.0 guidelines and applying the recommended steps above, any web designer can create an online platform that is inclusive of people with disabilities.
