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  • Choosing the Right Accessibility Audit for Your Goals

    Choosing the Right Accessibility Audit for Your Goals

    Ensuring your website is accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities, is a legal obligation and a crucial aspect of good business practice. Digital accessibility is about creating an inclusive web experience, allowing everyone to navigate, interact, and engage with your online content without barriers. A vital component of this effort is accessibility testing, which identifies and helps rectify issues that could prevent users with disabilities from accessing your site. But with so many accessibility audits available, how do you choose the right one for your goals? 

    This post will explore different accessibility testing methods, their benefits, and how you can select the best approach to meet your needs.

    What is Accessibility Testing?

    Accessibility testing evaluates a website or digital product to ensure people of all abilities can use it. This includes users with visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, or neurological disabilities. The goal is to identify any barriers that might prevent these users from fully interacting with your site, whether that’s difficulty reading text, navigating menus, or accessing multimedia content.

    Accessibility testing typically involves checking against established guidelines, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which provide a comprehensive framework for creating accessible web content. Testing can be done using various methods, from automated tools to manual assessments by accessibility experts.

    Why Your Website Needs Accessibility Testing

    Web accessibility is not just a matter of ethics—it’s a legal requirement in many regions, including the United States, where the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandates that websites be accessible to people with disabilities. Failing to meet these requirements can result in costly lawsuits, damage to your brand’s reputation, and loss of potential customers.

    Beyond legal compliance, accessibility testing is essential for ensuring a positive user experience for all visitors. An accessible website can increase your audience reach, improve customer satisfaction, and boost your SEO efforts, as search engines like Google favor easy-to-navigate and understand sites.

    Overview of Different Accessibility Testing Methods

    Several methods of accessibility testing exist, each with strengths and limitations. Understanding these methods will help you choose the right approach for your goals.

    Automated Testing

    Automated accessibility testing uses software tools to scan your website for accessibility issues. These tools can quickly identify common problems, such as missing alt text, improper heading structures, or color contrast issues.

    Pros: Automated testing is fast, cost-effective, and can cover large portions of your site in a short amount of time. It’s an excellent first step in identifying apparent issues.

    Cons: While automated tools can catch many issues, they only cover 30-40% of accessibility guidelines. They can miss more subtle or complex problems that require human judgment.

    Manual Testing

    Manual testing involves human testers evaluating your website’s accessibility by simulating users’ experience with disabilities. This might include using screen readers, navigating with a keyboard, or testing for cognitive load.

    Pros: Manual testing is thorough and can identify issues that automated tools miss, such as keyboard navigation problems, improper use of ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications), or issues with interactive elements like forms and buttons.

    Cons: Manual testing is time-consuming and more expensive than automated testing. Expertise and experience are required to assess a site’s accessibility accurately.

    Hybrid Testing

    Hybrid testing combines automated and manual approaches to determine your site’s accessibility comprehensively. Automated tools are used to quickly identify issues, while manual testing addresses more complex problems.

    Pros: Hybrid testing offers the best of both worlds—speed and thoroughness. It ensures that no stone is left unturned in your accessibility audit.

    Cons: While more comprehensive, hybrid testing can be more costly and time-consuming than automated tools alone.

    Choosing the Right Accessibility Audit for Your Goals

    When selecting an accessibility audit, consider your specific goals, resources, and the complexity of your website. Here are a few scenarios to help guide your decision:

    • Initial Compliance Check: If you’re new to accessibility and looking for a quick overview of your site’s compliance with basic guidelines, an automated audit might be a good starting point. This can help you identify low-hanging fruit that can be quickly addressed.
    • Comprehensive Accessibility Review: For businesses that need a thorough assessment of their website’s accessibility, a hybrid audit combining both automated and manual testing is ideal. This approach will provide a complete picture of your site’s strengths and weaknesses.
    • Ongoing Monitoring and Maintenance: If your goal is to maintain accessibility over time and avoid compliance issues, consider an ongoing monitoring service that regularly checks your site for new issues as content and technology change.

    Overview of 216digital’s Accessibility Services

    At 216digital, we understand that navigating the complexities of digital accessibility can be overwhelming. That’s why we offer a structured approach to accessibility audits through our Phase 1 Risk Mitigation and Phase 2 Real World Accessibility services.

    Phase 1: Risk Mitigation Service

    This initial phase focuses on identifying and addressing high-risk accessibility issues that could expose your business to legal action. Using automated tools and expert manual review, we prioritize the most critical issues that need immediate attention.

    Phase 2: Real-World Accessibility Service

    In Phase 2, we dive deeper into the user experience, focusing on real-world scenarios and how users interact with your site. This phase includes extensive manual testing to uncover complex issues and provides actionable recommendations for improving your site’s accessibility.

    How Combining Automated and Manual Testing Enhances Accessibility

    A combined approach to accessibility testing offers a more robust and reliable audit process. Automated tools quickly handle large-scale issues, but manual testing ensures your site meets the nuanced needs of all users. By integrating both methods, you can create a more accessible and user-friendly website, reducing the risk of missed issues and ensuring a more inclusive experience.

    216digital’s a11y.Radar Service for Ongoing Monitoring

    Maintaining accessibility is an ongoing process. 216digital’s a11y. Radar service continuously monitors your website, automatically scanning for new accessibility issues as they arise. This service helps ensure that your site complies with accessibility guidelines over time, catching potential problems before they become costly liabilities.

    a11y.Radars Key Features include:

    • Dynamic Dashboard Display
    • Compliance Scans
    • Detailed Issues Reports
    • Issues Over Time
    • Manual Testing Reports
    • Email Alerts
    • Current Web Compliance Status

    How a11y.Radar Helps Prevent Frivolous ADA Lawsuits and Maintains Accessibility Compliance

    One of the biggest concerns for businesses today is the threat of frivolous ADA lawsuits. These lawsuits can be costly and time-consuming, even if the claims are unfounded. 216digital’s a11y. Radar service acts as a safeguard, continuously monitoring your site for compliance and helping you address issues before they lead to legal action. By keeping your site up-to-date with accessibility standards, a11y.Radar protects you from lawsuits and ensures a better user experience for all visitors.

    Conclusion

    Choosing the proper accessibility audit is crucial for ensuring your website meets the needs of all users while staying compliant with legal requirements. Whether you’re just starting with accessibility or looking for a comprehensive review, understanding the different testing methods and services available will help you make an informed decision.

    At 216digital, we can help develop a strategy to integrate WCAG 2.1 compliance into your development roadmap on your terms. To learn more about how our experts can help you confidently create and maintain an accessible website that meets both your business goals and the needs of your users, schedule a complementary ADA Strategy Briefing today.

    Greg McNeil

    August 8, 2024
    Testing & Remediation
    Accessibility Audit, Accessibility testing, digital accessibility, Web Accessibility, Web Accessibility Solution, Website Accessibility Tools
  • Why Use an Outside Firm for Accessibility Remediation

    Why Use an Outside Firm for Accessibility Remediation

    In the digital age, web accessibility is more than just a compliance checkbox—it’s a commitment to inclusivity and a critical aspect of your website’s user experience. However, ensuring your website is accessible can be complex and time-consuming, requiring specialized knowledge and skills. This is where an outside firm for accessibility remediation becomes invaluable. Let’s explore why partnering with an experienced firm like 216digital can be a game-changer for your business.

    Expertise and Knowledge

    Accessibility remediation is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It demands a deep understanding of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and other relevant standards and regulations. An outside firm brings a wealth of expertise to the table, ensuring that every aspect of your website meets the required accessibility standards.

    Professionals in accessibility firms stay current with the latest updates and changes in guidelines and regulations. This continuous learning is crucial because web accessibility is an evolving field. For instance, WCAG 2.1 introduced new criteria that were not present in WCAG 2.0. Keeping up with these changes requires a dedicated team that is always on top of industry developments.

    Comprehensive Testing

    Effective accessibility remediation goes beyond automated tools. While these tools are useful for identifying obvious issues, they often miss more nuanced problems that can significantly impact users with disabilities. An outside firm utilizes a combination of automated tools and manual testing to ensure thorough coverage.

    Manual testing is essential for evaluating how real users with disabilities interact with your website. This includes testing with screen readers, keyboard navigation, and other assistive technologies. Experienced accessibility professionals can identify and fix issues that automated tools might overlook, ensuring a truly accessible user experience.

    Making Judgment Calls

    Accessibility is not always black and white. There are situations where judgment calls are necessary to balance design, functionality, and accessibility. Professionals with experience in accessibility remediation can make informed decisions about how to address complex issues.

    For example, consider a data table that is essential for conveying information but difficult to navigate with a screen reader. An expert can determine the best approach to make the table accessible without compromising its functionality or usability. These judgment calls require a deep understanding of both accessibility principles and user experience design.

    Up-to-date with Current Guidelines and Regulations

    Web accessibility guidelines and regulations are constantly evolving. An outside firm specializing in accessibility remediation ensures that your website is not only compliant with current standards but also prepared for future changes.

    For instance, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) mandates that websites and mobile applications of certain businesses must be accessible by 2025. Staying ahead of such regulations can save your business from potential legal issues and ensure a smoother transition to compliance.

    Efficiency and Focus

    Partnering with an outside firm allows your internal team to focus on core business activities. Accessibility remediation can be a time-consuming process, especially for teams that lack specialized knowledge. By outsourcing this task, you can ensure it is handled efficiently and effectively without diverting your team’s attention from other important projects.

    Considering 216digital as a Partner

    When choosing an outside firm for accessibility remediation, it’s crucial to select a partner with a proven track record of success. 216digital stands out as an excellent choice for several reasons:

    • Proven Expertise: With years of experience in web accessibility, 216digital has a deep understanding of the challenges and solutions involved in making websites accessible.
    • Comprehensive Services: We offer a full range of services, from initial audits to ongoing maintenance, ensuring your website remains accessible over time.
    • Client-Centric Approach: Working closely with our clients, we understand their unique needs and provide tailored solutions that meet both accessibility standards and business goals.
    • Up-to-date Knowledge: 216digital stays current with the latest accessibility guidelines and regulations, ensuring your website is compliant now and in the future.

    Wrapping Up

    Web accessibility is essential for creating an inclusive online environment and avoiding potential legal pitfalls. While it might be tempting to handle accessibility remediation in-house, the benefits of partnering with an outside firm like 216digital are clear. Our expertise, comprehensive testing, ability to make informed judgment calls and up-to-date knowledge of current guidelines and regulations can transform your website into an accessible and user-friendly platform.

    Investing in accessibility is not just about compliance; it’s about demonstrating a commitment to all your users and enhancing the overall user experience. By choosing an experienced partner for accessibility remediation, you can ensure your website meets the highest standards of accessibility and remains a valuable asset for all visitors.

    Ready to get started? Contact us today to schedule a complementary ADA Strategy Briefing so that you can confidently take this next step into digital accessibility.

    Greg McNeil

    July 30, 2024
    Testing & Remediation
    Accessibility, Accessibility Remediation, Web Accessibility Remediation, Web Accessibility Solution, Website Accessibility, Website Accessibility Tools
  • Choosing the Right Web Accessibility Solution

    Choosing the Right Web Accessibility Solution

    In today’s digital age, ensuring that your website is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities, is not just a legal obligation but also a moral imperative. With the implementation of laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the European Accessibility Act (EAA), businesses must prioritize website accessibility to avoid potential legal repercussions and to foster an inclusive online environment. This guide will help you choose the right web accessibility solution for your organization, depending on your needs, goals, and budget. We will also highlight the ADA remediation services offered by 216digital, a leader in the field.

    Understanding Website Accessibility and ADA Conformance

    Website accessibility refers to the inclusive practice of ensuring that websites are usable by people of all abilities and disabilities. This includes making content perceivable, operable, and understandable, and robust for individuals with visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairments. ADA conformance means that a website meets the standards set by the ADA, which often align with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

    Assessing Your Needs and Goals

    Before diving into the web accessibility solutions available, it’s crucial to assess your organization’s specific needs and goals. Here are some key considerations:

    1. Legal Compliance: Determine the legal requirements applicable to your business. For U.S. companies, ADA compliance is mandatory, while European companies must adhere to the EAA. Understanding these requirements will guide your accessibility efforts.
    2. Audience: Consider your target audience and their potential accessibility needs. For example, if your website serves a large population of elderly users, you may need to focus more on features that improve readability and navigation.
    3. Current State of Accessibility: Conduct an accessibility audit to identify existing issues. This will help you understand the scope of work required and prioritize improvements.
    4. Budget: Establish a budget for accessibility improvements. Costs can vary widely depending on the complexity of your website and the extent of remediation needed.
    5. Internal Expertise: Assess whether your team has the necessary skills and knowledge to implement accessibility changes or if you need external support.

    Choosing the Right Web Accessibility Solution

    Once you have a clear understanding of your needs and goals, you can start exploring the available solutions. Here are some tips for choosing the right web accessibility solution for your organization:

    Automated Accessibility Tools

    Automated audits like Lighthouse, WAVE, and Firefox Inspector are a great starting point for identifying common accessibility issues. These tools quickly show potential problems, such as missing alt text, incorrect heading structures, and broken links. They give you a report with these findings, which you can use as a starting point to make your site more accessible. Some popular automated tools include:

    • Google Lighthouse: An open-source tool that provides audits for performance, accessibility, SEO, and more, generating detailed reports and actionable insights to improve website accessibility and user experience.
    • WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool): A web accessibility evaluation tool that highlights accessibility issues directly on the webpage, providing visual feedback and detailed reports to help identify and address barriers for users with disabilities.
    • Firefox Inspector: A built-in tool in Firefox’s developer tools that allows users to inspect, modify, and debug HTML and CSS, including accessibility properties, helping developers ensure compliance with accessibility standards.

    Pros of Automated Accessibility Tools

    1. Speed: Automated tools can scan an entire website in minutes, providing a quick overview of accessibility issues.
    2. Cost-Effective: These tools are generally less expensive than manual audits or professional services.
    3. Convenience: useful for identifying widespread issues to ensure ongoing compliance.

    Cons of Automated Accessibility Tools

    1. Limited Scope: Automated tools cannot catch all accessibility issues, especially those involving user experience and context.
    2. False Positives/Negatives: These tools can sometimes flag issues that aren’t actually problems or miss real issues, leading to incomplete compliance.
    3. Lack of Detailed Guidance: While they provide suggestions, they often lack the detailed guidance needed to fix complex issues.

    Manual Audits and User Testing

    Manual audits and user testing provide a more in-depth analysis of your website’s accessibility. Accessibility experts will go through your site carefully, checking each part to make sure it follows WCAG’s guidelines. This is a detailed process where experts use different browsers and assistive tools, like screen readers or voice recognition software, to find and fix any small problems with accessibility.

    Pros of Manual Audits and User Testing

    1. Thoroughness: Human experts can identify complex issues that automated tools might miss.
    2. Real-World Testing: User testing ensures that your site is usable for people with disabilities.
    3. Detailed Reports: Manual audits provide in-depth reports and specific recommendations for improvement.

    Cons Manual Audits and User Testing

    1. Cost: Manual audits and user testing can be expensive, especially for large websites.
    2. Time-Consuming: These processes take longer than automated scans, delaying the implementation of fixes.
    3. Resource-Intensive: They require skilled professionals to coordinate with users with disabilities.

    Accessibility Overlays and Plugins

    Accessibility overlays and plugins offer quick fixes for improving accessibility. These solutions typically add features like screen reader compatibility, keyboard navigation, and color contrast adjustments by modifying a website’s code with a snippet of JavaScript.

    Pros Accessibility Overlays and Plugins

    1. Quick Implementation: Overlays can be added to your site quickly, offering an immediate boost in accessibility.
    2. User Control: They often allow users to customize their experience, such as adjusting font sizes or contrast levels.
    3. Cost-Effective: Generally cheaper than comprehensive manual audits or professional services.

    Cons Accessibility Overlays and Plugins

    1. Superficial Fixes: Overlays may not address the root causes of accessibility issues, leading to only superficial compliance.
    2. User Frustration: Some users with disabilities find overlays intrusive or ineffective.
    3. Potential Legal Risks: Reliance on overlays alone may not meet legal accessibility standards, potentially exposing your site to legal action.

    Check out our guide on web accessibility overlays for more details on how they might make your website a target for a frivolous ADA lawsuit.

    Consulting and Professional Services

    For organizations seeking a thorough and sustainable approach to accessibility, consulting, and professional services are ideal. These provide customized solutions based on your specific needs, including expert guidance, comprehensive audits, remediation, and ongoing support.

    Pros Consulting and Professional Services

    1. Expert Guidance: Professionals bring a wealth of experience and expertise to ensure comprehensive accessibility.
    2. Custom Solutions: Services are tailored to your website’s unique needs and requirements.
    3. Ongoing Support: Many consulting firms offer ongoing support and training to maintain accessibility.

    Cons Consulting and Professional Services

    1. High Cost: Professional services are typically the most expensive option.
    2. Dependency: Relying on external consultants can create dependency, potentially slowing down internal development processes.
    3. Implementation Time: Custom solutions take time to develop and implement, potentially delaying compliance.

    216digital’s ADA Remediation Services

    When it comes to professional web accessibility solutions, 216digital stands out as a trusted provider of ADA remediation services. Here’s why 216digital is a top choice for ensuring your website meets ADA conformance:

    Risk Mitigation

    Through our extensive experience and collaboration with key legal players, 216digital has determined the metrics and red flags that cause companies to get hit with ADA non-compliance lawsuits. We know exactly how to take the target off of your back so that you can forget about the ambulance chasers and focus on growing your business.

    Our goal through this service is to get the best possible settlement through the improvement of your automated scan results. Identifying and removing web accessibility errors detected with scanning tools and those addressed in the lawsuit. Providing an Accessibility Statement, Skip Link, and Focus Outlines as window dressing to further prevent copycats. Ensure you don’t fall victim to copycat legislation by getting your metrics below internally established risk tolerance thresholds.

    Real-World Accessibility

    While automated accessibility scans are functional and convenient, they only curate about 30% of issues, leaving your website exposed to a lawsuit and your customers with a poor user experience.

    WCAG 2.1 Professional Audits provide insight that accessibility software can’t, which is essential to ensuring that disabled users can access your website to their fullest extent. Only through professional auditing, page-by-page click-throughs, and testing assistive technology such as screen readers and keyboard-only commands can your website reach full accessibility compliance.

    Our Web Accessibility Professionals will evaluate and examine the accessibility level of your website’s UI, source code, usability, and design. Then, they will implement solutions focused on three key areas:

    • Screen reader and assistive technology compatibility
    • Keyboard-only navigation, operation, and orientation
    • UI and design

    Ongoing Support and Monitoring

    Accessibility monitoring is an ongoing and proactive process that regularly checks online content for accessibility violations. Think of it as an early warning system, allowing developers and content creators to identify and fix potential barriers quickly.

    216digital’s a11y. Radar is an automated tool that regularly checks your website for ADA compliance. It tracks your ongoing efforts, whether they’re done by your in-house team or an outside agency. You’ll get access to detailed dashboards and updates on any content, code, or user experience issues that might affect your website’s accessibility. Plus, our easy-to-use interface lets your team see current problems and manage any changes that need to be made.

    Here are some of a11y. Radar’s key features:

    • Dynamic Dashboard Display
    • Compliance Scans
    • Detailed Issue Reports
    • Issue Tracking Over Time
    • Manual Testing Reports
    • Email Alerts
    • Current Web Compliance Status

    Conclusion

    Choosing the right web accessibility solution is crucial for ensuring that your website is inclusive, usable, and conforms to legal standards. By assessing your needs, goals, and budget, you can determine the most appropriate approach, whether it’s using automated tools, conducting manual audits, implementing accessibility overlays, or partnering with professional services like 216digital.

    216digital‘s ADA remediation services offer a comprehensive, customized, and user-centered solution to web accessibility. By leveraging their expertise, you can achieve ADA conformance and provide a better online experience for all users, ultimately fostering an inclusive digital environment and protecting your organization from potential legal challenges.

    Investing in web accessibility is not just about compliance; it’s about creating a web that works for everyone. Take the first step today and choose the right accessibility solution for your organization.

    Greg McNeil

    July 23, 2024
    Testing & Remediation
    Accessibility Remediation, ADA Web Accessibility, digital accessibility, Web Accessibility, Web Accessibility Remediation, Web Accessibility Solution
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