Web Accessibility Facts 2024 - Opportunity of Inclusive Design

Discover the significance of web accessibility and how it impacts businesses and users alike.

The Meaning of Web Accessibility

Web accessibility refers to the practice of designing and developing websites, applications, and other digital content in a way that can be easily used and accessed by people with disabilities. It ensures that individuals with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with the content on the internet.

Web accessibility aims to remove barriers and provide equal access and opportunities for everyone, regardless of their abilities. It promotes inclusivity, diversity, and equal participation in the digital world.

Why Web Accessibility Matters

Web accessibility is crucial because it allows people with disabilities to engage with online content fully. It enables them to access information, use products and services, and participate in activities that others take for granted.

Moreover, web accessibility benefits not only individuals with disabilities but also businesses. By making their websites and digital platforms accessible, businesses can reach a wider audience, increase customer satisfaction, and improve their reputation. It helps in building a more inclusive society and fostering social responsibility.

Untapped Revenue: Accessible Digital Assets 

• Expanding Market Reach: According to the World Health Organization, over a billion people, or about 15% of the world's population, live with some form of disability (Source: WHO). This sizable demographic could be left untapped if your services are not accessible.

• Boosting Business Reputation: A report from the Carroll School of Management indicates that corporate social responsibility, including accessibility, leads to better business performance, heightened brand image, and increased customer loyalty (Source: Carroll School of Management).

• SEO Benefits: A study from the University of Southampton states that accessible websites are more likely to rank higher in search engine results, helping to increase visibility and attract more visitors (Source: University of Southampton).

• Improved Usability: According to research published in the Journal of the Association for Information Systems, accessible websites improve usability for all users, not just those with disabilities, leading to a better user experience and potentially higher customer retention (Source: Journal of the Association for Information Systems).

• Future Proofing: The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), responsible for internet standards, emphasizes the importance of accessibility, meaning that as the web continues to evolve, future technologies are more likely to be compatible with accessible sites (Source: W3C).

• Increased Conversion Rates: As per a Click-Away Pound report, 71% of disabled customers will leave a site that is not accessible, resulting in lost business. Improved accessibility can enhance conversion rates and customer retention (Source: Click-Away Pound).
  
  

The Benefits of Inclusive Design

Inclusive design is an approach that ensures products and services are accessible to and usable by as many people as possible, regardless of their abilities. When applied to web design, inclusive design offers several benefits:

• Increased user engagement: Websites that are accessible and user-friendly attract and retain more visitors, leading to increased user engagement and higher conversion rates.

• Improved search engine optimization (SEO): Accessible websites tend to have a better structure and clearer content, making it easier for search engines to index and rank them.

• Enhanced usability for all: Inclusive design principles benefit not only people with disabilities but also those with temporary impairments (e.g., injuries) or situational limitations (e.g., noisy environments).

• Compliance with legal requirements: In many countries, some laws and regulations require websites to be accessible. By implementing inclusive design, businesses can ensure compliance and avoid legal issues.
  
  

The Risks of Web Inaccessibility

Web accessibility is a matter of social responsibility and a legal requirement in many jurisdictions. Several countries have enacted laws and regulations that mandate websites to be accessible to individuals with disabilities.

• European Accessibility Act (EAA): Adopted on April 17, 2019, the EAA requires products and services to be made accessible, including e-commerce, e-books, and mobile applications. By June 2025, failure to comply may result in sanctions and fines, varying by the national legislation of each Member State. (Source: European Parliament)

• ADA Compliance in the US: The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has confirmed that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to websites. While the DOJ has not specified fines for non-compliance, thousands of businesses have faced lawsuits resulting in costly settlements. (Source: ADA)

• Accessible Canada Act: Effective July 11, 2019, this Canadian law requires all organizations under federal jurisdiction to ensure their digital platforms and content are accessible. Penalties for non-compliance can be up to $250,000. (Source: Justice Laws Website, Government of Canada)

By complying with these legal requirements, businesses can avoid lawsuits, penalties, and reputational damage. It also demonstrates their commitment to inclusivity and equality.

Analyst Perspectives on Web Accessibility

• Forrester: "The Inclusive Design Imperative: Win And Retain More Customers," Forrester emphasizes the need for businesses to design for all customers, considering their varying abilities. It also discusses the potential revenue gains from improving accessibility. (Source: Forrester)

• Gartner: Includes digital accessibility as part of its hype cycle for human-computer interaction, emphasizing its rising importance in digital user experience. (Source: Gartner) 
  
  

Beyond the Screen: The Impact of Web Accessibility

• Visual Impairments: This group includes people who are blind, have low vision, or have color blindness. Accessible websites that use proper color contrast offer text alternatives for images (alt text), and are navigable via screen readers directly benefit these users.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates there were 285 million people with visual impairments worldwide in 2021: https://www.who.int/health-topics/blindness-and-vision-loss.

• Hearing Impairments: This segment comprises individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. For these users, providing closed captioning or transcripts for audio and video content on a website is crucial.

WHO estimated that over 5% of the world’s population – or 466 million people – has disabling hearing loss (432 million adults and 34 million children) as of 2021: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/deafness-and-hearing-loss

• Motor Disabilities: These are people with any disability that affects physical movement. This could include conditions like cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease, or arthritis, or it could be related to age. People with motor disabilities benefit from websites that can be navigated using only a keyboard or a single switch access device, and that give users ample time to read and react to content.

In a 2013 survey conducted by WebAIM (Web Accessibility In Mind), a non-profit organization based at Utah State University, 35% of users with motor disabilities reported that they often, always, or almost always use the keyboard (not the mouse) for web browsing. This indicates the high prevalence of non-mouse navigation among this group (Source: https://webaim.org/projects/motordisabilitysurvey/ )

• Cognitive, Learning, and Neurological Disabilities: These encompass a wide range of conditions, including dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism, among others. For these users, clear and consistent navigation options, plain language, good color contrast, the option to extend time limits, and the ability to avoid or stop blinking content can be particularly helpful.

*According to a report by the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 14% of people have a cognitive disability that impacts their memory, concentration, or decision-making.

How to Implement Web Accessibility

Implementing web accessibility involves a combination of design, development, and testing practices. Here are some key steps to ensure your website is accessible:

• Use semantic HTML: Properly structure your web pages using semantic elements to provide clear and meaningful information.

• Provide alternative text for images: Use alt attributes to describe images, making them accessible to people who use screen readers or have images disabled.

• Ensure keyboard accessibility: Design your website to be operable through keyboard navigation, allowing users who cannot use a mouse to navigate and interact with the content.

• Use color contrast: Ensure sufficient color contrast between text and background to make the content readable for visually impaired people.

• Provide captions and transcripts for multimedia: Include captions for videos and provide transcripts for audio content to facilitate access for individuals with hearing impairments.

• Test with assistive technologies: Regularly test your website using assistive technologies such as screen readers, magnifiers, and voice recognition software to identify and address accessibility barriers.

Going beyond requirements, Aspiration Marketing is partnering with Equally AI to provide a leading-edge accessibility solution for our customers and our web presence.