Crucial Website Accessibility Adjustments to Improve Your User Experience (And Expand Your Audience!)
Twenty years ago, the internet was a resource that wasn’t necessarily a need, but a want. Fast forward to 2021 and the internet is now crucial to everyday life. Most individuals access the internet multiple times a day for countless reasons, so your webpage should cater to all individuals. Now, you are probably are thinking to yourself: “I do that already.” But does your website cater to those individuals with disabilities?
According to the Census Bureau, nearly 1 in 5 people in the United States have a disability, which equates to 56.7 million people, or roughly 19% of the population of the U.S. It’s time to make your webpage accessible to all, and fortunately there are a few plugins out there that can help you achieve this.
6 Website Accessibility Solutions You Wanna Look Into
Website accessibility plugins provide features that support an individual’s accessibility need(s), and can also be a temporary solution while making more permanent changes to your website to be accessible for all. Plugins can vary, but many can help with physical, visual, and auditory disabilities.
Color Adjustments: WP Accessibility Helper
This is a plugin that is displayed as a small toolbar on your webpage that allows users to adjust the font size and color contrast. This is great for those with visual disabilities, such as color blindness or low vision. Tip to website owners, the best contrast is black text among a white background as it provides a clear coordination among color. The screenshot below displays the toolbar.
Font Size: Text Zoom
The Text Zoom plugin allows users to set their individual font size. The beauty of this plugin is the user settings are automatically saved per user and domain, so if an individual clicked out of the site and went back into in, the settings will adjust to what was previously saved. The settings can also be adjusted not only by mouse, but by keyboard as well. According to Word Press, research shows that approximately 20% of users perceive texts on websites being too small to read. Having the Text Zoom plugin will impact user experience by giving users the option to increase the font size for a positive browsing experience.
Voice and Speech: Responsive Voice Text to Speech
This plugin allows users to have all text read to them, which is also great for those with visual impairments. According to their website, the plugin supports 51 languages and offers a selection of voices, all that can be chosen by the user. The plugin also offers a feature to add voices to any video, and generate semi-automatic voice-overs for your videos from text, in 13 languages. The Responsive Voice Text to Speech plugin also includes a voice message editor, accessibility compliance features, a developer API and it’s free for non-commercial sites. Finally, the company also offers a free trial, so it’s absolutely worth a try!
Form Improvements: Microsoft Forms
This is a plugin within the Microsoft Suite that is used to create accessible forms. The forms created on this platform can be done by using a screen-reader or on a keyboard. The user is also able to add ALT text to any form, so if there as an image embedded, adding ALT text is available via the image editor that is displayed upon image upload. There is also multilingual support within the forms as well for those who wish to translate.
Replacement Forms: Contact Form 7
This is another plugin used to create accessible forms and allows users to replace standard forms with a version that is accessible for all. The installation is seamless due to the company’s step by step installation guide, and the company also offers guides on creating specific forms and a tips section in how to enhance your forms to make them user friendly.
All in one: accessiBe
accessiBe is a game-changer in web accessibility making the entire process to full compliance 100% automatic and immediate, using machine-learning and computer vision technologies. The company targets those with visual, auditory, and motor impairments, cognitive disorders, and epileptics. It’s AI-powered, automatic solution out there that is proven to make websites fully WCAG and ADA compliant.
The company does offer a free trial, is transparent with pricing, and has full client testimonials on their site. What is unique about this company is the solution was developed side by side with individuals with disabilities. According to accessiBe’s CEO, Shir Ekerling, “Developing accessiBe side-by-side with the people who are using it on a daily basis is the secret sauce to our success.” We feel accessiBe is truly disrupting the market when it comes to making websites accessible for all.
Getting Accessible Is Important, But Also Necessary
Having an accessible website is not a recommendation, it’s a legal requirement.
Besides… By making your webpage accessible for all, you’re boosting your traffic, and by boosting your traffic, more consumers are finding your products and services. It’s a win for all.