If you have to ask if it is, then it probably is not. Digital accessibility doesn’t just happen, it doesn’t come baked in to a template site, nor does any plugin magically fix your accessibility issues just by installing and paying a monthly fee. Digital accessibility needs to be created – and maintained – with intention.
It’s no small project
Addressing inclusiveness on a website is a multilayered task. Every aspect of a site needs to be assessed and revised to accommodate users of all abilities. This includes functionality, design, page content, videos and downloadable documents. There are plugins that claim they do all these things for you, but at least one class action lawsuit proved that some promise way more than they deliver. These issues are best addressed manually during site build – but a site can also be remediated after it’s live. And, since most sites change over time – accessibility on a website needs to be maintained via regular efforts with scheduled audits and remediation. Depending on what kind of business you run, accessibility for your site may even be required by law*.
Great tools available
The good news is, addressing accessibility on a website has become much more attainable in recent years. There is a growing selection of very good plugins that help improve certain areas of accessibility and others that help you identify issues so you can fix them manually. Personally I really like Accessibility Checker from Equalize Digital. I also use Wave and Lighthouse from Google to review sites on the fly. These are just a couple options but there are loads available, and more being developed all the time.
Accessibility Checker is pretty awesome. I am new to building sites for accessibility and this plugin not only scans the whole site for you, indexing issues that need attention – but it also provides you a knowledge base to understand the issue and how to repair. Pretty awesome!
Learning accessibility
I have taken some classes, done a ton of reading, attended numerous seminars, and watched what feels like million how-to videos. So far I’ve created 2 WordPress sites (including this one!) that pass the Accessibility Checker automated tests at 100%, and I’m currently remediating a third. I am also engaged in learning about best practices around downloadable media (videos and pdfs) and manual testing. I am on the road, learning more all the time.
It’s the journey
Most important thing I’ve learned is that progress is the key. No site is ever 100% accessible, 100% of the time. More than the long list of moving parts to this journey, there is also murky litigation, changing user expectations, and constantly evolving software to contend with. Since 100% is a nearly unattainable goal, the most important thing becomes the journey. Focus on improving your site, make a plan and keep it moving forward, and be transparent about your progress and future plans.
If you have to ask
If you’ve asked “is my site accessible?”, you already know the answer. I invite you to read up on the subject and consult with your legal counsel about this topic*. If you are interested in talking to me about assessing your site’s accessibility and figuring out where to go from here. Please get in touch!
*Andiamo Creative is not a legal entity and does not provide legal advice. Please get in touch with your own counsel to discuss how accessibility laws affect your business and website.
