iCompass Technologies Blog

Is your website accessible? These days many municipalities are looking at the accessibility of their organizational website. An accessible website is one that can be accessed by people of all abilities and disabilities. Maximizing your website's usability starts with understanding your audience and their specific needs. Below I've listed the five types of disabilities to watch out for when designing or updating your website. 

1) Visual disability. Readable text needs to contrast against its background, so try not to use lime green text on a white background or navy blue on a black background. Blind people who use the internet rely on screen readers, so make sure images have "alt text" (the text a screen reader reads).

2) Auditory disability. If there is a video with audio on the site, subtitles should be included for the hearing impaired. Some people may be especially sensitive to sound, so any element of the website that plays looping music needs to have a volume or mute control.

3) Mobility disability. Some visitors may have Parkinson's Disease or something similar that prevents them from accurately using the mouse; they may rely on using the keyboard to navigate the site. The tab key is essential for keyboard navigation, as it jumps the focus to different elements on the page. When checking a page for accessibility, make sure that it's possible to navigate around the page using just the keyboard. Some pages have "keyboard traps" that prevent this.

4) Epileptic seizures. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines state that no website should have a page that flashes or rapidly changes an image more than three times in a second. Images that automatically change should do so gradually and infrequently. The color red is especially notorious for triggering an epileptic seizure.

5) Learning disability. One way to help users with cognitive or developmental disabilities through a website is to have a consistent navigation. Presenting repeated content in the same order is important for users who rely on visual clues to use a site. A website's main menu should be the most consistent element of the site. 

Check out the site below for some great resources on website accessibility. 

-Accessibility Resources You Should Know

Barry B. Byrne joined the iCompass Technologies team in 2007. He holds a diploma of Digital Arts & Design from Kamloops' Thompson Rivers University (TRU). 

As a graphic designer and website developer, Barry oversees all aspects of iWeb and CivicWeb CMS implementations. Barry's focus on driving the iCompass brand throughout the company's marketing and customer materials, assessing new technologies, and ensuring all customers have an amazing website offer true value for company and customers alike.