Accessibilty
Accessibility in the Digital World
Much like customer privacy and security, web accessibility has become an essential consideration when marketing online.
What is web accessibility?
As many business owners know, the Americans with Disabilities Act requires businesses to ensure that everyone can access their physical locations. As more and more business has moved to an online platform, the digital world is making similar adjustments to accommodate customers with disabilities that may affect how they access your website.
This may be solutions for users who require a screen reader to read content, users that may suffer from seizures from flashing imagery due to epilepsy, or users with motor impairment who need assistance navigating your website.
Considerations for Making Your Website Accessible
Mitigate Litigation Risk
In 2021 alone, an estimated 300,000 website owners (roughly 1% of small businesses) received Demand Letters for failing to have accessible websites.
The average settlement was around $30,000. Making your website more accessible helps you to manage this significant litigation and reputational risk.
Competitive Advantage
By making your website accessible, you are making steps to reach a large and underserved section of customers that have the potential to visit your business!
Not only that, but accessibility plays a role in reducing your bounce rates, improving your search engine optimization, and making sure that everyone can access your site’s content.
It's the Right Thing to Do
With an ever growing movement for equity, diversity, and inclusion, improving your website’s accessibility is a great way to show your community what is important to your business.
Companies that prioritize issues like accessibility send a clear, positive message that they see and care about all members of their community.
Where Should I Start?
Making your website accessible wasn’t always an easy feat. It requires a lot of consideration and manual changes to your website. However, we have partnered with accessiBe, the industry leader and pioneer of an AI and machine-learning powered solution called accessWidget. This software automates the once timely process of improving your website’s accessibility in one quick and cost-efficient program.
How does accessiBe work?
The software is powered by AI and harnesses that power to scan your website and overlay solutions on top of your content without changing your website code. Check out this 3-minute video of a user who is blind using the platform.
Are there tax incentives?
Yes. When using this platform, there are tax incentives up to $5,000 in tax credit available to the business owners. Click below to download the IRS tax incentive information and the tax forms for your tax professional to review.
What does it cost?
The current cost to implement this software is $392 and is renewed annually. This price includes ongoing maintenance, an accessibility statement, monthly compliance audits, and accessiBe’s litigation support package. This annual cost does not include the cost of the one time installation.
Find Out if Your Website is ADA & WCAG Compliant
Have other questions about ADA & WCAG compliance?
Give Us a Call
(314) 349-2211