Did you know that 90% of websites are inaccessible to people with disabilities who rely on assistive technology?\u00b9<\/p>\n
According to Techopedia, accessibility is \u201chow software or hardware combinations are designed to make a system accessible to persons with disabilities.\u201d In simpler terms, web accessibility means a website, application, or digital tool is created with the intention that people of all abilities have equal access to the full user experience.<\/p>\n
To help your nonprofit fuel its web accessibility initiatives, we cover accessibility requirements, why digital accessibility is crucial for nonprofits, and how you can make your site more accessible with intentional web design.<\/p>\n
Fun fact: <\/strong>Accessibility is often called \u201ca11y,\u201d with the \u201c11\u201d representing the number of letters between \u201ca\u201d and \u201cy.\u201d<\/p>\n Before diving into the formal definition, let\u2019s start by looking at the impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and how it opened the door for web accessibility as we know it today.<\/p>\n In short, the ADA is a civil rights law prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities in various aspects of public life. This law prohibits discrimination based on disability and requires employers, businesses, and state and local governments to provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities to enable them to participate fully in society. That includes ensuring their websites and other digital content are accessible to people with disabilities.<\/p>\n Currently, the standards for what it means to be accessible come from The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)\u2014the primary group tasked with setting international standards for the Internet\u2014sets these guidelines.<\/p>\n These guidelines outline four main standards for web content:<\/p>\n Often believed to solely support people with visual impairments, accessible web content benefits users of all abilities and contexts. In fact, accessibility improves the experience for people without disabilities in the following scenarios:<\/p>\n Inclusivity is the core concept behind web accessibility. If your nonprofit has an inaccessible website, you prevent groups of potential supporters from gaining information, donating to your organization, and participating in initiatives that others can.<\/p>\n For instance, an individual who is hard of hearing would have a much better experience if you provided a transcript alongside your videos. Likewise, someone without full use of their hands would benefit from being able to navigate your\u00a0<\/span>donation form<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>without having to reach for a mouse.<\/p>\n Providing equal access for everyone is critical to a strong web presence, which goes even further when you consider the characteristics that define the nonprofit industry. As a community dedicated to moving the needle on humanity\u2019s greatest struggles, nonprofits have a unique responsibility to consider accessibility laws and best practices in every element of the digital experience.<\/p>\n Additionally, a fully accessible site has the potential to improve the experience of all users. Adhering to the highest technical standards directly impacts how users navigate your content. If the functionality and usability of your site are suitable for everyone, users are more likely to hang around to learn more and potentially donate.<\/p>\n Ensuring your content adheres to web accessibility guidelines often begins in the ideation stages, but it\u2019s never too late to elevate your site to improve the experience for all users. Whether selecting an accessible color palette, choosing a legible font, or configuring a layout to navigate and comprehend easily, accessible design is critical.<\/p>\n Here are eight ways to elevate your web accessibility standards:<\/p>\n The appropriate color contrast is critical for ensuring that all users can access and use your website effectively, regardless of their visual abilities.<\/p>\n For instance, people with visual impairments or color blindness rely on sufficient color contrast to distinguish elements on a website. If the color contrast is too low, they may have difficulty reading or understanding the content. It\u2019s also worth noting that low contrast can strain the eyes and make it hard for any user to distinguish different elements on the page, whether they have visual impairments or not.<\/p>\n Ideally, websites should maintain a ratio of at least 4:5:1 to ensure text and images are clear.\u00b2<\/p>\n It\u2019s crucial to choose an easy-to-read font, even with smaller sizes. Sans serif fonts, such as Arial or Verdana, are often a good choice because both are simple and easy to read on various screens.<\/p>\n Appropriate font size is another critical element of accessibility. It\u2019s best practice to select a font size large enough to be legible but not so large that it becomes difficult to read or takes up too much space on the page. A font size of at least 16 pixels is the recommendation for body text.<\/p>\n Lastly, do your best to avoid all caps or italics, as these can make text more difficult to read, particularly for users with dyslexia or other reading or learning disabilities.<\/p>\n Alternative text, or alt text, improves a website’s accessibility by providing a textual description of images. Added to the HTML code of an image and read by screen readers, alt text is one of the main assistive technologies used by people with visual impairments or other disabilities.<\/p>\n You can also use alt text for navigational elements, such as buttons or links. Without alt text, users who can\u2019t see these elements may be unable to navigate the website effectively.<\/p>\n Focus states are the outlines that appear around buttons, links, or input fields on a website. These serve as visual indications of which element on the page currently has keyboard focus, often seen when a tab key is used.<\/p>\n When users interact with a website using a keyboard or other assistive technologies, such as a screen reader, they rely on the focus state to understand where they are on the page and which element is currently active.<\/p>\n The focus state is typically represented by a visual cue, such as a highlight or a color change, that surrounds or appears within the element that has focus. This can help users with visual impairments or motor disabilities to navigate the website more easily.<\/p>\n HTML headings are crucial for several reasons, but the most critical to accessibility is providing structure to improve page readability. Additionally, screen readers and other assistive technologies rely on headings to provide context and structure to the content.<\/p>\n Headings include the rankings <h1> through <h6>. All pages should have one <h1> level heading to serve as the title of the page. From there, implement headings hierarchically with subsections organized into subsequent level headings.<\/p>\n Simple forms are generally easier to understand and navigate and less likely to result in errors. These considerations are particularly critical for people with cognitive disabilities or those unfamiliar with the language on your site.<\/p>\n Efficiency is another factor that contributes to accessibility. Simple forms are typically faster to complete, which can be helpful for users with limited time or completing the form on a mobile device.<\/p>\n If your homepage or fundraising pages include video, prevent accessibility problems by including closed captions, sign language interpretation, or transcripts to help all users understand the audio.<\/p>\n This practice benefits users without auditory difficulties as well, such as people who prefer reading over listening or temporarily cannot listen to audio, like at a quiet library.<\/p>\n This recommendation carries across all forms of written communication, especially when displayed on your website.<\/p>\n Always be clear and concise to avoid confusing your readers. Long, complex sentences overwhelm users and often cause frustration. Readers may not understand what you mean to say or may misinterpret your message.<\/p>\n When writing copy for your site, do your best to avoid:<\/p>\n If you want to make your existing site more accessible but aren\u2019t sure where to start, consider running an audit. Tools such as WAVE can scan your website for any obvious WCAG offenses and offer solutions.<\/p>\n Another way to test your site\u2019s accessibility is by engaging with it in alternative ways, such as:<\/p>\n The difference between an organization with an accessible web presence and one without often comes down to a healthy dose of advocacy. Advocating for accessibility is the most effective way to drive progress and inspire organizational change.<\/p>\n Here are a few ways to become an advocate within your nonprofit, with no expertise or technical skills required:<\/p>\n There\u2019s a plethora of information and resources available to continue learning. We\u2019ve listed some of our favorites below:<\/p>\n In the same way that nonprofits strive to positively impact the world, accessibility helps make the web a more inclusive place. At\u00a0Classy<\/a>, we understand how critical web accessibility and inclusivity are on nonprofits\u2019 ability to raise more for social good.<\/p>\n Learn more about Classy\u2019s accessibility standards and how our comprehensive fundraising suite can support your goals.<\/p>\n Fuel Your Fundraising With Classy<\/a><\/p>\n Article Sources<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Improving your nonprofit\u2019s web accessibility can provide a more positive, empathetic environment for your existing and future supporters, beneficiaries, and team members alike.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":26021,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,292],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12036","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fundraising","category-nonprofit-development"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat Is Web Accessibility?<\/h2>\n
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Why Is Web Accessibility a Priority for Nonprofits?<\/h2>\n
8 Ways to Make Your Web Presence More Accessible<\/h2>\n
1. Provide Sufficient Color Contrast<\/h3>\n
2. Be Mindful of Your Font<\/h3>\n
3. Include Alternative Text With All Images<\/h3>\n
4. Highlight Interactive Elements With Focus States<\/h3>\n
5. Use HTML Headings to Structure Your Page<\/h3>\n
6. Simplify Your Forms<\/h3>\n
7. Complement All Visual Content With Captions and Transcripts<\/h3>\n
8. Use Simple Copy<\/h3>\n
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Accessibility Testing Tools<\/h2>\n
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But wait, what if I\u2019m not tech savvy?<\/h3>\n
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Continue Strengthening Your Web Accessibility Know-How<\/h2>\n
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