Written by: Janna Fiester, VP of UX & Creative, Sandstorm and Amanda Heberg, VP of Business Development, Sandstorm
In a recent member meet-up, Mark Moen, CIO of the American Society of Clinical Pathology, alongside two experts from Sandstorm®, Janna Fiester, VP of UX & Creative, and Amanda Heberg, VP of Business Development, presented an insightful and hands-on webinar focusing on the critical aspects of User Experience (UX) and website accessibility (WCAG). For those who couldn't join, here’s a recap of the key highlights from the discussion:
Does Accessibility Have a Real-World Impact?
Accessibility is not just about compliance; it's about inclusivity. Statistics show that 27% of U.S. adults have a disability, and inaccessible websites can alienate a significant portion of potential users. Moreover, accessibility lawsuits have increased by over 300% since 2017, emphasizing the legal imperative to create accessible digital spaces.
ADA or WCAG: Which Accessibility Guideline is Right for My Website?
Many organizations work to create digital experiences that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which provide specific standards to make digital experiences more inclusive, enables sites to be accessible and meet ADA requirements.
ADA governs accessibility in both physical and digital spaces but lacks detailed digital guidelines.
WCAG, on the other hand, offers clear standards to enhance the inclusivity of digital platforms, with different levels of compliance: A, AA, and AAA. While most organizations aim for WCAG AA compliance, achieving WCAG AAA is rare and usually not necessary for most requirements.
Insights from the Attendees
During the webinar, three polls were conducted to understand the audience's familiarity with WCAG and the organization’s accessibility challenges. Here’s a snapshot of the responses:
● Most participants were somewhat familiar with WCAG while others were not very familiar, indicating a need for more educational initiatives.
● Lack of knowledge or expertise, budget, and time constraints were the three most common challenges to having accessible websites.
● Most plan to hire accessibility experts or implement accessibility tools and software as the main two strategies to improve accessibility.
Quick Tips for Better Accessibility
After auditing, reviewing, and creating hundreds of digital experiences, Sandstorm has compiled a list of the most common accessibility violations to include in your governance & accessibility strategy:
Content Structuring:
● Avoid large blocks of content.
● Use bulleted and numbered lists.
● Highlight keywords and organize content logically.
Consistent Heading Structure:
● Use H1 for the main heading, followed by H2, H3, and so on, maintaining a logical order.
● Maintaining this order helps ALL users engage with the content.
Alt Text for Images:
● Provide descriptive alt text for all images.
● Standard alt text is usually less than 250 characters and is used for simple icons or images.
● Short descriptions are over 250 characters and are used for more complex images.
● Long descriptions are as long as needed to convey the meaning of the infographic or complicated charts.
Color Contrast:
● Ensure sufficient contrast between text and background colors using tools like the WebAIM contrast checker.
● Make sure colors in charts have enough contrast to convey the data.
● Don’t rely on color alone to convey information; use texture for charts and graphs.
Needs of the Aging Population:
● Use high contrast and simple designs.
● Clearly identify links and buttons, avoiding vague terms like "click here."
● Ensure large click zones for buttons and links.
● Auto-rotating carousels can be problematic. Allow users to manually navigate through carousels.
● Watch out when using yellow with green and blue with purple since these combinations are hard for older users to see
Additional Insights from Breakout Sessions
During the breakout sessions, participants shared a variety of insights and strategies they are employing to improve accessibility in their organizations. Here are some key takeaways:
Accessibility Widgets and Overlay: Make Sure These Don’t Cause More Harm Than Good
Some participants mentioned using overlay solutions like UserWay, an accessibility widget that helps end users navigate websites. However, a significant takeaway was that such solutions can sometimes interfere with the assistive technologies users rely on. Integrating accessibility features directly into the site code, rather than relying solely on third-party tools or widgets, can be more effective.
Making Content More Accessible: Define Clear Priorities and Workflows
Reviewing content, especially PDFs for accessibility can be daunting. One participant shared they prioritize and focus on the most accessed PDF documents first. This strategy helps focus the accessibility team on the content that is more used instead of trying to tackle all content at once.
It was noted that having a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for accessibility checks, especially when multiple people are involved, is crucial. Ensuring that more than one set of eyes reviews content for accessibility can help catch potential issues early.
Ongoing Accessibility Monitoring: Monthly Audits Can Keep You On Track
Monthly website crawls that generate accessibility reports can help maintain accessibility goals. These reports help teams prioritize fixes and ensure ongoing compliance with accessibility standards.
Choosing the Right Tools: Many CMS Can Help
Discussions also touched on the content management systems (CMS) participants are using. Examples include Crownpeak, which has built-in accessibility checkpoints, and Drupal, which many participants are transitioning to for its flexibility and accessibility features.
Getting Personal: Incorporating Personalization While Being HIPAA Compliant
Personalization while maintaining accessibility was another topic of interest. Some participants are leveraging AI to personalize content for different marketing materials. Others focus on simple personalization tactics, such as showing related content based on user queries or location, without compromising accessibility.
Concerns about HIPAA compliance influenced how some participants approach personalization on their websites. This underscores the importance of balancing personalization efforts with regulatory requirements.
Good Accessibility is Good UX
Accessibility is a journey, not a destination. By continually refining digital experiences to meet and exceed accessibility standards, organizations can ensure their services are inclusive, enhancing user satisfaction and compliance.
For those who missed the webinar, it is hoped that this summary provides valuable insights and practical steps to improve accessibility in digital endeavors. Feel free to reach out with any questions or for further guidance on the accessibility journey.