With the recent Department of Justice affirmation that websites are considered places of public accommodations and must be accessible for people with disabilities, it's clear that web accessibility is going to be a big issue in the coming year as businesses scramble to adhere to the law.

WebAIM's 2022 accessibility report revealed that a whopping 96.8% of homepages had detectable accessibility errors, which goes to show just how far we have to go before the internet is truly accessible to everyone.

So, what exactly is web accessibility? And what do businesses need to do to ensure their sites are compliant with the DOJ? Let's take a look at everything you need to know about web accessibility in 2023.

What is web accessibility?

Web accessibility refers to the inclusive practice of making websites and web applications accessible to people with disabilities. This includes people who are blind or visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing, mobility impaired, and those with cognitive disabilities.

In general, the overall accessibility of any given website is determined by how well it conforms to the various guidelines that exist, particularly those outlined in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1. These guidelines detail how to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities, and include everything from using proper alt text for images to ensuring that forms can be completed using only a keyboard.

The guidelines are currently in version 2.1. However, WCAG 2.2 is scheduled to be completed and published by December 2022. If you want to get a head start on the competition, you can take a look at the editor's draft, which includes many of the proposed changes that are expected to be present in the next edition (however, some of them are still not approved).

How to test the accessibility of your website

Testing your website for accessibility is an essential part of ensuring that it is compliant with the various guidelines. After all, if you are unaware of the errors on your site, you can't fix them. There are a few different ways that you can test your site for accessibility issues, such as:

• Using automated tools to check for common errors

• Having a web accessibility expert check your site manually

• Manually checking your website (and its code) against the various guidelines

Why web accessibility is important

There are several reasons why web accessibility is essential, both for businesses and for society as a whole. Let's take a look at a few of the main ones:

• It's the law - In many countries, it is illegal to discriminate against people with disabilities, and that includes having an inaccessible website. In the United States, for example, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in all areas of public life. The Department of Justice has confirmed that this includes websites and other online content.

• It's good for business - Making your website accessible not only benefits people with disabilities, but also gives you a wider pool of potential customers and employees. After all, 15% of the global population is disabled, according to the World Health Organization. Thus, if you own a website, that's over 1 billion people that you could be excluding if your site is not accessible.

• It's the right thing to do - Simply put, it's just the right thing to do. Everyone deserves to have equal access to information and content online.

How to improve web accessibility

Now that you understand a bit more about web accessibility and why it's important, let's take a look at some of the ways that you can improve the accessibility of your website:

• Use proper alt text for all images - Alt text is used to describe the contents of an image, and is especially important for those who are unable to see the image.

• Add captions and transcripts for all videos - Just like with images, those who are unable to see the video will appreciate having a transcript or caption file that they can refer to.

• Ensure that your site can easily be navigated with navigational keys - This is especially significant for those who are unable to use a mouse.

• Make sure that the structure of your website is easy to understand - This includes using proper headings, nesting them in the correct order, and avoiding confusing jargon.

• Use clear and concise language throughout your site - This will make it easier for all users to understand your content.

Final word

Web accessibility is a critical issue that should be given due consideration by all website owners and developers. By taking the time to make your site accessible, you'll be doing your part to create a more inclusive online environment for everyone. And, as an added bonus, you may also find that your business benefits from the wider pool of potential customers and employees that an accessible site can provide.

If you're not sure where to start, we suggest using automated tools to check for common errors. Additionally, be sure to manually check your site against the various accessibility guidelines that exist. By taking these steps, you can be confident that you're doing everything you can to make your site as accessible as possible.