Web Accessibility Consultant: Why Do Companies Need Them?

It’s a common misconception that web accessibility is only for people with disabilities. Even if your company doesn’t have any disabled employees, it still needs to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. These laws require all companies to make their websites accessible for those who use assistive technology like screen readers, keyboards or speech recognition software.

In this blog post, we’ll cover the main responsibilities and the reasons why companies need web accessibility consultants to bring their sites into compliance and avoid hefty fines from both government agencies and private lawsuits.

Responsibilities of a web accessibility consultant

Web accessibility consultants help make the internet more accessible for people with limitations and disabilities. They oversee the work of developers on the site’s code to make it in compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and other guidelines, which ensure access for people who are deaf or visually impaired. They also check cross-browser codes to avoid barriers presented by different browsers, such as Internet Explorer vs Firefox.

Although we usually talk about web development when referring to web accessibility, web design plays a key role in it as well. Websites need not only to be developed but also designed in a way that everyone can use them successfully. Ensuring that the website is accessible to people with limitations and disabilities, a web accessibility consultant brings websites into compliance with their unique skill set.

If you’re uncertain whether or not you should hire a web accessibility consultant, take a look at just a few of the reasons why your company needs one.

Staying on top of the latest developments

Being a relatively new area, web accessibility sees numerous additions and alterations. That’s why web accessibility consultants know every recent development in the industry. From being aware of the latest requirements for web accessibilities to updates in assistive technology, they know all about the apps and tools today’s company websites need to be accessible.

More importantly, they possess knowledge about legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, new requirements and compliance deadlines. This provides them with the knowledge of how people with disabilities go online and what barriers they usually encounter.

ADA website compliance checklist

A good web accessibility consultant will know all the requirements when it comes to website compliance. Involving both web development and web design, there are certain requisites a website needs to implement if they wish their content to be accessible by citizens with limitations and disabilities.

These are the ADA website compliance checklist requirements you need to implement for your website:

• Add appropriate headings and titles throughout your website content.
• Use text and font beneficial for the users and avoid dense paragraphs or text.
• When adding tables, make sure you populate them with a column header and also cell information.
• All your visuals should be identified with alternate text.
• Use contrasting colors for the background to emphasize the text more.
• Make sure your website is navigable by both keyboard and keyboard equivalents.
• Avoid using PDF format.
• Improve your multimedia by adding audio descriptions and text captions.
• Implement ‘Skip Navigation’ at the top of your page.

The way that websites implement these requirements is divided into three levels: Level A (minimum), Level AA (mid-range), and Level AAA (highest). Keep in mind that these requirements are beneficial for you in more ways. Besides providing access to citizens with limitations and disabilities, it also improves your site traffic and search engine optimization.

VPAT accessibility

If you don’t know what VPAT stands for, it’s an acronym for Voluntary Product Accessibility Template, and it explains how information and communication technology products meet the Revised 508 Standards for digital accessibility. They are used by buyers to evaluate the accessibility of a product and name potential deficiencies. However, VPAT accessibility is actually a complex issue as it requires commitment from both sides, the vendor and the buyer.

Sometimes, the buyer who receives a VPAT will not understand how to use the device properly and companies might even also avoid listing too many details to reduce the number of their deficiencies. The reason why companies are doing this is that it ensures their VPAT doesn’t affect their sales numbers.

To truly have value from it, both vendors and buyers need to commit to doing their due diligence. That’s the only way to provide transparent information about product accessibility. Hiring an accessibility professional will not only save you time and money but will also communicate the right messages to your target audience and help you reach your business goals.