Page 18 - Mobility Management, May 2018

Technology Series
Is Your Web Site Accessible? By Jackie Kaufenberg
In the complex rehab technology industry, you hear or use
the term “accessibility” every day. As providers, clinicians
and manufacturers, you aim to provide technology that will improve quality of life and physical environments for your customers — through seating, mobility and accessibility. But have you considered if your Web site is accessible to people with disabilities? Sure, you know about physical accessibility accom- modations businesses make, such as accessible transportation, wheelchair ramps, elevators and so forth. But what about Web site accessibility?
Accessibility doesn’t just apply to our physical world; it also applies to the virtual world. Web accessibility refers to the inclusive practice of making Web sites available to everyone of all abilities and disabilities. Visual impairments, hearing loss and motor challenges can all affect the experience that a person has online. A poor user experience on your Web site can easily lead to a customer searching for a competitor instead. The good news is that since you are in the mobility industry, you are a few steps ahead. You already understand the issues people with disabilities face, the impact of accessibility, and why it important, since you are in the trenches with your clients every day. Now it’s time to implement solutions!
ADA Compliance and WCAG
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted in 1990, before the Internet was widely used. In 2010, the U.S. Department of Justice issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed
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Rulemaking, indicating they intended to amend the language
in Title III of the ADA to ensure it would also apply to Web site accessibility. Many businesses are being proactive by following the standards for Web accessibility set by the World Wide
Web Consortium (W3C). There are Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), set by W3C, that provide a wide range
of recommendations for making Web content more accessible. The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) submitted proposed 2.1 changes in January, with final updates expected this summer. This will provide a standard for what Web site owners should do to be as ADA compliant as possible.
Assistive Technology for Web Site Access
If your Web site is not designed mobile-first, accessibility from a smartphone or tablet becomes an issue for any user, regardless of their abilities. Remember, not everyone uses a desktop computer and the standard Chrome browser. In fact, today more Web visits come from mobile devices than traditional computing platforms. Screen readers, hands-free mouse tracking, switch activations, and sip-and-puff systems are some of the assistive technology devices that people with disabilities use to access or translate information on your Web site.
Common Web Site Accessibility Issues & Solutions
• Images & Alt Tags — When you hover your mouse over an image on your Web site, you should see an alt tag or Alternative
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DESCRIBE IMAGE: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/ARTIST NAME