Website content accessibility is important for persons with disabilities to easily use and interact with a website. If your website content is accessible, it not only reflects positively on your business, it is a legal requirement in many areas. In Ontario, businesses with 50 or more employees must have accessible websites, and many other states and provinces in Canada and the United States will soon require all commercial websites to do the same.

What is Website Content Accessibility?

Similar to wheelchair accessibility standards for public buildings (ramps, minimum-width doorways, etc.), accessibility best practices not only mean greater customer service, but they also demonstrate to the rest of the world that your business does not (intentionally or unintentionally) discriminate against people with disabilities.

Failure to comply with Web Content and Accessibility Guideline (WCAG) as per the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) can result in fines greater than $100,000 per day.

Common accessibility issues may involve:

• Ability to read, hear or see web content in the absence of text alternatives
• Ability to navigate a website using only keyboard commands
• Ability to distinguish colours
• Avoidance of flashing animations or videos which may cause seizures
• Average reading level