Icebergs Journey to an Accessible Website
In today’s digital age, it is more important than ever to ensure that websites are accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities. The concept of web accessibility involves designing and developing websites in a way that makes them usable by people of all abilities, including those with visual, auditory, cognitive, and motor impairments. While this process of becoming an accessible website can seem daunting, it is an essential step towards creating a more inclusive digital world. In this blog, we will provide an in-depth guide about our journey of becoming an accessible website, covering everything from understanding web accessibility to how Iceberg Web Design can assist you.
What is a Website Accessibility Audit?
A website accessibility audit is a process of evaluating a website’s accessibility or usability for individuals with disabilities. The purpose of a website accessibility audit is to identify barriers and provide recommendations for improving accessibility.
Starting the Audit Process
The team at Iceberg did extensive research to find the perfect company that aligned with our wants and needs. To perform a website accessibility audit, you can use various tools that evaluate the site. These tools may include automated testing tools, and manual testing techniques. It was very important to us at Iceberg to have real people with disabilities testing our site. We then connected with Oleb Media which is a local business in Minneapolis!
Our experience with Oleb Media
From the beginning Oleb Media was very transparent about their process. Throughout the process Oleb Media provided support, delivered clear feedback on items we needed to fix, and even educated us on the types of disabilities our website affected in a poor way. Oleb Media gave us the resources we needed during the project and continues to grow their education resources for their clients.
Implementing Accessibility Features and Feedback
At this stage in the audit process, Iceberg received our first round of edits and information of features that didn’t meet WCAG AA guidelines. Our Production team of designers and developers tackled our list and learned new things along the way.
Next our team thought about how we can implement accessibility in our process for our clients. It began with design principles, content guidelines, navigation practices, and more.
The Final Stages of Icebergs Accessibility Audit
After sending Oleb Media our solved revisions they double checked the fixes and wrote our Accessibility Statement and gave us an Oleb Media Badge of Verification to showcase on our website! Next our team thought about how we can implement accessibility in our process for our clients. It began with design principles, content guidelines, navigation practices, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the benefit of making my website accessible?
This ensures that it can be easily used by all individuals regardless of ability. This not only provides a better user experience for all, but it also helps you comply with legal requirements and increases your website’s visibility to a wider audience that could improve sales or leads.
What is the difference between manual and automated accessibility testing?
Manual accessibility testing involves conducting tests manually, such as using a keyboard instead of a mouse to navigate your website or testing the color contrast of your website. Automated accessibility testing involves using software tools to scan your website’s code and identify accessibility issues.
What are some common accessibility issues that website’s face?
Some of the most common accessibility issues that website’s face include poor color contrast, lack of alternative text for images, inaccessible forms, and non-descriptive link text.
What are some resources that can help me make my website accessible?
Iceberg will always answer our phone to answer your questions! We also have blogs and videos that provide more information on accessibility! You can read more accessibility blogs here!
Or watch our Global Accessibility Awareness Video here!
