Every website must abide by the rules and regulations outlined within the Americans with Disabilities Act. And while these rules are primarily applied to websites that are accessible through desktop computers, they also apply to the mobile interfaces that many websites offer for smartphones and tablets.
Going over what it means to make your website accessible on mobile devices and speaking with an ADA web accessibility lawyer if you have received an ADA lawsuit will allow you to protect your business.
Why Does Your Website Need To Be Accessible On Mobile Devices?
Many people rely on smartphones and tablets as their primary devices for browsing/using the internet. And, just as you might expect, some of the “Many, many people” who rely on these devices are disabled.
If a disabled individual cannot use your website on their device, then your website can be considered inaccessible and, as such, in violation of the ADA’s rules.
You can be sued for an ADA web accessibility violation. If you are sued and found guilty, you may need to pay a hefty sum that can significantly affect your business and your financial situation.
Outside of that very crucial reason as to why your website needs to be accessible on mobile devices, making your website accessible on mobile devices allows more people to access your website and use your services.
On its own, the above is reason enough to, at the very least, consider making your website accessible on mobile devices. This is especially true given the prevalence of disabilities and mobile devices in the United States.
How Can You Make Your Website Accessible On Mobile Devices?
Before we can clarify how you can make your website accessible on mobile devices, we must first explain the four pillars of web accessibility. And with that in mind, they are as follows:
Your website must be perceivable.
Your website must be operable.
Your website must be understandable.
Your website must be robust.
Given the four pillars outlined above, if you are going to make the decisions that allow your website to be accessible on mobile devices, then you must integrate the following into your website:
Every image must include alt text; transcripts and captions must be present, and a proper color contrast must be implemented for audio and video content.
Your website must be easy to operate with a touch screen; a clean, intuitive interface and clear instructions regarding each feature can and will assist with this.
Your website must be easy to understand and, in turn, easy to operate with a touch screen; if your website is incredibly complex, then you must clarify how to use and interact with this website.
Your website must offer clear instructions on how to deal with errors and, if possible, support mobile web accessibility devices that those with disabilities use.
If your website offers the following features, then it will be considered ADA-accessible. But, with that being said, other ADA web accessibility features can be included and may be worth considering depending on your website.
