In today’s digital environment, accessibility goes way beyond the moral compass. In Ontario, Canada for instance, it has become mandatory to have it based on the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). It has prescribed standards for making websites accessible to persons with impairments. With the increased use of accessibility tools, Ontario businesses need to consider the AODA website compliance tests.
This gives them fairness in accessing their information, services, and products. In general, the primary benefit of AODA website compliance testing is legal noncompliance avoidance. It also improves the user experience and extends customer reach. Below is a write-up to highlight some of the benefits of AODA web compliance testing in detail.
What is AODA?
With the passage of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) in 2005, an accessible Ontario is envisioned by 2025. It calls for the public and private sectors to remove all barriers to accessibility. This counts specifically in seven spheres: customer relations, employment opportunities, information, communication, and transportation. The accessibility of websites is a primary concern for people with disabilities, such as vision impairments and physical limitations.
The general rules used by AODA website remediation are the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2. 0, funded by the World Wide Web Consortium W3C. Websites must abide by the level AA requirements of WCAG 2.0. This contains principles for ensuring that websites are perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for all users, including those with assistive technology. The level AA standards are the most preferable ones.
Advantages of AODA Website Compliance Test
Below mentioned are some of the ways in which AODA compliance enhances site’s accessibility:
Improved User Experience
The AODA website is tested for accessibility, which improves the usability and friendliness of your website for all users. Adding elements like alt tags, focus indicators, and compatibility with screen readers, not only benefits the disabled ones.
Besides, it also makes it easier for other users as well. Everyone can benefit from several web accessibility features, such as clear content and simple navigation.
Expanded Audience Reach
A more accessible website could help your business attract more clients. There are more than a billion people with impairments worldwide. They will turn to those businesses that offer accessible web experience.
When you follow AODA website compliance test details, you may have visitors who before could have little to no access to your site.
Avoidance of Legal Risks
Consequences of noncompliance include penalties, fines and lawsuits. Although these are often meted on large organizations and or public sector entities. Accessibility testing allows you to test for compliance and rectify the non-compliance.
This saves you lots of money spent on legal issues. It helps to check that your site conforms to the WCAG 2.0 AA criteria. Therefore, ensuring that your business remains AODA compliant as well as similar international regulations.
Boosts SEO
Most accessibility Web standards like describing images, strongly structured content, and programmatic navigation also help in search engine rankings. With the help of adjusting its accessibility, you shall also increase its ranking.
This further makes AODA website remediation effective and brings more organic traffic from search engines.
Contact us at www.acadecraft.com/contact-us/ to learn more about our AODA Website Compliance Testing Services.
Enhanced Brand Reputation
Website accessibility indicates that your company embraces diversity and is socially responsible. E-establishments that show consideration for the disabled attract the public’s approval.
This happens because they prove customer consideration by creating equal access for all consumer classes. It can also help in securing partnerships and collaborations with organizations with similar reputations and interests.
Wrapping Up
The AODA website compliance test improves user experience and can help your business avoid possible legal issues. It also complements the overall global push towards digital accessibility. Customers will perceive your brand more favourably if it has an accessible website since it conforms with AODA guidelines.
In the long run, being concerned with access outweighs the drawbacks and contributes to building equality and assisting in evolving your company, as well as the entire society.
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