Winnipeg
Website Accessibility
Our team at Vincent Design creates appealing, fully functional websites that meet the latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. Talk to us about how we can make your website accessible and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) compliant.
What is Website Accessibility?
Accessibility involves removing barriers for people with a range of permanent and temporary disabilities — including visual, auditory, physical, and neurological.
Website accessibility means designing websites and web tools so that people with disabilities, changing capabilities, or restrictions can use them effectively. The goal is for everyone to have equal access and usability.
Designing your organization’s website with WCAG in mind will make your website more usable for everyone.
What is WCAG?
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, also known as WCAG, were created by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). W3C is a non-profit organization creating standards and guidelines for the web across many subjects. WCAG sets internationally recognized web content standards that provide “a single shared standard for web content accessibility that meets the needs of individuals, organizations, and governments internationally.”
WCAG version 2.2 is the recommended standard for use since October 5, 2023. WCAG outlines principles and support criteria for website code, design, and content. When followed and supported, greater access is given to a wide range of people.
As a business owner or person in charge of an organization’s online presence, you know that a website is a critical component to meeting your goals. A website allows visitors, current and potential customers to learn about your organization and what it offers. It should be informative, appealing, and accessible to every visitor — which means its content should meet or exceed the WCAG.
At Vincent Design, our web development, design, and content teams have website accessibility in mind and are ready to provide you with a website for your business or organization in compliance with WCAG.
Website Accessibility Services
Website accessibility services encompass a range of activities and features aimed at ensuring a website can be used by everyone, including people with disabilities. Here are the key components our team at Vincent Design integrates into your website:
- Automated Testing: Using tools to identify common accessibility issues.
- Manual Testing: Conducting thorough testing of all WCAG criteria.
- Screen Reader Testing: Ensuring compatibility with screen readers like JAWS, NVDA, and VoiceOver.
- Remediation: Modifying web content, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to fix identified accessibility issues.
- User Interface (UI) Design: Creating designs that are usable by people with various disabilities.
By addressing these areas, our website accessibility services team aims to create a more inclusive digital environment for all users.
Why Should Your Website Be Accessible?
Depending on the nature of your business or organization, you may be legally obligated to ensure that your website and web application tools comply with a specific minimum version or level of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). This is particularly crucial for entities that fall under government regulations or serve the public sector.
In Manitoba, the Accessibility for Manitobans Act outlines who is required to follow WCAG standards.
Even if your Canadian organization isn’t legally required to adhere to WCAG standards, complaints can be filed through the Human Rights Act at any time. An accessible website and clear accessibility communication not only helps protect against potential lawsuits but also minimizes the possibility of incurring legal costs, including fines that can reach up to $250,000.
Our 3-Step Process:
Accessible Website Process
Web Accessibility Testing, Remediation, and Maintenance.
We work with clients to provide them with a website that meets accessibility standards — whether it’s by creating a new website or assessing and upgrading a current site — using our three-step process: accessibility testing, remediation, and maintenance.
1. Accessibility Testing
The first step of our process is using a combination of automated and manual testing to conduct a thorough accessibility audit. From this, we will be able to determine whether your website needs a few adjustments or a complete redesign to meet your accessibility goals.
2. Accessibility Remediation
The second step of our process is remediation: fixing and addressing all issues identified. Some will be small code changes that most visitors won’t notice, others will be wide-sweeping issues affecting functionality.
3. Accessibility Maintenance
The last step of our process is maintenance. We’ll continue to work with you as partners to ensure your organization is in total compliance with the latest accessibility standards for websites.
Working With Vincent Design
Vincent Design is a Winnipeg website development and accessibility agency that specializes in creating fully functional websites that enhance user experience and drive engagement.
When you work with us, you work with a partner prepared with the knowledge, professional experience, and ability to perform quality web accessibility services, and feel confident that your organization’s website will meet all of WCAG’s accessibility requirements.
FAQ
Accessibility Services
Why is web accessibility important?
As a business owner or as an individual responsible for the website presence of your organization it is important to meet the web content accessibility requirements. In doing so, you reduce the risk of legal costs associated with non-compliance in website accessibility regulations.
How will making my website WCAG compliant improve my website presence?
It’s simple, having your website be WCAG compliant improves accessibility, and user-experience for all individuals. It will improve useability for those who have a disability, but also general users as well.
What is the end-goal?
To provide a website that is accessible, and easy to use for anyone no matter how they access the website of your organization.
Get in Touch
Talk to us today for a quote or to ask us questions about our approach to web accessibility. We’d love to get to know you and discuss the importance of creating websites that are accessible to all users.
