Fixing Accessibility Barriers for a More Inclusive Digital Experience

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law in 1990. The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. The ADA also requires covered employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities and imposes accessibility requirements on public accommodations.

Digital Assets such as website (Informational or eCommerce using Shopify Magento, WoCommerce, etc), Apps (iOS, Android), Documents (PDF, Word, etc) come under ADA.

ADA compliance means ensuring the context and content of all items on the websites that are Custom built or with CMS like Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, BigCommerce & Salesforce Commerce Cloud can be accessed by those with visual, manual, or hearing impairments. Many organizations follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). There are three versions of WCAG standards: 1.0, 2.0 and 2.1, while 2.1 is currently the latest version. There are also three levels of conformance: A (bare minimum level of accessibility), AA (target level of accessibility meeting legal requirements) and AAA (exceeds accessibility requirements). To ensure that your website complies with ADA standards, reaching Level AA is good enough for reaching ADA compliance. Still, you should ideally strive to make the website 100% accessible to all users and turn it into an all-inclusive environment.

At Mobikasa, we have a team of accessibility experts and developers who provide end-to-end digital accessibility solutions at various stages, such as designing, development, updating, remediation, and validation, to ensure your products meet industry-set standards and are accessible to all types of user groups.

Mobikasa has certified and trained experts and developers who have experience of working on apps and websites built using platforms like Shopify, ShopifyPlus, Magento, WordPress, Adobe Experience Manager, BigCommerce, Custom Web Interface, etc

Automated accessibility uses some tools and software to audit websites that are Custom built or with CMS like Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, BigCommerce & Salesforce Commerce Cloud for common accessibility barriers that might affect people with disabilities. Automated tools are the first choice for most organizations to scan their website for issues as most websites are too large and complex to navigate and test manually.

Manual testing includes a human tester, who accesses and audits the website and creates a report based on their experience. One major advantage of using manual testing over automated testing is that the automated tools can identify some barriers, but they can't explain how those barriers affect real users' experiences. Human testers have qualified experience with accessibility technologies and can provide actionable feedback that helps developers and designers create better content in the future.

Mobikasa believes that by combining automated accessibility tools with expert human oversight, we can provide our clients with excellent guidance for meeting their accessibility goals.

Although automated testing is a good way to kickstart accessibility implementation on websites built using CMS like Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, BigCommerce & Salesforce Commerce Cloud, you cannot rely on them alone while assessing the accessibility of a website. Automated tools used in accessibility testing cannot test websites against all the WCAG success criteria and will only reliably find 20-30% of accessibility issues. Automated accessibility testing has some limitations as all the automated tools cover different levels of issues, and the language of the results which is used also requires some technical knowledge of web accessibility.

Automated accessibility testing tools are a great option for checking large volumes of content quickly. However, manual accessibility testing using the screen reader is still an essential part of accessibility testing as the human eye identifies nuanced issues with design and navigation.

Mobikasa has certified and trained experts and developers who have experience of working on apps and websites built using platforms like Shopify, ShopifyPlus, Magento, WordPress, Adobe Experience Manager, BigCommerce, Custom Web Interface, etc

The goal of digital accessibility or making digital content accessible is to create better digital products, websites, mobile apps, and electronic documents and ensure that all potential users, including people with disabilities, have a good user experience and can easily access your information. Digital accessibility is essential as a lot of web users have a disability. If the website is not accessible, they will simply leave the website that is not accessible and users without disabilities also find that accessibility features help them navigate the site more effectively.

Additionally, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 508 of The Rehabilitation Act, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), and European Accessibility Act are laws in place which prohibits discrimination against any person with a disability.

eCommerce CMS like Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, BigCommerce & Salesforce Commerce Cloud promote accessible websites and have themes that are accessible.

Implementation of accessibility can take place at several stages for your website built using CMS like Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, BigCommerce & Salesforce Commerce Cloud. Still, it is easiest and most feasible to achieve when the accessibility practices are incorporated from the beginning of the project itself.

If your website fails to meet ADA standards, you risk being sued. There are various benefits to making your website ADA compliant. Some of them are listed below

• Increased website traffic
• Reduced risk of legal complication
• Meet government and institution requirement
• Improved website SEO
• Provide better website usability
• Promotes business growth

Accessibility testing is a type of software testing that ensures that a product is usable and accessible by people with disabilities, such as those who are visually impaired, hearing impaired, or have motor disabilities.

Accessibility testing is important because it ensures that people with disabilities have equal access to digital content. It also helps businesses and organizations comply with accessibility laws and regulations, and can improve the overall user experience for all users.

Some common accessibility issues that testers should look for include lack of alternative text for images, insufficient color contrast, lack of keyboard accessibility, and inaccessible forms.

Accessibility testing is the responsibility of everyone involved in the development process, including developers, designers, and testers. It's important to ensure that accessibility is considered throughout the entire product development lifecycle.

To make sure your website or application is accessible, you should follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). You can also perform accessibility testing using tools like those mentioned above and involve users with disabilities in the testing process.

Some best practices for accessibility testing include testing early and often, involving users with disabilities in the testing process, using automated testing tools, and prioritizing accessibility issues based on severity.

Some common accessibility issues that are tested for include keyboard accessibility, alternative text for images, color contrast, proper use of headings, and form accessibility.

Some common accessibility testing tools include screen readers like NVDA or JAWS, color contrast analyzer, and automated accessibility testing tools like AXE, WAVE, ARC Toolkit, Lighthouse, and Accessibility Insights.

The process for conducting an accessibility test typically involves reviewing the relevant accessibility guidelines, identifying the specific areas to test, selecting appropriate testing tools, and evaluating the results. It may also involve user testing with individuals with disabilities.

Some best practices for accessibility testing include involving people with disabilities in the testing process, testing with a variety of assistive technologies, prioritizing accessibility issues based on impact and severity, and testing regularly throughout the development process.

Web accessibility testing refers to the process of evaluating and verifying the accessibility of a website or web application for people with disabilities. It involves testing various aspects of a website, including its design, layout, content, and functionality, to ensure that they can be accessed and used by people with different types of disabilities, such as visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive disabilities.

Web accessibility testing is important because it helps ensure that people with disabilities can access and use websites and web applications just like everyone else. Accessibility testing can also help improve the overall user experience for all users, not just those with disabilities. In addition, web accessibility testing is often required by law or regulations, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the United States and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) internationally.

There are many tools available for web accessibility testing, both free and paid. Some examples include:

• WAVE:

  a free online tool that helps identify accessibility issues on web pages

• Axe:

  a free browser extension that tests for WCAG compliance

• Siteimprove:

  a paid tool that provides automated web accessibility testing and monitoring

• Tenon:

  a paid tool that offers automated web accessibility testing with advanced reporting and analytics.

Some common accessibility issues that web accessibility testing can identify include:

• Inaccessible images:

  images without alternative text or with inappropriate alternative text

• Inaccessible multimedianswer:

  audio or video content without transcripts or captions

• Inaccessible forms:

  forms without labels or with confusing labels

• Inaccessible navigation:

  navigation that cannot be accessed using a keyboard or screen reader

• Inaccessible color contrast:

  insufficient color contrast between text and background, which can make it difficult for people with low vision to read.

Web accessibility testing can be integrated into the software development process by incorporating accessibility checks into the development workflow. This can involve using automated accessibility testing tools during development and testing phases, as well as conducting manual accessibility testing by trained testers. In addition, accessibility should be considered throughout the design and development process, with developers and designers educated on accessibility best practices and standards. Regular accessibility audits can also help identify and fix accessibility issues before they become too complex or expensive to address.

iOS accessibility testing is the process of evaluating an iOS app's user interface to ensure it is accessible to users with disabilities, such as those who are blind or have low vision, deaf or hard of hearing, or have motor or cognitive impairments.

iOS accessibility testing is important because it ensures that all users, including those with disabilities, can use an app and access its features. In addition, it can also help companies comply with accessibility laws and regulations.

Some tools that can be used for iOS accessibility testing include Apple's Accessibility Inspector, VoiceOver, Switch Control, and the AXRuntime API.

Some common accessibility issues that can be found during iOS accessibility testing include lack of alternative text for images, lack of keyboard accessibility, inadequate color contrast, and non-descriptive link text.

Developers can ensure their iOS app is accessible by following accessibility guidelines and standards, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), and testing their app with assistive technology, such as VoiceOver and Switch Control.

Some best practices for iOS accessibility testing include involving users with disabilities in the testing process, using automated testing tools in addition to manual testing, and continually testing throughout the development process.

Android Accessibility refers to a set of features and tools in the Android operating system that make it easier for people with disabilities to use their devices.

Accessibility testing is important in Android apps to ensure that people with disabilities can use and enjoy the app as much as people without disabilities. It also helps ensure that the app meets legal requirements related to accessibility.

Some common accessibility issues in Android apps include improper labeling of UI elements, lack of support for assistive technologies, poor color contrast, and inconsistent navigation.

Accessibility testing in Android apps can be performed manually or with the help of automated tools. Some common techniques for manual testing include using a screen reader or a keyboard to navigate the app, while automated tools can scan the app for accessibility issues.

Some popular automated accessibility testing tools for Android apps include Google Accessibility Scanner, Axe for Android, etc.

Some best practices for designing accessible Android apps include using proper labeling and text descriptions for UI elements, ensuring proper color contrast, providing keyboard navigation support, and designing for touch targets that are large enough to be easily tapped.

Parkwood Entertainment, Beyoncé's entertainment company, was sued for not designing, building, maintaining, and operating beyonce.com so that it was fully accessible to people with vision impairments and could be used independently. The plaintiff, Mary Connor, was unable to use the website, which allows fans to purchase merchandise and tickets, receive tour updates, and learn more about Beyoncé. Our LinkedIn blog post titled "If it can happen to Beyoncé, it can happen to you" provides additional information. Fortune.com additionally expounded on this: Because her website violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, Beyoncé was sued. And you might also be.

A professional accessibility audit is a comprehensive assessment of how well your digital properties accommodate people with disabilities. You can't just tell someone this by looking at your website or using your app for a few minutes. When an audit is done right, experts look at and test every part. When the audit is done, you can be sure that the report has found all of the obstacles.

A document, app, or website is accessible if it can be seen, understood, navigated, and used by anyone, regardless of whether they have a disability. It does not discriminate, requiring only those who can hear or click a mouse to use certain app features or sections of information. Instead, no barriers exist for anyone. This includes individuals who use assistive technologies (AT), such as screen readers.