Technology today has become an integral part of our daily lives, influencing how we wake up, work, and connect with the world. In this context, enabling digital services that are accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities, is of utmost importance.
This comprehensive guide navigates through the fundamental steps of crafting a thorough digital accessibility strategy for your business that adheres to global standards and legal requisites, thereby ensuring an inclusive online presence.
Understanding Digital Accessibility
Digital accessibility revolves around making sure that everyone, including individuals with disabilities, has equal access to digital content. It spans websites, applications, documents, and any other digital tools or attributes. If you want to create a robust foundation for your digital accessibility plan, ensuring that you are aligned with its core principles goes a long way.
Interested to know more about the importance of digital accessibility ? Here’s our take on it .
Legal Frameworks And Standards
To enable a successful digital accessibility journey, it is crucial to familiarize yourself with legal frameworks such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), and Section 508. By incorporating these guidelines and aligning with accessibility regulations, you can help your business or organization mitigate legal risks and demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity.
Steps To Create A Digital Accessibility Plan
Creating a digital accessibility plan is essential for inclusivity, legal compliance, and reaching a wider audience. It enhances user experience for all, boosts brand reputation through social responsibility, and ensures adaptability to the ever-evolving digital landscape.
If you are not sure where to begin working on your digital accessibility plan, here are a few key steps to keep in mind:
Step 1: Assess Your Current Accessibility Status
Begin by conducting a thorough evaluation of your digital assets. Utilize accessibility assessment tools and engage with user feedback to identify areas of non-compliance. This initial step lays the foundation for targeted improvements and informs the development of a comprehensive digital accessibility plan.
Step 2: Familiarize Yourself With Legal Compliances
Gain a comprehensive understanding of accessibility standards and legal frameworks to align with key standards such as WCAG and ADA. Adopting the appropriate practices can help shape a robust digital accessibility planby established legal standards.
Step 3: Form A Checklist Of Your Goals
Develop a checklist that serves as a roadmap for your accessibility plan. This structured approach provides a clear path to implementing improvements and tracking progress toward creating a more inclusive digital environment. For example, you can work toward aligning your website with WCAG 2.0 standards within the first year and then progress to WCAG 2.1 standards in the following year, adjusting the timeline based on the scope of necessary improvements.
Step 4: Invest In The Right Tools
Explore accessibility features and complement them with additional tools and technologies. Consider budget and resource allocation to ensure seamless integration of accessibility solutions into your existing systems and processes.
Step 5: Create An Accessibility Policy
Develop a comprehensive accessibility policy for your business that articulates your organization’s commitment to digital inclusivity. This provides the foundational guide for outlining the steps your organization will take to achieve and maintain it.
Step 6: Incorporate Accessibility In Procurement
Integrate accessibility requirements into your procurement processes. Ensure that vendors adhere to accessibility standards, fostering an inclusive environment for all users with every digital tool and service acquired.
Step 7: Implement Your Plan Of Action
Step 8: Promote Accessibility Culture In Your Organization
Foster an inclusive culture of workplace accessibility within your organization. Raise awareness among employees through training sessions, emphasizing the integration of accessibility considerations into daily tasks and decision-making processes. It is important to remember that integrating accessibility should become a key part of this cultural shift, providing support at all levels of the organization.
Step 9: Test With A Diverse Group
Conduct usability testing with individuals representing diverse abilities and disabilities. Utilize features that facilitate iterative testing and improvement processes to ensure that your digital assets are truly accessible to every user.
Step 10: Monitor And Audit Regularly
Establish regular monitoring mechanisms using accessibility tools and checkers. Conduct periodic audits to ensure ongoing compliance and implement feedback loops for continuous improvement and updates. This proactive approach helps maintain a consistently accessible digital environment.
How PREP Can Help ?
Accessibility solutions such as Continual Engine’s PREP (PDF & Document Remediation Platform) play a pivotal role in streamlining the digital accessibility process. Its features, including automated testing, integration capabilities, and ongoing support, make it an invaluable asset in creating and maintaining an inclusive digital landscape with its document accessibility services .
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, crafting a comprehensive digital accessibility plan is not just about compliance. It is about making the digital realm inviting and inclusive for all. The commitment to digital accessibility, supported by Continual Engine, not only benefits your business but also contributes to a more inclusive and equitable digital environment for everyone.
Follow the steps outlined in this guide to ensure your organization’s digital future is marked by inclusivity and accessibility.
To learn more about our scalable accessibility services, reach out to us at contact@continualengine.com or visit https://www.continualengine.com
