Website accessibility helps make online information easier to use for visitors with disabilities and improves the overall experience for all users.
The Americans with Disabilities Act, commonly known as the ADA, helps protect people with disabilities from discrimination. For websites, accessibility generally means making online content usable for people who rely on assistive technologies, keyboard navigation, screen readers, captions, readable contrast, clear forms, and predictable website structure.
Many website accessibility efforts use the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, known as WCAG, as the technical framework for evaluating and improving accessible web content.
WCAG is organized around four main principles. These are often remembered as POUR: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust.
Visitors should be able to perceive website content. This includes readable text, sufficient contrast, text alternatives for meaningful images, captions where needed, and content that can be presented in different ways.
Visitors should be able to use the website. Navigation, buttons, links, forms, menus, and interactive features should be usable with a keyboard and should not rely only on a mouse.
Website content and interface behavior should be clear and predictable. Forms should have labels, errors should be understandable, and navigation should remain consistent.
The website should be built in a way that works with modern browsers, devices, and assistive technologies such as screen readers whenever possible.
Accessible websites often require attention to design, content, code, structure, and third-party tools. Common areas to review include:
WCAG success criteria are organized into levels: A, AA, and AAA. Level A covers foundational accessibility items. Level AA is commonly used as the practical target for many business and public-facing websites. Level AAA is the highest level and is not always practical or required for every page or type of content.
Accessibility work often focuses on identifying barriers, correcting issues, documenting improvements, and maintaining accessibility as the website changes over time.
Website accessibility is not a one-time task. New pages, images, forms, plugins, themes, embeds, and content updates can introduce new accessibility issues.
Regular review helps keep a website more usable and reduces the chance that important information becomes difficult to access.
Some websites include third-party features such as maps, videos, forms, widgets, scheduling tools, social media embeds, or plugins. These tools may have their own accessibility limitations.
When third-party content creates a barrier, a reasonable alternative way to access the same information or complete the same task may be helpful.
This page is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not guarantee ADA or WCAG compliance. Website owners should consult qualified legal or accessibility professionals for guidance specific to their organization, website, and obligations.
If you experience difficulty using this website or need information in another format, please contact C&B Civil Construction, Inc.