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Website Solutions For ADA Compliance

Making the Internet Accessible.

We know just the word “compliance” is probably a bad idea to place in an introductory sentence, but please hear us out. If your website is not accessible to people with disabilities, it is not compliant with the law. 

Everyone knows about accessibility in physical public places and ensuring accommodations for everyone. A few years ago, The Americans with Disabilities Act said accessibility also applied to the digital realm, or more specifically, your website. 

It is estimated that over 250,000 digital accessibility-related demand letters are sent to businesses each year. E-commerce businesses saw the highest amount of cases filed. The majority of these result in settlements, which can cost you. Those that aren’t resolved can escalate into full-blown lawsuits. We feel it’s our duty to let you know.

What are the ADA Accessibility Guidelines? 

Here is a list of the main Accessibility guidelines: 

  • All text on the website must be readable by screen readers. 
  • The website must provide text for images and videos. 
  • The website must allow users to turn off media. 
  • The website must prohibit users from using seizure-causing content. 
  • The website must be consistent with navigating tools. 
  • The website must help users with explanations and instructions.
  • The website must be completely accessible by computer.

The main complaint many small businesses had about this new ADA addition was that website updates such as these are very costly and a significant time investment. Many companies have not been able to afford the changes, but not complying with the guidelines puts them at risk of a lawsuit. What should you do?

What is the AccessiBE widget all about? 

When this addition to the Americans with Disability act first came into play, there was no efficient way to make these changes. Everything needed to be changed manually. Nowadays, we have great resources like AccessiBE, which is relatively inexpensive and extremely well-designed. 

It’s highly advanced software that automatically scans your website to ensure inclusion practices and opens it to a whole new area of potential consumers. Every 24 hours, AccessiBE will scan your website and fix any potential issues. The first scan can take up to 48 hours. After that, your website will be completely ADA-compliant. 

There are several different price points, the most affordable starting at $49 a month, which is what VIA uses and the most popular. It’s straightforward to set up, and only requires a singular line of code, which is impressive considering the level of technology involved. AccessiBE works side-by-side with people with disabilities so they can ensure their products exceed your expectations.

Open your website to everybody, no matter their ability.

AccessiBE is an excellent resource and we found it to be a worthy investment. Twenty-five percent of the population has a disability holding them back from fully using the internet.

 

Separate yourself from your competition by showing how diversity, equity, and inclusion are valued.  

You can also earn an ADA Federal tax credit up to $5,000. Your business must employ less than 30 full time employees and have an income of less than $1,000,000. See details on form 8826 page 2. 

To be sure you are ADA Compliant, contact our team to help you install this time-saving, cost-efficient software.

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Web Development Wizard: Building Your Dream Website

What role does a web developer play in my website?

A web developer is responsible for programming the code that tells websites and web applications how to operate. They program technical instructions dictating functionality. A developer may design or create content, but their main role is to build and maintain websites.

There are three types of web developers, each type has a slightly different area of expertise. 

  • Front-end developers deal with the parts of the website you see as visitors or users, also called the client side of development.
  • Back-end developers who work more behind-the-scenes systems and structures. They also tend to work more on mobile applications. 
  • Full-stack developers who can code both front-end and back-end formats.

A web developer’s day-to-day life is constantly different. They must collaborate with other team members, solve problems, adapt, and review, which is what our Full-stack Developer, Daniel Dunevant, does here at VIA Marketing. With his expertise, we make clients’ ideas and well-thought-out user experiences come to life with a well-functioning and efficiently running website. 

Daniel stated, “A website is essential for businesses because it helps consumers understand your story and mission. Make an impact on potential customers with a great first impression.”

Daniel does this by:

  • Translating wireframe designs into working code.
  • Creating the architecture and content of a site.
  • Building functionality and responsiveness.
  • Taking care to make sure the site downloads fast.
  • Making sure ADA compliance strategies are in place.
  • Strategizing keywords and meta tags for good SEO.
  • Placing a site live and testing it in the various browsers.
  • Updating and renovating sites.
  • Troubleshooting, fixing bugs, and glitches.

We decided to gain more insight by asking Daniel a few questions.

How long does a web development project take to complete from start to finish?

 That’s like asking me how long it takes to build a barn! It depends on how many features are implemented and the design’s complexity. A relatively simple site, though, could be turned around in about 20 hours if I have all the content ready.

Can I edit my website without consulting you?

It depends on your site’s content management system (CMS). We give our clients a login so they can edit content. We meet with them and provide a tutorial on how it works. Some clients prefer to just let us do it, and others want more control. Most page content is editable on our websites.

What was your favorite project, and how did you approach it?

One of my favorite projects was putting together Nardo Builders’ website. The design was challenging to implement. The features are dynamic, valuable, and appealing to viewers. 

When approaching any project, I start with understanding the problem, then I can proceed to address it. Nardo wanted to have easier access to adding photos while keeping them neat and organized. I had to modify our CMS in order to simplify the management of uploading photos. After a few updates, I achieved this new feature. I love a challenge and the reward you feel after accomplishing something.

What is the most significant difference between developing for Desktop and Mobile?

For desktops, multiple columns, left-aligned text, and navigation span the page’s width. Mobile, however, mostly has single columns and centered text with hidden navigation until the user clicks to show it. There are always apparent exceptions when it comes to mobile setups. I go back and forth from desktop to mobile views to ensure everything looks and runs smoothly. Over 55% of website traffic comes from mobile devices. 92.3% of internet users use a mobile phone, showing the importance of making your website mobile-friendly.

Do you use a template to create your websites?

I prefer to create my websites from scratch, but if you insist, you can work on a variety of canned platforms like WordPress, Squarespace, etc. Sometimes, I use a website we have previously created as a framework for a new one. This allows for a more efficient construction process but still gives you a smartly tailored site that fits your needs.

What If I need a new or updated website for my company?

We’d set a time to hear what you like and what you don’t like about your current website. The next step is submitting it for design. After you approve the design, I go to work. Making your vision come to life technologically takes time, effort, and maybe a little magic. You will see a test link before anyone else sees those pages. We will go through a revision stage before going live and training you on how to make updates. 

Here at VIA, our goal is to create a website you will love, and your customers can easily find and navigate. Contact us today so we can help you be proud of your website.