Embracing digital inclusion as a competitive advantage

Accessible websites and apps have the opportunity to open businesses to an entirely new clientele while meaningfully shrinking the digital divide.

As technology continues to evolve, the narrative surrounding accessibility has profoundly shifted. Organizations have gone from simply recognizing the need for accessible technology, to embracing it as a business benefit.

Apart from legal compliance and inclusivity, accessibility is crucial for business owners.

1. Wider Audience Reach: By making content accessible, organizations can reach a broader audience, including people with disabilities. This not only enhances user experience but also increases the potential user base and audience engagement.

2. Improved User Experience: Accessible design often results in a better overall user experience for everyone. Clear navigation, easy-to-read text, and straightforward interactions benefit all users, not just those with disabilities.

3. Positive Brand Image: Demonstrating a commitment to accessibility can enhance an organization’s reputation. It shows that the organization values inclusivity and social responsibility, which can attract more users, customers, and supporters.

4. SEO Benefits: Accessible websites are often better optimized for search engines. Practices such as using alt text for images, providing clear headings, and ensuring proper HTML markup can improve search engine rankings, driving more organic traffic to the site.

”Organizations now understand that digital accessibility is about more than compliance, and they are embracing it as a cornerstone of inclusive business.“

— Tim Springer. Co-founder and CEO, Level Access

The statistics show there are more than 2 billion disabled people in the world, while 59.6% of the U.S population with disabilities are living in a household with internet access, they just can't be neglected simply.

According to The Fifith Annual State of Digital Accessibility Report by Level Access, the respondents of this study overwhelmingly say that accessibility has improved their organizations’ performance in key areas, including user experience and customer satisfaction as well as bottom-line revenue.

In essence, accessibility is not just a legal or ethical obligation but a strategic advantage that enhances usability, broadens reach, and fosters a more inclusive digital environment. By prioritizing accessibility now, organizations can stay ahead of future requirements and ensure their digital properties remain usable for all audiences.

Two simple but important implementations every organization shall leverage

Based on the experiences of Morweb talented design and development team, managing an accessible website involves maintaining content that accommodates all users, regardless of their abilities. Among all those tips, guidelines and practices, there are two of them, simple but important:

1. Providing alternative (ALT) text for images

Alt text for images is a brief, descriptive text that provides a textual alternative to the content or function of the image, aiding accessibility for individuals who cannot view the image.

2. Using clear and structured headings

Heading tag hierarchy: Heading tags (H1, H2, H3 through H6.) play a vital role in website accessibility. They provide a structured hierarchy that helps users, including those with disabilities, understand and navigate your content. Ensuring a clear and logical hierarchy of H tags improves readability, search engine optimization, and the overall user experience.

Arrange headings by their rank or level: The highest importance, the page title is assigned rank 1 (<h1>), while the lowest importance receives rank 6 (<h6>). Headings of equal or greater rank initiate new sections, while headings with a lower rank initiate subsections within the higher-ranked section.

Morweb can help your organization's website more accessible to everyone

As organizations strive to meet the needs of all users—both today and in the future—it’s crucial to understand that accessibility isn’t a one-time task. It’s an ongoing practice that integrates with other priorities, from fulfilling diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments to retaining customers and creating new revenue streams.

When building your website with Morweb, prioritizing accessibility is essential. We recommend conducting a thorough assessment of your website every six months, especially as you make more content and structural changes, to ensure a seamless and user-friendly experience for all visitors.

Morweb tailored accessibility service package includes:

• Automated testing tools: Through a strategic partnership with accessiBe, Morweb offers clients comprehensive automated tools like accessScan. These tools quickly scan your website for potential accessibility issues, using algorithms to identify common problems and generate reports with recommendations for improvement.
• Accessibility consultation: This involves manual testing of your website, typically conducted by web accessibility experts from the Morweb.org development team. Our service team examines various elements such as keyboard operability, text alternatives, heading structure, and more to identify and address accessibility issues, and implement the remediation accordingly.
• Accessibility widget installation: Based on each client's needs, Morweb designs and installs accessibility widgets seamlessly into the client's corporate website.

Every organization is unique, so is Morweb accessibility solution. Contact your project manager or email us at marketing@morweb.org, jump-starting your journey with a Free Accessibility Audit now!