Web accessibility: a must to promote inclusion

Web accessibility has become a significant priority for businesses, and for good reason.

With 22% of the Canadian population aged 15 and over living with a disability, websites and online tools must be designed to be accessible to everyone.

Unfortunately, 75% of people living with a disability have already abandoned a website due to obstacles encountered.

Here, we refer to the design and development of websites so that they are usable by everyone, including people with physical, sensory or cognitive limitations.

An accessible website ensures a fair experience for all users, regardless of their abilities, by implementing features and structures that make navigation and interaction easier for everyone.

This includes using assistive technologies, such as screen readers, and considering various user needs, such as adjustable text size, contrasting colours, etc.

Web accessibility compliance standards A and AA are established to ensure that online content is accessible to everyone, regardless of ability or disability.

Level A represents the primary threshold, implementing accessibility practices that make the site easier to use for many people.

Level AA is a higher standard, imposing more rigorous criteria to broaden access to content, ensuring a more inclusive experience for more people. These standards are crucial to ensuring that websites meet the needs of diverse users, thereby promoting a fair and accessible online experience for all.

The goal of web accessibility is to create an inclusive and equitable internet where all people can access information and participate fully online.

• Increased audience and reach: Accessible websites can reach a wider audience, including people with visual, hearing, cognitive, physical, neurological or speech disabilities.
• Improved brand reputation: Strengthens the company's reputation as an inclusive and socially responsible brand.
• Compliance with legal standards: Many countries now require that websites be accessible to everyone.
• Improved customer satisfaction: Easier to use for all users, not just those with disabilities or other limitations.
• Better SEO: Accessibility techniques, like using alt tags for images, can also improve SEO.
• Strengthening competitiveness: This can give you an advantage over competitors who do not meet accessibility standards.

Additionally, businesses that adopt web accessibility can expect a 20-30% increase in their customer base, which translates into proportional revenue growth.

Web accessibility isn't just about compliance; it's an opportunity for businesses of all sizes to improve their online presence and ensure an optimal user experience for everyone.

Ensuring the accessibility of your website, therefore, requires a methodical approach.

Using specialized tools or calling on professionals, carry out an accessibility audit. Whatever your goals, whether you're aiming for A or AA compliance standards, we're here to help you get there with accessibility audits.

Test with users with various limitations, such as people using screen readers, to identify accessibility weaknesses.

Apply the recommendations resulting from the audit to address the accessibility issues detected. This may include adjustments to the code, updating content, etc.

Our commitment is to make your website a truly inclusive platform. We deploy in-depth analysis tools and make precise recommendations to guide you toward optimal compliance and an improved user experience. Accessibility is not a one-time project but an ongoing process.

Our solution stands out for its ability to provide detailed audit reports accompanied by specific recommendations. We will guide you towards optimal accessibility and an improved user experience on your website.

The first step to ensuring your website is accessible is a thorough audit. This assessment aims to identify elements that could limit users' experience while viewing your content.

The audit analyzes your website's design, structure and content based on accessibility standards. It identifies potential gaps that could limit access and provides specific recommendations to improve the experience for all users, regardless of their abilities.

Our audit process includes:

• a needs-based workshop with the customer,
• a preliminary analysis of the accessibility of the website,
• identifying potential accessibility issues,
• a summary report of the current state of accessibility,
• a detailed analysis of each website page template determined in advance by the expert and the client in the initial workshop (maximum of 4 templates).

As a multidisciplinary agency, we have all the resources necessary to accomplish the mandate from start to finish.

Beyond simple compliance with regulations, accessibility expresses our commitment to an inclusive and equitable society. In this context, your website not only reaches more people but also reflects your values, thus strengthening your reputation and the loyalty of your customers.

Accessibility is a journey, a trajectory of continuous evolution. By opting to improve your website, you are not only choosing to improve its accessibility but also to strengthen its user experience and overall performance. This way, your website becomes not an obstacle but a bridge connecting your business to a larger and more diverse audience.

Our mission is to accompany you on this journey and to help you identify and overcome potential obstacles. This is why we have developed a complete and personalized web accessibility audit service.

Would you like to explore how your business can be more inclusive and accessible? Let's discuss how we can transform your website into a more welcoming space for everyone. We will be happy to share with you the possibilities offered by our web accessibility audit service.