In recent decades, you will find that the Internet has been one of the most significant technological developments in the world. However, have you ever wondered how people with disabilities use the Internet in this context?
The use of an accessibility overlay
There are just 350 million websites in the USA, and just 2% of them are accessible for people with disabilities. Such people generally make up 20% of the population in the nation. This means that one in five people cannot use the Internet. All accessibility, both digital and physical, is a civil right in the nation. So, companies with sites have to ensure that they are accessible to everyone, even users with disabilities. Fortunately, if you are a company owner, this is possible for you with an accessibility overlay.
Two regulations in the USA introduced the subject of accessibility, and they were-
- Title III of The Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
The second Act applies to contractors and contractors under the federal agencies, and the first applies to private businesses. Section 508 safeguards the disability community from discrimination in every sort of non-physical area, with the inclusion of the Internet. ADA suits against business sites that are inaccessible have increased too.
However, most business owners state that keeping a site up-to-date is a mammoth task, besides making it fully accessible, as new web content flows in regularly. In the past, companies had to bank on app plugins and web developers to make the site fully accessible to everyone, including users with accessibility. However, the expenses for the above were high, and they often ran into thousands of dollars, along with the costs for the upkeep of the site. This is where companies had to be very proactive when it came to executing the required investments for making their sites ADA compliant, along with investing in its upkeep.
Automated accessibility overlays to the rescue
Thanks to AccessiBe, more than 10,000 sites bank on its automated accessibility overlay. This Company deploys artificial intelligence technology to scan their clients’ sites every 24 hours for any uploaded new content that must be checked and adjusted for accessibility. Thanks to this innovative solution, they do not have to waste time when it comes to accessibility and compliance. This overlay protects them from lawsuits as well.
Besides the above advantages, this automated accessibility overlay includes a diverse range of user disabilities. In fact, even more have been enlisted in the ADA recommended guidelines. They include ADHD, dyslexia, and cognition disabilities. The company’s business clients are happy with the services, and thanks to its AI technology, it is a winner for them now and in the future as well. In addition to the widget and overlay, it also has captioning services for videos and audio that the site wishes to host. This approach complies with the guidelines under WCAG 2.1 Level AA but anticipates the change that is scheduled to come with WCAG 3.0.
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