Why Have an Accessible Website Certification on Your Site?
Why Have an Accessible Website Certification on Your Site?
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An accessible website certification demonstrates your commitment to digital accessibility. Here’s how a certification from a reputable third party can yield big benefits for your business.
If your website complies with the Section 508 standards or the latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), you can get a professional certificate that validates your level of conformance on a specific date.
An accessible website certification shows website visitors that you’re committed to providing equal access for all users. Just as important, it gives you a place to share your accomplishments to date — and your long-term goals for accessibility.
Although certifications play an important role in promoting digital accessibility, not all credentials carry the same weight. Below, we discuss how to find certifications that are aligned with your business’s goals. We’ll also review some of the benefits of a trusted, third-party accessibility credential — and why the hard work behind that credential can be just as valuable for organizations of all sizes.
The Importance of an Accessible Website Certification
You use your website to tell your brand’s story and to communicate its values. An accessible website certification can be a prominent declaration of those values: It shows that you care deeply about the user experience, and that you’re doing your part to remove barriers to access.
By committing to WCAG, you’re following the best authoring practices for internet content, which means that your website operates predictably with different technologies. Put simply, your website works.
For internet users with disabilities, an accessibility certification can be an especially powerful signal. It shows that your brand doesn’t see digital access as a “checkbox" to be marked off. You’ve taken the time to follow objective web design standards, and you’re working with a qualified third party to test content.
Lastly, a certification shows that you’re aware that accessibility is a legal and ethical requirement. That’s important for opening conversations about digital access.
What can an Accessible Website Certification Do For You?
Of course, if you’re building the case for accessible design, it’s helpful to understand the practical benefits.
Here’s how a certification can directly impact your business:
- Publicizing your commitment may limit the risk of web accessibility lawsuits. While you can build an accessible website without a certificate, the credential may provide weight to your compliance claims.
- A relevant credential may also be helpful when your business is involved in litigation related to accessibility/disability discrimination.
- Showcasing your inclusive values can improve audience engagement.
- Accessible websites tend to perform better in search engine rankings.
Every organization should be invested in building a culture of digital accessibility — and the right credential shows you’re moving in the right direction.
What to Look for in an Accessible Website Certificate
When you build for accessibility, you’re trying to deliver the best user possible experience. A certification can show you’ve included qualified third-party experts in this process.
To that end, your certification should present objective, accurate information about your current level of accessibility. It should appear alongside a detailed Accessibility Statement (and yes, every website needs an Accessibility Statement).
As you’re considering different accessible website certifications, there are few things to look for:
- WCAG version: WCAG is occasionally updated to accommodate new technologies; an accessible website certificate should confirm that the latest version of the guidelines (currently, WCAG 2.2) was used for testing. Pay attention to which WCAG level of conformance the certificate fulfills as well.
- Usability testing: The credential should indicate that the organization is committed to optimal usability, and that the website is functional with screen readers and other assistive technologies.
- Accessibility training:Your certification program may offer accessibility training, support, and other resources to ensure future conformance and accessibility as well as address the ongoing needs of people with disabilities.
Is an Accessibility Certificate Required for ADA Compliance?
Title III of the ADA does not require websites to follow any specific technical accessibility standards, so no third-party organization can provide a certification that proves ADA compliance.
However, Title II of the ADA requires conformance with WCAG 2.1, and the DOJ has indicated that businesses should refer to existing technical standards (once again, WCAG) to fulfill their obligations under Title III. The U.S. government uses WCAG standards when evaluating its own websites, and many international accessibility laws cite WCAG as a reasonable standard of accessibility.
In short: Accessibility certificates aren’t required for compliance, but they can help show your efforts to follow applicable laws, mandates, and industry standards. That can reduce your chances of a web accessibility lawsuit.
More importantly, when you broadcast your commitment to accessibility, you show your visitors you value their experiences — and that you’re not just concerned with basic compliance. You’re working towards a more universal design that surpasses the requirements of the ADA and other non-discrimination laws.
Building a More Accessible Website With AudioEye
At AudioEye, we believe that everyone should have equal access to the internet. We also believe that the best path to digital accessibility is one that combines the power of automation with the expertise of manual audits.
Through our continuous investment in research and development, we have created an automated test suite with 400+ test outcomes and 70+ automated fixes that allow us to solve the majority of common accessibility issues in real time.
However, some accessibility issues require the skill, experience, and judgment of human testers conducting manual reviews. For that reason, we also offer expert human testing and remediation services through our custom plans.
Building a More Accessible Website With AudioEye
At AudioEye, we believe that everyone should have equal access to the internet. We also believe that the best path to digital accessibility is one that combines the power of automation with the expertise of manual audits.
Through our continuous investment in research and development, we have created an automated test suite with 400+ test outcomes and 70+ automated fixes that allow us to solve common accessibility issues in real time. We also offer expert human testing and remediation services through our custom plans, performed by certified professionals.
When our customers subscribe to our services, they show their commitment to digital inclusion — and to providing better experiences for all users, including individuals with disabilities. For those organizations, we provide the AudioEye Trusted Certification, which acts as a stam
The AudioEye Trusted Certification
The AudioEye Trusted Certification badge is provided to AudioEye Managed and Enterprise customers. It fulfills all of the requirements for a relevant accessibility credential by signifying that the organization holding the badge has:
- Made a sincere commitment to ensure the highest level of access for all users, regardless of ability.
- Taken steps to adhere to inclusive design principles and achieve — and maintain — substantial conformance with AudioEye’s interpretation of the WCAG.
- Supplied users with access to a 24/7 Help Desk that allows them to report issues to, and receive feedback from, professional web accessibility specialists
- Provided free cloud-based web personalization and front-end enhancement tools that allow people to customize the user experience to meet their individual preferences.
No matter how large or complex your website, we’re ready to help you establish — and reach — your accessibility goals. Get started for free by using our Website Accessibility Checker to uncover the accessibility issues on your website:
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