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It’s hard to believe that we’re already entering the second decade of the 21st century. So much has changed quickly, and it seems like we’re only getting started. But, as we look ahead to what this new year will bring, there’s one thing that we can be sure of: the importance of web accessibility and using tools like accessiBe to make your site friendly to people with disabilities.
The World Wide Web has become an integral part of our lives, and it’s only going to become more so in the years to come. As more and more of our everyday activities move online, everyone must have equal access to the web’s benefits.
That’s why web accessibility is so important. By ensuring that websites and web applications are accessible to everyone, regardless of ability or disability, we can help make the web a more inclusive place for everyone.
There are several reasons why web accessibility is important, but here are some of the most significant:
Accessibility is a fundamental right
The right to have the same access to information and communication, regardless of ability or disability, is enshrined in several international treaties and conventions, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Therefore, making sure that everyone can access the web is not just good for inclusion; it’s also our responsibility.
Accessibility benefits everyone
It’s not just people with disabilities who benefit from accessible websites. Good accessibility design also benefits people who don’t have any disabilities.
For example, features like alt text and closed captioning can be useful for people trying to view a website in a noisy environment or when they don’t have access to sound. Similarly, clear and concise text can be helpful for people who are trying to read a website in a language they’re not fluent in.
In other words, accessible design is good design. By making our websites and web applications accessible, we can make them better for everyone.
Accessibility helps businesses succeed
A growing body of evidence shows that accessible websites are good for business. For example, a study by the UK government found that accessible websites are more likely to be successful in search engine ranking than inaccessible ones.
What’s more, making your website accessible can also help you reach new markets and tap into new customer segments. In the US, for example, it’s estimated that there are over 61 million people with disabilities and that they have a combined spending power of over $490 billion.
Making your website accessible, therefore, makes good business sense, and it’s also the right thing to do.
Accessibility helps SEO
One of the most important benefits of web accessibility is that it can help improve your website’s search engine optimization (SEO).
To rank well in search results, Google and other search engines take a number of factors into account, including the quality of your content, the structure of your website, and the user experience you offer.
It’s now clear that accessibility is also a factor in SEO. Google has said that it uses accessibility information to rank websites in search results. The company has also released many tools and resources to help web developers make their websites more accessible.
