21 Web Accessibility Resources To Help You Have An Accessibility Compliant Website

If you are a business owner whose company also has an online presence via a website, you’ve probably heard by now about web accessibility and the associated lawsuits sweeping across the United States. If you haven’t yet, here’s why you should start looking into how to get your website compliant with accessibility regulations  by becoming familiar with content accessibility and especially with web content accessibility guidelines. Recent studies and research have shown that 

1. “more than 70 percent of Internet sites are inaccessible to users who are blind.” and
2. “inaccessible e-commerce retailers are losing out on $6.9 billion in annual revenues.”

In 2022, according to a statistic by Accessibility.com, a total of 2,387 web accessibility lawsuits were filed against businesses whose websites were accused of not providing content accessibility to individuals who had some form of disability. The most targeted industry with the highest number of web accessibility lawsuits (1,378) was the ‘Consumer goods, Services & Retail’ industry, followed by the ‘Apparel, Durables & Beauty’ industry with a total of 247 web accessibility lawsuits. 

Comparing these numbers to a statistic by the CDC, which shows that up to 1 in 4 adults in the USA has some type of disability, meaning about 26% of the population, it becomes more clear why you need to understand what web accessibility is, what are the web content accessibility guidelines for a compliant website, and also what are the requirements for compliance with the existing accessibility regulations. That is, if you would like to avoid paying large sums of money to individuals who will file lawsuits against your inaccessible website, you need to familiarize yourself with the web accessibility guidelines of the WCAG Standard, with the requirements of web accessibility laws such as ADA’s Title  III or Section 508. Not to mention that compliance with web accessibility requirements comes in addition to compliance with data privacy regulations that apply to the way the personal information of US consumers is collected, stored, and processed.  

Creating a space where any one individual has easy access to your website is essential to the safety and even reputation of your business. You may be familiar with accessibility as it applies to buildings and public spaces, i.e. there is a ramp near the entrance to your office, and the door is wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair. Creating an analogy for web accessibility, it is important that users with disabilities such as visual or hearing impairments, ADHD, dyslexia, or cognitive disorders, must also be able to access your website content.

To help you understand what accessibility means, what is web content accessibility, and how to get your website compliant with web accessibility regulations we have compiled the below list of resources which both you and your developer can benefit from. From books on what accessibility means, to manuals on how to design an accessible website with accessible content, to accessibility handbooks on existing web accessibility laws, this list, which is in no way exhaustive, is inclusive of anyone interested in or directly impacted by web accessibility:

1. Accessibility Handbook: Making 508 Compliant Websites (1st Edition) -  Katie Cunningham;
2. Web Accessibility: Web Standards and Regulatory Compliance - Richard Rutter, Patrick H. Lauke, Cynthia Waddell, Jim Thatcher, Shawn Lawton Henry, Bruce Lawson, Andrew Kirkpatrick, Christian Heilmann, Michael R. Burks, Bob Regan, Mark Urban;
3. Practical Web Inclusion and Accessibility: A Comprehensive Guide to Access Needs - Ashley Firth; 
4. Inclusive Design for a Digital World: Designing with Accessibility in Mind (Design Thinking) - Regine M Gilbert;
5. Guide to Digital Accessibility (1st Edition) - Rae Mancilla, Barbara A. Frey;
6. A Web for Everyone: Designing Accessible User Experiences -  Sarah Horton, Whitney Quesenbery, Aaron Gustafson;
7. Designing With Web Standards (3rd Edition) - Jeffrey Zeldman;
8. Inclusive Design for Organisations: Including your missing 20% by embedding web and mobile accessibility - Professor Jonathan Hassell;
9. Inclusive Design for Products: Including your missing 20% by embedding web and mobile accessibility - Professor Jonathan Hassell;
10. Accessibility for Everyone - Laura Kalbag;
11. Don't Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability (3rd Edition) - Steve Krug;
12. Agile Accessibility Handbook: A Practical Guide to Accessible Software Development At Scale - Dylan Barrell;
13. Inclusive Design Patterns - Heydon Pickering;
14. Handbook of Usability Testing: How to Plan, Design, and Conduct Effective Tests -  Jeffrey Rubin, Dana Chisnell, Jared Spool; 
15. Designing Accessible Learning Content: A Practical Guide to Applying best-practice Accessibility Standards to L&D Resources - Susi Miller;
16. The User Experience Team of One: A Research and Design Survival Guide (1st Edition) - Leah Buley;
17. Form Design Patterns - Adam Silver; 
18. Resilient web design - Jeremy Keith
19. Mismatch (Simplicity: Design, Technology, Business, Life): How Inclusion Shapes Design - Kat Holmes;
20. The Design of Everyday Things, Revised And Expanded Edition - Don Norman;
21. Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to Be an Ally - Emily Ladau;

How can Clym help?

Clym believes in striking a balance between digital compliance and your business needs, which is why we offer businesses the following:

• All-in-one platform: One interface combining Privacy and Accessibility compliance with global regulations, at an affordable price;
• Seamless integration into your website;
• Adaptability to your users’ location and applicable regulation;
• Customizable branding;
• ReadyCompliance™: Covering 30+ data privacy regulations;
• Six preconfigured accessibility profiles, as well as 25+ display adjustments that allow visitors to customise their individual experience.

You can convince yourself and see Clym in action by booking a demo or reaching out to us to discuss your specific needs today.