Building an accessible website
As awareness of an accessible physical environment increases, so does the need for digital accessibility. Today in Israel, quite a few websites are required by law to build an accessible website suitable for people with various disabilities, and those who do not comply with this law, expose themselves to lawsuits and financial losses. If you also have a website or are planning to build a website soon, now is the time to understand exactly what the law says about accessible websites, which websites must be submitted and which are exempt, what is accessibility on websites in general, and more.
Website accessibility: what does the law say?
According to Israeli law, websites and apps that address the public must be accessible to people with disabilities. The obligation of accessibility depends on many variables such as the type of service provided on the website, the nature of the body providing the service and the types of formats or platforms used. Please note that a violation of the accessibility obligation may result in a fine of NIS 150,000 as well as compensation without proof of damage of NIS 50,000.
Which sites must be accessible?
There are very clear definitions regarding the sites that require accessibility. First and foremost, the obligation is on websites that provide a service to the public through a public body or in a public place. Service providers in many fields such as health, education, entertainment, education, welfare, sports, tourism, transportation and more - all these and others must also make the website accessible. Private for-profit entities such as limited liability companies or authorized and exempt dealers, public authorities such as government offices and local authorities as well as non-profit entities such as associations - they are also required to make a website accessible.
Concessions - who is exempt from site accessibility?
So it can be understood that a great many websites are absolutely required to make the website accessible, and there are still websites that are not required to do so and are exempt from this accessibility. In some cases, the exemption is granted automatically and sometimes you have to get it from the authorized party before it becomes effective. The cases in which websites and applications may be exempt from accessibility are:
- Exemption due to heavy financial burden. An option that exists only for private entities and not for public authorities.
- Exemption due to technological infeasibility, the existing interface does not allow partial or full accessibility according to law.
- Exemption for sites that have few users.
It is very important to check each case individually and not to assume that there is an automatic exemption.
What is accessibility on a website?
Making a website accessible means building the platform for the website or application so that they meet the various needs of people with disabilities and that they are accessible according to the standard in the law, and just as importantly, they allow an equal and comfortable experience for all people, regardless of who they are.
You should know that there is a long and detailed document that defines what type and what level of accessibility each website should have.
Understanding the need for accessibility
To create an accessible website, you should first know the types of accessibility required:
- Adaptation for the visually impaired : the blind and visually impaired will need different accessible technologies such as reading texts and describing images or large visual design with increased contrast (for the visually impaired).
- Adaptations for those with motor disabilities : people with a low range of motor function that does not allow the use of a mouse or keyboard may use a keyboard with visual indicators.
- Adaptation for the hearing impaired : people suffering from complete or partial hearing loss of varying degrees need subtitles and transcripts of audio on the site (e.g. videos).
- Adaptation for those with cognitive or neurological disabilities : learning disabilities, autism, dyslexia, ADHD, etc. Many times these are people who need a consistent structure and a clear layout of the content on the site.
- Adaptation for those with a cerebral disability : sensory sensitivities such as epileptic seizures. A website should be created in which the movement of elements and animation is reduced.
- Adaptation for speech impairments : if the site offers the option of a telephone conversation, it must also offer other options for contact such as contacting via chat, email and so on.
The relationship between website accessibility and organic promotion
Those who want to take care of the organic promotion of a website should definitely emphasize accessibility. On the face of it, the convenience and simplicity provided by the accessibility is only good for people with disabilities, but in practice it facilitates the use of the website for all other users. Prominent markings and enlargements of buttons, texts arranged in a logical and easy-to-understand manner, large and accessible titles and so on - all these improve the site's ranking in Google and this is a huge advantage. That is, not only do we meet the requirements of the law and make the site accessible to the general public, but we also benefit from the aspect of organic promotion.
Advantages of accessibility on an ecommerce site
When it comes to ecommerce sites and online stores, there are several advantages that are important to know:
- Compliance : Compliance with accessibility standards and guidelines. Proof to users of the implementation of measures to ensure equal access to the general public.
- Trust in the brand : The accessibility of the website builds trust in the brand and positions it as social and progressive.
- Compliance with the requirements of the law : as mentioned, when accessing websites and online stores we comply with the requirements of the law.
Adding an accessibility plugin in Shopify
Shopify allows us to install an accessibility plugin and actually create an accessibility statement for our site, so we can publish a statement to our surfers regarding the accessibility actions we have taken on the site. The plugin reflects the current state of accessibility on the site and many times we will have to perform many actions so that the site meets the accessibility standards. In addition to this, through various plugins it is also possible to receive A good speed score on Shopify , which will improve the site even more and contribute to the browsing experience on the site.
How do you install the plugin?
Installing the plugin is simple and is done on the Accessibility page under Online Store > Preferences. From there, click on create an accessibility statement and it will be created automatically according to the accessibility settings on our website. Now that we have the statement, we can review and make changes as needed.
After installing the plugin, is the store considered "accessible"?
No. The plugin actually publishes and reflects to us the state of accessibility on the site as it is now. From here we need to make sure that the existing situation meets the standard of the law. Therefore, it is important to use professionals who understand in depth what level of accessibility each website needs and know how to do it in practice.
How much does it cost to make a website accessible?
The cost of website accessibility varies according to various parameters such as the size of the business and the website, the legal complexity, the complexity of the website and so on. Basic and one-off access operations may cost a few hundred shekels, while full site access from scratch can also reach several thousand shekels.
In conclusion
Website accessibility is very important and has many advantages. If you are not sure if your website is required to be accessible, now is the time to get all the information, advice and experience of WeDev. Contact us today and you can understand exactly what you need and how much it should cost.
