Recent posts
Introduction: Why Web Accessibility Matters
As a small business owner in Manitoba, you might be hearing more about web accessibility lately, especially with the introduction of new guidelines and deadlines. These regulations aren’t just government red tape—they’re essential for ensuring that all customers can access your services online. With more people shopping, researching, and making decisions online, having an accessible website is critical for business success. Plus, adhering to these standards is now required by law.
In this blog post, we’ll break down what these new web accessibility guidelines mean for you, how they affect your business, and what steps you can take to make sure your website is compliant. We’ll keep it simple and focus on practical advice, so you don’t need to be a tech expert to understand and implement these changes on your site.
What Are the New Guidelines?
Manitoba has introduced the Accessibility Standard for Information and Communication as part of its broader Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA). This standard is designed to ensure that all Manitobans, regardless of ability, can access and understand information provided by businesses, including websites. The guidelines are closely aligned with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, an international standard developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
These guidelines emphasize making web content accessible to people with various disabilities, including visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, language, learning, and neurological disabilities. For small businesses, this means ensuring your website is usable by everyone, regardless of their abilities.
Who Needs to Comply?
If you own or operate a small business in Manitoba, these guidelines apply to you. The deadlines for compliance vary depending on the size of your organization, but all businesses must comply by May 2025. This might sound like a long way off, but making your website accessible can take time, so it’s wise to start early.
Key Principles of Web Accessibility
Before diving into specific requirements, it’s essential to understand the four core principles of web accessibility, often abbreviated as POUR:
- Perceivable: Information and user interface components must be presented in ways that users can perceive. This means content should be accessible to all senses (specifically visual and auditory). For example, providing descriptive text alternatives for images and captions for videos.
- Operable: The website must be usable via various means of interaction. For example, users should be able to navigate your site using a keyboard if they can’t use a mouse.
- Understandable: The content and operation of the website should be easy to understand. This involves using clear language, providing instructions when needed, and making sure your website behaves in predictable ways.
- Robust: Content must be robust enough to be interpreted reliably by various user agents, including assistive technologies. This means your website should be compatible with different devices, browsers, and tools used by people with disabilities.
Practical Steps to Make Your Website Accessible
Now that you have a general understanding of what web accessibility entails, let’s discuss specific actions you can take to make your website compliant.
1. Use Descriptive Alt Text for Images
Alt text (alternative text) is a short description of an image that is read aloud by screen readers, which are used by people who are blind or have low vision. Every image on your website should have alt text that describes what’s in the image and its purpose. For example, if you run a bakery and have a picture of a cake, the alt text might read: “A chocolate cake with sprinkles on top.”
Adding alt text to images is pretty easy. Most web builders include alt text as a field option for media, or it can be added manually in an image’s html code.
2. Provide Captions and Transcripts for Multimedia
If your website includes videos or audio content, make sure to provide captions and transcripts. Captions are important for users who are deaf or hard of hearing, while transcripts are useful for users who may have trouble following along with multimedia content. Many platforms, like YouTube, offer automatic captioning, but you should review these captions for accuracy.
3. Ensure Your Website Is Navigable by Keyboard
Some users cannot use a mouse and rely on their keyboard to navigate websites. Make sure that all interactive elements on your site, like menus, links, and forms, can be accessed and used via the keyboard. Typically, users will navigate using the “Tab” key to move between elements and the “Enter” key to select them.
4. Use Clear and Simple Language
Using clear and straightforward language benefits everyone, not just people with disabilities. Avoid jargon and complex sentence structures. Instead, opt for simple sentences and familiar words. This makes your content more accessible to people with cognitive disabilities or those who might be using translation tools.
5. Design for Color Blindness
Approximately 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women have some form of colour blindness. To ensure your website is accessible to them, avoid relying solely on colour to convey information. For example, if you use colour to indicate required fields in a form, also include text or symbols to show that information. Additionally, use high contrast between text and background colours to make your content easier to read.
6. Make Forms Accessible
Forms are a common way users interact with websites, whether it’s to sign up for a newsletter or place an order. Each form field should have a clear label that’s visible to all users and connected to the field in the website’s code, so screen readers can identify it. Also, provide helpful error messages and suggestions if the user makes a mistake filling out the form.
7. Test Your Website’s Accessibility
Once you’ve implemented these changes, it’s crucial to test your website to ensure it’s truly accessible. There are several tools available, such as WAVE and Axe, which can automatically scan your site for accessibility issues. However, these tools might not catch everything, so consider having people with disabilities test your website and provide feedback.
Benefits of Web Accessibility
Making your website accessible isn’t just about complying with the law—it’s also good for business. Here are some benefits:
- Increased Audience Reach: By making your website accessible, you open your business to a wider audience, including the 15-20% of the population with some form of disability.
- Improved SEO: Many accessibility practices, like using alt text and clear language, also improve your website’s search engine optimization (SEO). This means your site is more likely to rank higher in search engine results, attracting more visitors.
- Enhanced Usability: Accessibility improvements often enhance the overall user experience, making your website easier to navigate for everyone.
- Positive Brand Image: Demonstrating a commitment to accessibility shows that your business values inclusivity and social responsibility, which can enhance your reputation and build customer loyalty.
Resources for Further Help
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by these requirements, don’t worry—help is available. Here are some resources you can look into:
- Manitoba Accessibility Office: They offer guidance and tools to help businesses comply with the new standards.
- WCAG 2.1 Guidelines: While technical, these guidelines provide in-depth information on making your website accessible. You can find simplified versions and summaries online.
- Web Developers and Designers: If you’re not comfortable making these changes yourself, consider hiring a professional (like Reimer Digital) who has experience with web accessibility.
- Online Tutorials and Courses: There are many free and paid resources available online to help you learn more about web accessibility and how to implement it on your website.
Conclusion: Start Now, Benefit Later
Making your website accessible might seem like a daunting task, but it’s a necessary one. Starting early not only gives you ample time to comply with Manitoba’s new guidelines but also allows you to gradually improve your website in a way that benefits all users. By focusing on accessibility, you’re not just following the law—you’re making your business more inclusive, improving your customer experience, and potentially increasing your reach.
Remember, accessibility is an ongoing process, not a one-time fix. Regularly review and update your website to ensure it continues to meet accessibility standards as they evolve. In doing so, you’ll be setting your business up for success in an increasingly digital world.