CyberOptik helps organizations like yours create accessible digital experiences, conforming to WCAG criteria to protect your brand and expand your reach.

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Commitment to Inclusivity

Making accessibility a priority on your website is not only about protecting yourself from legal, financial, and reputational liability. It’s a commitment to inclusivity for all your website visitors. We specialize in creating accessible websites that are both visually appealing and functional for everybody, regardless of disability.

Our accessibility services help your website conform to the criteria of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), considered the gold standard for websites aiming to follow the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). Meeting these guidelines ensures that you are not losing out on any relationships due to poor user experience.

Understanding Website Accessibility

Accessibility on the web is complicated… The primary law that requires equal access to most public spaces, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), was written before the modern web event existed. In spite of this, digital spaces are still required to accommodate users with disabilities.

In the absence of specific criteria for websites written in the law, web professionals have largely adopted the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). The WCAG is often cited in newer state laws, federal guidance, and in accessibility lawsuits, making it the de facto gold standard. 

Some Key ADA requirements for inclusive digital design include:

Text Alternatives

This ensures that screen readers can interpret and convey information from images and videos to users with visual impairments.

Keyboard Accessibility

All functionalities should be accessible via keyboard navigation, which is essential for users who cannot use a mouse.

High Perceivability

Use clear and simple language and provide sufficient contrast between text and background.

Easy Operability

Make interactive elements easily navigable and usable.

Understandability

Ensure content is easy to comprehend and predict by users and screen readers.

Robustness

Design websites to be compatible with various assistive technologies.

The WCAG provides specific criteria to meet these requirements. These criteria are regularly updated as are the best practices for practical application. We can help you navigate all this complexity: the ADA, the WCAG, and the most modern (and evolving) best practices.

Benefits of an Accessible Website

Enhanced Accessibility

First and foremost, they enhance accessibility to those with disabilities. Individuals who rely on screen readers, keyboard navigation, or other assistive technologies can easily access and interact with a WCAG conforming website, ensuring that your organization’s services are available to a broader audience.

Attract a Wider Audience

This inclusivity not only attracts more clients/customers/patrons, particularly those with disabilities actively seeking accessible services but also enhances an organization’s reputation. By providing an inclusive online presence, you can build a more diverse client base and foster a positive reputation within the community, as clients appreciate the effort to accommodate their needs.

Better for Everybody

These features improve user experience for everyone, not just those with disabilities. An accessible website is designed to be user-friendly, with clear navigation, readable text, and alternative text for images. A positive user experience can lead to higher client satisfaction and increased website content engagement.

Conformity to Law

Another clear benefit of website accessibility is that it can help avoid potential legal actions and penalties. With over 4,000 lawsuits in the United States per year related to website accessibility, the risk has never been higher for businesses and organizations.

Related Services

Addressing accessibility is crucial for businesses looking to protect themselves from legal issues and enhance their customer base. We offer a comprehensive range of services designed to ensure your website meets all accessibility standards and provides an inclusive experience for every user.

ADA Website Audits

Our thorough audits identify any accessibility issues on your website. We provide detailed reports with actionable steps to bring your website into conformity with the WCAG criteria.

WCAG Implementation

We specialize in implementing Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to ensure your website is accessible to all users, reducing the risk of lawsuits and fines.

Accessibility Training & Support

We offer training for your team to add/update content accessibly and ongoing support to keep your website accessible as standards evolve.

Automated & Manual ADA Testing

We perform both professional-grade scanning and manual testing to ensure your website is fully conforming to the WCAG, covering all bases for website accessibility.

Our Process

We understand that website accessibility can seem overwhelming. That’s why we’ve developed a clear, step-by-step process for making your website accessible to everyone and conforming to the WCAG:

1. Initial Assessment

We start with a detailed assessment of your website’s current accessibility status, identifying any areas that need improvement.

2. Comprehensive Audit

Our experts thoroughly audit using automated tools and manual testing to detect accessibility barriers.

3. Custom Action Plan

Based on the audit results, we create a custom action plan tailored to your website’s needs, outlining specific steps to meet website accessibility standards.

4. Implementation

We implement the necessary changes, from coding adjustments to design modifications, ensuring your website meets all ADA and WCAG standards.

5. Training & Resources

We provide training and resources to help your team maintain accessibility standards continuously.

6. Ongoing Monitoring

Accessibility isn’t a one-time task. We offer ongoing monitoring and updates to ensure your website remains conformant with modern standards.

Why Choose CyberOptik?

Choosing the right partner for website accessibility is critical to your business’s success. CyberOptik is dedicated to making digital accessibility easy and effective, helping you reduce legal risks and enhance your brand’s reputation.

Expertise in Accessibility

Our team has extensive knowledge of ADA, WCAG, and Section 508 standards, ensuring your website fully conforms to accessibility best practices.

Tailored Solutions

We understand that every business is unique. We offer customized solutions that meet your specific needs, ensuring the best possible outcomes.

Proactive Approach

We stay ahead of industry changes and continuously update our practices to ensure your website conforms with the latest standards.

Local Insight

Based in Chicago, we understand the unique needs of local businesses and provide effective and relevant solutions.

Comprehensive Services

From audits to training and ongoing support, we provide all the services you need to maintain an accessible website.

Website Accessibility FAQ

What does website accessibility mean?

Website accessibility means that your website provides safe and equitable access to information for all visitors, regardless of disability. An accessible website meets the criteria of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), the most common standards adopted by website professionals and cited by governments around the world.

Will you make our website ADA compliant?

Anyone who tells you they will make your website “ADA compliant” is being misleading. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed before modern websites existed and does not outline specific rules for websites. The ADA does require that most organizations provide accommodations to those with disabilities in public spaces, including digital spaces. This is widely understood to include websites. In the absence of a cohesive set of criteria written into current US law, the most widely adopted standard is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). We follow the standards of the WCAG to help limit your legal, financial, and reputational exposure.

Is it legally required for my website to be accessible?

We are not lawyers and cannot provide legal advice. There is a complex patchwork of legislation in the United States related to accessibility including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), The Rehabilitation Act, The Affordable Care Act, and several individual state laws. However, the federal laws that apply to most websites do not include specific criteria for the web. Instead, web professionals use the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), the most widely adopted standard that is often cited in guidance by government agencies and in the course of civil litigation. Following the WCAG is the best way to reduce your legal liability, along with risk of financial and reputational harm.

What are the consequences if my website is not accessible?

While the American laws related to website accessibility are not as clear as they ought to be, ignoring website accessibility can expose you to a number of potential risks. The first is liability for lawsuits. There are over 4,000 lawsuits per year in the United States related to accessibility. The second is reputational harm. A website that is sued or publicly exposed can have an impact on how it is viewed. And finally, one in four US adults are disabled and may not be able to engage with your organization with an inaccessible website.

Do I need to do anything to keep my website accessible?

Yes. Whenever content is added or updated, any software updates occur, or best practices change, a website can become inaccessible. Accessibility is an ongoing process that includes regular reviews, proper training for anyone who will modify the site, and continued education of the most up to date standards and practices. We offer ongoing monitoring and updates to help our clients keep up with the ever-changing accessibility landscape.

Can I make my existing website accessible, or do I need to start from scratch?

Existing websites can usually be modified to meet accessibility standards. The decision to retrofit or renew comes down to which option would be more cost-effective and make it easier to maintain accessibility into the future.

What is the process for making a website accessible?

The process typically involves three phases for existing websites: (1) an initial review to identify issues, (2) modifications to fix the issues identified in the review, and (3) training and ongoing monitoring to keep accessibility up to date.

How does accessibility affect SEO?

Having an accessible website can positively impact your SEO by making your website more user-friendly and code-compliant. Google and other search services are believed to rank websites higher when they meet the criteria of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

How can CyberOptik help my website's accessibility?

CyberOptik offers comprehensive website accessibility services. We include the option for accessibility on all the new websites we create. For existing websites, we can provide a thorough review using professional-grade scanning tools as well as manual review of keyboard navigation and interactive elements. Following the review, we can fix any issues, train you how to add and update content accessibly, and monitor your site for ongoing conformity to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

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Take the Next Step Toward Website Accessibility

Contact us today to start chatting about your website accessibility needs.