Most websites are not designed to be accessed by people with disabilities. This is a shame because many of the most popular sites on the internet, like Facebook and YouTube, are practically unusable for some users. Imagine that these websites were inaccessible to you because they didn’t have an accessibility overlay. That’s why it’s important to create an accessibility overlay for your website.
An accessibility overlay is a design that makes your website accessible to people with disabilities. It can be as simple as adding a few buttons to your toolbar or as complex as redesigning your entire website. Regardless of the complexity, an accessibility overlay will make your website more usable for everyone.
There are many benefits to creating an accessibility overlay for your website. In this article, we will discuss three of the most important benefits.
Makes Your Site Accessible to People With Disabilities
The first benefit is that an accessibility overlay will make your website more accessible to people with disabilities. This is important because, according to the World Health Organization, 15% of the world’s population has a disability. That’s 1 in 7 people! So, by creating an accessibility overlay for your website, you make your site accessible to a large portion of the population.
Improves Usability for All Users
The second benefit is that an accessibility overlay will improve usability for all users. This is important because, according to a study by the Nielsen Norman Group, website usability decreases as the screen size decreases. In other words, people with smaller screens (like phones and tablets) have a harder time using websites than people with larger screens. An accessibility overlay will help to improve usability for all users by making your website more adaptable to different screen sizes.
Complies With Accessibility Requirements
The third benefit is that an accessibility overlay will comply with accessibility requirements. This is important because, by law, many websites must comply with accessibility standards. For example, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that all public websites be accessible to people with disabilities. If your website is not accessible, you could be fined or sued. An accessibility overlay will help you comply with these requirements and avoid any legal problems.
Makes Your Site SEO Friendly
The fourth benefit is that an accessibility overlay will make your website SEO friendly. This is important because, according to Google, “Sites that feature accessible content tend to rank better in search results.” In other words, if you want your website to be successful, you need to make sure it is accessible. An accessibility overlay will help you to do this by making your website more accessible to search engines.
It Helps You To Reach A Wider Audience
The fifth and final benefit is that an accessibility overlay will help you reach a wider audience. According to the Pew Research Center, “Disabled adults are less likely than those without disabilities to go online.” In other words, if you want your website to be successful, you need to make sure it is accessible to everyone. An accessibility overlay will help you make your website more accessible to people with disabilities.
Final Word
Creating an accessibility overlay for your website is important because it will make your site more accessible to people with disabilities, improve usability for all users, and comply with accessibility requirements. It will also make your site SEO friendly and help you to reach a wider audience. Therefore, if you want your website to succeed, you should create an accessibility overlay.
