Legacy website accessibility remediation - a step-by-step guide to prioritizing fixesArticle contains
  1. Understanding accessibility remediation
  2. Challenges in remediating legacy websites
  3. Step-by-step remediation process
    1. Step 1: Audit
      1. Use an automatic auditing tool
      2. Manual testing
      3. User feedback
    2. Step 2: Prioritize issues
    3. Step 3: Fix identified issues
    4. Step 4: Verify fixes
  4. Additional considerations for legacy content
  5. Conclusion
Mobile phone and "Digital Accessibility Audit" sentence on it. Image by Markus Winkler from Pixabay.

Legacy website accessibility remediation – a step-by-step guide to prioritizing fixes

Addressing legacy website accessibility issues becomes increasingly important as organizations make an effort to provide inclusive digital experiences while also meeting legal (e.g., ADA Americans with Disabilities Act or EAA European Accessibility Act) online accessibility obligations. This tutorial describes an organized approach for effectively prioritizing and implementing accessibility changes.

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How to embed YouTube videos while ensuring accessibility WCAG complianceArticle contains
  1. Summary of the key points
  2. Add title attribute
  3. Captions
  4. Audio descriptions
  5. Ensure contrast for text in the video
  6. Manage keyboard shortcuts
  7. Don't use autoplay
  8. Keep YouTube video embed controls
  9. Keep full-screen option available
  10. Retain the YouTube logo for easy access to the video on YouTube or the YouTube app
  11. Manage language
    1. Add subtitles for every used language to the video
    2. Set the interface language to match the language used on the webpage
A person holding a phone with the YouTube app running. Image by Sam riz from Pixabay.

How to embed YouTube videos while ensuring accessibility WCAG compliance

To determine whether embedded YouTube videos are compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), it’s essential to consider several factors related to accessibility features and best practices.

To make a YouTube embed WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) compliant, we need to consider several aspects of accessibility. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to achieve this:

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EU Digital Accessibility laws apply to all companies operating in the EU, regardless of originArticle contains
  1. Key requirements of the EAA
  2. Key takeaways
  3. How to comply with the European Accessibility Act?
  4. What are the core principles and existing digital accessibility standards?
  5. Which companies are impacted by the European Accessibility Act?
  6. Expected penalties for non-compliance
  7. Will using an overlay widget ensure compliance with the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?
  8. How to achieve compliance with the EAA?
  9. Are automated accessibility tests alone enough?
  10. Final thoughts
There is a group of people with a child in a wheelchair. Image created by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.

EU Digital Accessibility laws apply to all companies operating in the EU, regardless of origin

Websites are excellent because they can be accessed by almost anyone, anywhere. This allows you to sell your products and services from your country to anywhere in the world. While this is exciting, it also means that your website must adhere to their regulations and web accessibility rules.

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) will take effect in June 2025 and will require companies to comply with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards for digital products and services sold in the EU.

This guide is intended to give organizations a path to global digital accessibility legislation, with a focus on the laws that expose companies operating on the EU market. What are these laws, what are the requirements, and what are the penalties for noncompliance? In responding to these questions, we explore deeper into the EU’s European Accessibility Act, which businesses must pay special attention to.

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Improving link accessibility with clear descriptionsArticle contains
  1. Why inform users that a link will open in a new window?
  2. Best practices for screen reader users
  3. Technical implementation
  4. Conclusion
Best practices for text alternatives for audio and videoArticle contains
  1. The importance of text alternatives
  2. Why do people watch videos without audio?
    1. Visual content appreciation
    2. Accessibility and convenience
    3. Personal preferences
    4. Educational purposes
  3. Essential text alternatives
    1. Transcripts
      1. Best practices for audio and video transcripts
    2. Captions
      1. Types of captions
    3. Subtitles
    4. Descriptive text
    5. Audio descriptions
      1. Example of good alt text for audio
        1. Podcast episode
        2. Music track
        3. Audio tutorial
        4. News report
        5. Interview clip
      2. Tips for audio descriptions
    6. Metadata
    7. Additional tips
  4. Captions vs. subtitles for videos
  5. Enhancing accessibility and SEO
    1. Benefit from search engine optimization
      1. Enhanced search engine indexing and ranking
      2. Impact on AI search engines indexing
      3. Structured data
      4. Video indexing reports
      5. Better keyword strategy alignment
      6. Increased engagement and retention
      7. Greater accessibility
      8. Opportunities for content repurposing
  6. Ensuring media accessibility
    1. Ensure accessibility of media players
    2. Follow WCAG guidelines
    3. Legal considerations
  7. Code examples
    1. Video example
    2. Audio example
Balancing accessibility and security - how to protect user data on inclusive websitesArticle contains
  1. Understanding accessibility and security
  2. Best practices for accessibility
    1. Use semantic HTML
    2. Provide text alternatives
    3. Ensure keyboard accessibility
    4. Use ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) landmarks
    5. Test with real users
  3. Best practices for security
    1. Use HTTPS
    2. Implement strong authentication
    3. Regular security audits and updates
    4. Data encryption
    5. Educate users
  4. Balancing accessibility and security
    1. Secure and accessible authentication
    2. Accessible error messages
    3. Privacy by design
    4. Regular testing and monitoring
    5. Stay informed and compliant
    6. Leveraging VPNs for enhanced security
  5. Conclusion
Hands typing on a laptop

Balancing accessibility and security – how to protect user data on inclusive websites

For any online business in 2024, having a website that’s both accessible and secure is paramount. Accessibility ensures that all users, regardless of their abilities, can navigate and interact with your site. Security, on the other hand, protects user data from breaches and cyberthreats.

Balancing these two aspects can be challenging, but it is essential for building trust and providing a seamless user experience. This article delves into the strategies and best practices for achieving this balance on your website.

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Should we avoid writing in all caps?Article contains
  1. Uppercase text slows down reading speed
  2. The effect of uppercase text on word recognition
  3. Why all caps are perceived as yelling
  4. Alternatives to using all caps for emphasis
    1. Use italics for emphasis
    2. Use bold formatting
    3. Small caps
    4. Employ strategic placement and punctuation
    5. Avoid overemphasis
  5. Does all caps affect screen readers?
  6. English capitalization guidelines
  7. Does capitalization affect SEO?
  8. Are there any legal requirements or regulations regarding the use of all caps in digital communications?
  9. Conclusion
Sentence "FRAGILE" on the wood written in all caps

Should we avoid writing in all caps?

Uppercase reading is more difficult to read since the forms of all uppercase letters are rectangular, and readers are not used to reading text in this way. As a result, it is more difficult to scan, less efficient, and hence less readable.

However, all caps are accepted for words that do not need reading, such as logos and acronyms.

One of the simplest methods to improve your website’s content is to use consistent capitalization guidelines. Above all, do not use all capital letters (commonly known as all caps) in your headings and text.

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Surprising facts and figures about digital accessibilityArticle contains
  1. Global impact
  2. Web accessibility
  3. Economic impact
  4. Legal ramifications
  5. Benefits of accessibility
  6. Digital accessibility gaps
  7. Employment and education
    1. Education and employment opportunities
    2. E-learning platforms
  8. Conclusion
Three books stacked on top of each other

Surprising facts and figures about digital accessibility

Digital accessibility, in simple terms, is about making sure that websites, apps, and other digital tools are usable by everyone, regardless of whether they have a disability or not. Imagine you’re trying to visit a website but can’t see well, or you’re using a voice command instead of typing because you can’t use your hands. Digital accessibility ensures that these tools work for you too, just like they would for anyone else.

Here are some surprising facts and figures that highlight the importance of digital accessibility.

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Making chatbots accessible: A guide to enhance usability for users with disabilitiesArticle contains
  1. Visual accessibility
  2. Auditory accessibility
  3. Motor accessibility
  4. Cognitive accessibility
  5. Universal design features
  6. Testing and feedback
  7. Compliance and ethical considerations
  8. Technical advises
  9. General recommendations for choosing an accessible chatbot platform
    1. Customizability
    2. Compliance with WCAG standards
    3. Testing capabilities
    4. Support for rich media accessibility
    5. Keyboard navigation
  10. Final words
A person using a tablet indoors. The person is interacting with the device, reading and typing messages on the chat app.

Making chatbots accessible: A guide to enhance usability for users with disabilities

Previously, we discussed the Urgent Need for Chatbots to be Accessible. In this piece, we are taking a deep dive into actions one can take to enhance the accessibility of chatbots for users with disabilities. In order to meet that end, programmers can implement several specific strategies that address visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairments. This guide offers detailed instructions, practical code examples, and tool recommendations to make chatbots more accessible.

Let’s get started.

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The urgent need for accessible chatbotsArticle contains
  1. Understanding the accessibility gap in chatbots
  2. Technical Barriers to Accessibility
  3. Best practices for enhancing chatbot accessibility
  4. Legislative and ethical considerations
  5. Conclusion
  6. Iconographic for enhancing chatbot accessibility
The image shows a person using a tablet indoors. The person is interacting with the device, and there may be text or content displayed on the screen. The individual is wearing clothing and is engaged with technology.

The urgent need for accessible chatbots

Human communication is evolving and chatbots have become ubiquitous, offering round-the-clock customer service, streamlined shopping experiences, and instant access to information. However, despite their convenience and efficiency, there is a critical aspect that is often overlooked: accessibility. Many current chatbots fail to provide adequate support for users with disabilities, a significant oversight that needs immediate attention and action.

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