Introduction
Website accessibility isn’t just a one-time consideration during development — it requires ongoing attention both during and after the site’s launch. Ensuring compliance with accessibility standards applies not only to the main website components but also extends to third-party integrations and tools. This guide explores essential strategies for maintaining consistent website accessibility.
Building accessible websites
A properly accessible website must align with established standards, including:
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements
- Other recognized accessibility frameworks
Key areas requiring attention during development:
- Compatibility with assistive technologies
- Proper semantic HTML implementation
- Media accessibility features
- Appropriate color contrast ratios
- Accessible form design
- Third-party tool compliance
Different ways to maintain accessibility
Regular audits and site evaluation
Periodic accessibility audits are crucial for maintaining compliance:
- Schedule: Quarterly, bi-annual, or annual reviews
- Purpose: Identify new issues and verify ongoing compliance
- Implementation: Develop structured remediation plans including:
- Issue prioritization
- Fix timeline development
- Progress tracking documentation
- Tools: Utilize specialized platforms like Siteimprove and Monsideo for monitoring
Ensuring compliance of updates
Website modifications throughout the year require careful accessibility consideration:
- Implement systematic review processes for all changes
- Conduct pre-deployment accessibility testing
- Maintain a repository of accessible components for efficient updates
- Review both design and functionality modifications
Monitoring and assistive tools
Various tools are available for comprehensive accessibility management:
- Complete testing platforms (Siteimprove)
- Specific testing tools (AXE)
- Specialized checkers:
- WebAIM for contrast verification
- NoCoffee Vision for assistive technology simulation
- Stark plugin for accessible design in Figma
- Multilingual assistance tools
Being informed of changes in standards
Accessibility guidelines continuously evolve to improve web inclusivity:
- Historical context: WCAG progression from 1.0 (1999) to 2.1 (2018)
- Future developments: Anticipated WCAG 2.2 release in 2024
- Importance of staying current with standard updates
- Regular compliance verification with new guidelines
Maintaining website accessibility requires constant vigilance and systematic processes to ensure all users, regardless of ability, can effectively access and use web content.
Conclusion
Maintaining the accessibility of a website after launch is as important as ensuring compliance with accessibility standards while building it. Accessibility can be overlooked with various updates and changes in a website throughout the year. We’ve detailed multiple ways in which accessibility can be maintained on a site from having a dedicated remediation plan, and regular accessibility audits to staying in line with the ever-evolving accessibility guidelines.
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