Web accessibility is a required trait of any website whose business has employed at least 15 people. This means private and federal websites that meet these criteria should follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). The question is, do you know if your website meets the WCAG standards?
This is where web accessibility consulting comes in. Web Accessibility consulting is hiring a consultant to ensure that your company’s website meets all the standards of the WCAG. Aside from checking your website, they will also provide continuous support and guidance to your company as far as your website is concerned.
5 Benefits You Get From A Web Accessibility Consultant
What do you get from a web accessibility consultant? Here are five benefits you will enjoy.
They Are Knowledgeable In Web Accessibility
Nobody will be as knowledgeable on web accessibility as ADA Site Compliance. They have in-depth knowledge on all the requirements and guidelines of the ADA more than the usual business owner. Even if you read the whole WCAG, you still won’t be able to match a consultant’s knowledge on it. Unfortunately, there is more to web accessibility than what is seen on the ADA site. This is the part where business owners often are clueless about.
When you hire a web accessibility consultant, you can rely on them to know all the technicalities of the ADA. They will know the ins and outs of web accessibility and they can also make decisions on complicated matters about your website.
Moreover, a web accessibility consultant is qualified to carry out consulting services, trainings, and audits. They are licensed professionals that are tested by the ADA to ensure that they are able to carry out their profession to the highest quality.
You Can Rely On Their Experience
Just like any technical profession, experience plays an important role in how the ADA guidelines are carried out. Experience is needed to make judgement calls which regularly occur in web accessibility. These decisions may seem easy, but the wrong decision can cost thousands of dollars given that its federal compliance you are talking about here.
Needless to say, it is important that you hire a web accessibility consultant that is experienced in the field. There are some who are just starting their careers and may offer a less expensive package, but it is better to look for someone who has been in the profession for a long time. This way, they are able to use their experiences to make your website compliant.
They Can Test Your Website Themselves
There are a number of web accessibility tools found online. As a business, you might be inclined to use them since some are free. However, this is not recommended since even these online tools miss a lot of guidelines. In other words, they fail to tag other attributes as non-compliant even if they are.
This is another advantage of hiring a web accessibility consultant. When you have a consultant, they are able to use several tools that will make sure that every aspect of your website is checked and tested. This way, nothing is missed and you have a higher chance of passing the WCAG standards.
They Are Updated On The New Guidelines For Websites
Web accessibility consultants are required to stay updated with the newest guidelines released by the ADA website. Since this is their profession, it is their responsibility to let their clients know of new guidelines. It is also their responsibility to act on those guidelines and make sure that their clients will follow suit.
You Don’t Need To Worry About Following The ADA Guidelines On Your Own
Last but not least is the convenience. If you don’t have a web accessibility consultant, then you will most likely constantly worry about how to make your website compliant. This is because there are few firms who are well-versed with WCAG compliance and most businesses aren’t. Small to medium businesses don’t have the luxury to set up a department just for the ADA compliance alone. Hence, it is wise for business owners to just hire an experienced consultant.
When you hire a professional and experienced consultant, ADA compliance and site visibility will seem like a breeze. This will allow you to move into the new digital economy safely and protected online.
