Is your website as accessible as your business?

Submitted by Carrie Wakeford, 
Project Manager Black Cap Design.

Ramps, automatic doors, accessible parking spaces – do you remember the days when these things couldn’t be taken for granted?  Now most business owners know the importance of making their stores and offices accessible to everyone.  Just in time too, with our aging population.

But wait - is your website also accessible?

Millions of people with disabilities rely on the Web.  They’ll be accessing your site using assistive devices such as screen readers.  And look out – those baby boomers will continue to have power and it won’t be long before they will be making demands for accessible websites.

Some of the coolest looking websites are not so cool for people using assistive devices - fancy fonts, newfangled layouts and funky menus can be fun and eye catching, but if you’re not careful they can create barriers for some visitors.  Ideally your website will look good AND be accessible to people with visual impairments, people who are unable to use a mouse and people who need an intuitive navigation system.

Features of an Accessible Website

Let’s start by looking at some of the main features of an accessible website.

1.     Links are spelled out

a.     Rather than saying “click here” the hyperlink is clearly labeled e.g. “Click for more information about …”. 

2.     Images are clearly labeled in the code

a.     This means having Alternate Text (Alt Text) for each image so if someone can’t see the image on your site their screen reader has something to read.  For example the text might say: “Two women at a podium smiling.” 

3.     Navigation is intuitive

a.     Menus are easy to find and logical

b.     People can move around your site without a mouse (keyboard navigation)

4.     Layout is user friendly

a.     Headings and subheadings are used

b.     Colours have high contrast

c.     Text resizing buttons are available

d.     Images are static or slow transitioning – they don’t spin or blink

5.     Content is written using plain, easy to understand language

6.     The site loads quickly

7.     The site is mobile responsive

Benefits to Making Your Website Accessible?

1.     At a Business Level

a.     You reach all your potential customers and clients regardless of their ability.  Your website will do better in search (Google likes accessible sites too).  Studies find that accessible websites have lower maintenance costs.

2.     At a Legislative Level

a.     You’re website will comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

3.     At a Community Level

a.     You are doing the right thing by playing a role in breaking down barriers; leveling the playing field and giving everyone access to the same information.

Test your Site

There are many website accessibility checkers available for free.  For example, you can check your site to see if it is accessible at: http://wave.webaim.org/

Quick Fixes

Don’t panic if your site has errors, most sites do.  However, you can use the results to find things you can fix easily.  For example you can:

□      Reword any links that say “click here”

□      Add “alt text” for any images you have on your site

□      Add headings and subheadings that will help organize your content

□      Reword any content that doesn’t use plain language (e.g. remove jargon)

Other Easy Ways to Test Your Site:

□      Ask a friend to find something specific on your site

o   How easy was it for them to move around?

o   Did they find the information?

□      Ask a senior or person with a disability for feedback on your site

□      Try moving around your site using the keyboard only – no mouse

□      Review your own site using a screen reader

o   There are many free screen readers such as: http://www.naturalreaders.com/index.html

Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web says “The Power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect.”

Let’s do what we can to make the web accessible.

The AODA states that public sites, not-for-profit organizations and private businesses with 50+ employees must comply with the WCAG 2.0 when launching a new website or undertaking major revisions. http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/accessibility/info_sheets/info_comm/website.aspx

Carrie Wakeford, Project Manager  carrie@blackcapdesign.com

Black Cap Design 

310 Elias Avenue 

Peterborough, Ontario 

Canada , K9J 5G9

705-927-2308

Networking: How Women Do It Differently

Karen August, (Manager of Membership Services at the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce) shares some Networking insight for women...

You’ve probably heard it before, the ‘fact’ that men and women network differently.  But is it true? And what impact does it have on us and our business or career?

“Men’s networks are widely dispersed, while women tend to form their professional networks in the same way that they form personal networks”, says Holly J. Falk-Krzesinski, vice president of global academic and research relations for academic publisher Elsevier BV.

It’s different for girls

“Women’s tighter networks are built for personal support, but they often lack the wide reach of men’s networks. Women’s networks also are typically based on trust and first-degree knowledge, with contacts including old friends or former colleagues. Often, many people within a woman’s network know one another” she says.

So, while our typical networking style can produce great results while building camaraderie, mutual support circles, and good business referrals, it has its limits.

It might be possible to leverage your existing circle of professional and personal contacts to meet your needs.  But when you broaden your network you invite new possibilities in.

So, how are the men doing it?

The specific techniques that typically characterize the male approach to creating and building a network are subtle, but powerful.  As women, we can adopt their modus operandi and add it to our own, without sacrificing the obvious benefits our ‘inner circle’ of trusted supports undoubtedly provides.

Men often regard networking as an opportunity to meet new people.  As such, they allocate the resources to make that happen.  They budget for membership dues, conference attendance; for the ‘hospitality’ costs associated with lunches and for the time that it will take.

The best of both worlds

The unique qualities that your close-knit network provides should not be discounted or abandoned. When you are ready to expand your reach and influence, consider these points:

• You only get one chance to make a first impression so be prepared. Learn some new techniques and then practice, practice, practice.  You might need to employ a coach (or at least a trusted friend).

• Learn the art of body language and how to make people come to you in the room. Prepare some great questions that you can ask so that you are never stuck for words.  Study effective techniques to start (and end!) a conversation.  

• Learn the art of active listening, how and when to do the business card thing, and for heaven’s sake – don’t arrive at an event hungry!  Nobody ever made a good impression with asparagus in their teeth.

• Develop a powerful elevator speech and use it.  Chisel away at a long winded response until it is clean and crisp.  Remember, when Michelangelo was asked how he created his sculpture of David he supposedly said, “It was easy. All I did was chip away everything that didn’t look like David.”  It clearly ISN’T easy, but the effort is well worth the reward.

• Attend new places and events with a purpose in mind. Make it a goal to connect with one new person, and to follow up with them the next day to make the relationship ‘stick’.

• Leverage technology. Not using LinkedIn or Twitter, even Facebook? You need to be.  End of discussion. 

• Make yourself the centre of your own network by introducing people who don’t know one another. Become a linchpin.

• Adopt a new attitude. Surround yourself with people that you think you can learn from, rather than people who you think can help you.  And in turn, be generous with your knowledge and connections.

The one thing to remember is to cast your net wide.  
Maybe that’s why it’s called ‘net-working’?

Karen August

Manager of Membership Services

Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce

175 George Street

Peterborough ON K9K 3G6

705-748-9771 ext 200

twitter @chamberconnects