Why is Accessibility a Necessity?
Accessibility is more than a design luxury; it’s an investment in the future and brand credibility.
A) Ensuring Legal Compliance
WCAG standards are accepted by international organizations and governments (such as Section 508 in the US or European Union laws) as the basis for web accessibility. Non-compliance with these standards, especially for companies with an international audience, can lead to legal issues and fines.
B) Market Expansion and Social Responsibility
Individuals with physical disabilities are a large part of society and a potential target market. By adhering to accessibility, you send a message to this large group of customers that your brand values everyone, which increases loyalty and expands market share.
C) Improving User Experience for All (UX for All)
Accessibility principles, such as high color contrast or simpler navigation, ultimately lead to a better User Experience (UX) for all users, including those without disabilities (e.g., easier use in low-light conditions or while driving).
Implementing WCAG Principles in Catalog Design
WCAG is based on four main principles that must be observed in digital design and publishing: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust.
A) Perceivable: Content Must Be Identifiable
- Alternative Text (Alt Text) for Images: Provide a precise, textual description for every image so that screen readers can explain the content to individuals with visual impairments. This is also highly effective for SEO.
- Sufficient Color Contrast: Ensure that the contrast between the color of the text and the background in headers, body text, and CTA buttons is high enough for people with color blindness or low vision to read the content.
B) Operable: Interaction Must Be Flexible
- Keyboard Navigation: Ensure that the user can navigate all parts of the catalog (including interactive buttons, links, and form fields) using only the Tab and Enter keys, without needing a mouse.
- Sufficient Time for Interaction: If the catalog includes self-playing sliders or animations, give the user enough time to read the content or provide the option to pause and control them.
Technical and Robustness Tips for Digital Publishing Platforms
The digital publishing platform must use standard code to implement these principles.
Using Correct ARIA Tags and Roles
Screen readers need information that is not present in standard HTML to understand the page structure. Correct use of ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) tags ensures that screen readers can correctly identify interactive elements (such as page-turning buttons or lead generation forms) as a button or link.
B) Clean and Responsive Code Structure
The catalog's code structure must be logical and clean.
- Logical Structure: Headers (H1, H2, H3) must be used in correct sequence and hierarchy so that the screen reader can build a table of contents for the user.
- Responsive Design: The catalog must maintain its structure when the user uses Zoom, ensuring content does not spill outside the page boundaries.
C) Subtitles and Transcripts for Audio/Visual Content
If your catalog includes embedded videos or podcasts, subtitles or a textual Transcript must be provided for the audio and visual content so that individuals with hearing impairments can also access the information.
Final Words
Accessibility is the ceiling of the User Experience (UX). By adhering to WCAG standards in the smart catalog, you not only meet a legal requirement but also demonstrate respect for human values and differences. An accessible smart catalog expands your market share and creates a deeply positive and ethical image of your brand in the minds of all audiences.
