For your website, CLG Discount Store, it’s important to follow the most up-to-date web accessibility laws and guidelines to ensure your site is usable by people with disabilities. According to Accessibly App and current standards, the primary laws and guidelines to follow include:
1. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Summary: The ADA mandates that businesses provide equal access to services for individuals with disabilities, including websites. This means that web content must be accessible to those using assistive technologies like screen readers, keyboard navigation, and more.
Impact on Websites: Websites must be navigable by people with disabilities, ensuring that images have alt text, content is readable by screen readers, and the site is navigable via keyboard.
2. Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1
Conformance Levels: WCAG is the gold standard for web accessibility globally. It defines three levels of conformance:
Level A: The minimum level of accessibility.
Level AA: The most common level required by law and business standards.
Level AAA: The highest and most comprehensive level.
CLG Discount Store should aim for WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance, which covers the following key principles:
Perceivable: Content must be presented in ways that users can perceive, including providing alt text for images and ensuring contrast ratios between text and backgrounds meet the required levels.
Operable: The site must be navigable via keyboard alone, and interactive elements like buttons must be easy to identify and operate.
Understandable: The website's content must be clear, and users must be able to interact with it without confusion.
Robust: The content must work across a wide range of devices, assistive technologies, and browsers.
3. Section 508 (Rehabilitation Act, US)
Summary: This federal law requires that all electronic and information technology used by federal agencies is accessible to people with disabilities. This law also applies to businesses and organizations that provide services or products to federal agencies.
Impact on Websites: Websites must meet accessibility standards, particularly for any organization that receives federal funding or does business with the federal government.
4. European Accessibility Act (EAA)
Summary: If you plan to do business in Europe, the EAA mandates that businesses ensure their digital platforms, including websites, are accessible to people with disabilities.
Impact on Websites: If you serve European customers, CLG Discount Store’s website must comply with accessibility standards aligned with WCAG 2.1 Level AA.
5. Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)
Summary: If your website serves users in Ontario, Canada, you must comply with the AODA, which aligns with WCAG 2.0 Level AA.
Impact on Websites: Ensuring that your website has proper text contrast, is navigable by keyboard, and offers alt text for all images.
6. United Kingdom Equality Act 2010
Summary: The UK law requires that websites be accessible to people with disabilities, providing equal access to all services offered online.
Impact on Websites: Your website should meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards to comply with this regulation if you serve UK customers.
Key Features to Implement for CLG Discount Store:
Alt Text for Images: Every image should have a descriptive alt tag to assist those using screen readers.
Keyboard Navigation: Ensure that the website is fully navigable using a keyboard, particularly the “tab” key for moving between interactive elements.
Contrast and Readability: Text on your website must have sufficient contrast against the background to ensure readability.
Zoom Functionality: Provide zoom options for users to adjust text size.
Screen Reader Compatibility: Ensure your site content is properly structured (using HTML5 elements like <header>, <main>, <nav>, <footer>) for easy interpretation by screen readers.
Grayscale/Invert Colors: Offer color inversion or grayscale options for users with visual impairments.
By following these laws and guidelines, CLG Discount Store will be compliant with both U.S. and international accessibility standards.