Screen Readers

Most of us do not need one.  According to the WHO, “[g]lobally the number of people of all ages visually impaired is estimated to be 285 million, of whom 39 million are blind.” That means that there are 285 million people who could potentially land on your website and not be able to navigate it because of ADA noncompliance.  Personally, I can’t even begin to imagine how frustrating this must be. How would you feel if you could not navigate websites? Let me know in the comments.

A screen reader apparently comes in different formats, and it works with the ADA codes embedded in your website.  It reads text and, if coded correctly, photo descriptions as well.  By having screen readers read the special codes, the visually impaired visitor can maneuver websites without relying on others.

Best business practice is to have your website be ADA compliant.  ADA compliant websites have the potential to avoid costly lawsuits, but most importantly, it helps the visually impaired be more independent and able to partake on his/her communities on line.  Are you ADA compliant?

For more information: https://www.who.int/blindness/publications/globaldata/en/