We've previously discussed font tips for ADA accessibility. However, typography is just one component of overall design accessibility. Design accessibility plays a huge role in ensuring that the end user can interact with and respond to whatever you design. Designing from an accessibility standpoint has the potential to benefit all participants, not just people with disabilities, because accessible design typically delivers a better user experience for everyone.
You might be wondering why designing for accessibility is important. Not only is it part of United States law, but it’s also the right thing to do! Imagine opening a magazine, advertisement, webpage, or flyer and not being able to read or see the content. This is unfortunately a daily experience for many people due to poor design habits. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1.3 billion people worldwide live with a disability. This amounts to 16% of the world's population.
These reasons are why the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was amended to require federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. Under Section 508, agencies must give disabled employees and members of the public access to information comparable to the access available to others. This also applies to businesses receiving funding from the federal government. According to Equidox, over 4,000 lawsuits were filed under the ADA and other state laws in 2023 alone, all due to inaccessible content.
Designing with accessibility in mind can not only help you duck a lawsuit, but it can also benefit your business in a couple different ways. Primarily, your organization can reach more customers, increase current customer satisfaction, and gain a competitive edge over those who don’t include accessibility features. There is also a cost savings benefit for starting out with accessibility in mind instead of having to redesign later. Plus, if your materials are already compliant, your company won't even have to worry about costly ADA lawsuits.
One of the biggest components of design accessibility is color contrast. The color contrast ratio is essentially the difference between the color of the text and the background color in a design. According to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, the visual presentation of text and images of text has a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for small text and 3:1 for large text. Color and text are main components of graphic design and should be easy for everyone to see and read. The color contrast ratio requirements apply to text and graphics that are essential for understanding the content or functionality. There are plenty of free online color contrast checkers that you can utilize to check your designs.
Not sure if your website and documents are compliant? Download our free 508 compliance checklist!
Have more questions, or are you ready to start your accessibility journey today? Contact Splash Box Marketing at info@splashbox.com.