Initial Hurdles

When Partake came to us, they were looking for ways to improve their website’s user experience for desktop and mobile users.

At the time, their website did not fully support access to all end-users and, as a result, was not generating the maximum number of conversions. 

Conceivably, that meant they were losing money whenever someone with a disability had trouble using their site. So, with the goal of optimizing their website page-by-page for all users, we went to work.

The Strategy 

We decided to manage these concerns by refactoring their entire website in order to make it compliant with WCAG and ADA standards. This meant making changes to hundreds of different elements.

We worked with our client step-by-step to develop an intuitive, user-friendly website that supports accessibility for all users by meeting WCAG 2.0 standards.

Methodology & Systems

• An accessibility audit that analyzes how your current site measures up to WCAG and ADA guidelines
• A detailed WCAG consultation about how your site stacks up against the new rules and regulations.
• A current-needs review to know what issues need to be addressed immediately and which ones you have time to fix
• An accessibility report with a detailed list of steps you need to take in order to make your site compliant 
• Guideline overviews (WCAG & ADA) so you understand precisely why these things matter and what they mean for your business

Accessibility Audit: We conducted an accessibility audit on the Partake website to determine where improvements could be made. Several areas were noted as needing revision, including alt-text placement on images, color contrast issues, and keyboard navigation issues. 

We used a combination of automated tools along with manual testing to identify these issues. A detailed report was provided to Partake so that they could prioritize tasks to improve their website’s accessibility.

WCAG Consultation: The audit included consultation with Partake to provide them with a summary of our findings and recommendations for remediation. 

We also discussed what went into our testing process, including the methods used as well as the tools we used. We also discussed best practices for maintaining an accessible site moving forward, especially as new content is added regularly. 

Review, Report, Relax: Now, with the new guidelines set in place for ADA and WCAG website accessibility compliance, we laid it all out exactly what we were accomplishing to make certain their website is accessible to everyone regardless of ability—and started the clock!

The Results

The newly designed site has improved the user experience for visually impaired users and those using assistive technologies such as screen readers. As a result, they have seen a measurable increase in traffic and conversion metrics across the board.

Here are some of the nifty features our development team implemented:

• Zoom: In favor of enhanced text readability, zoom controls permit users to increase text size 2-3 times larger than the original size
• Invert colors: All colors on a page become inverted. The strong contrast makes it easier for people with visual disabilities to read.
• Tweak contrast: This function allows users to choose from two options manually: to increase or decrease contrast on a web page.
• Grayscale mode: All website content will be shown in shades of grey for the user. People with vision impairments will benefit here.
• Hide image: Images can be hidden on the website. As a result, those with visual impairments will have an easier time navigating.
• Cursor-size adjustment: To make a more prominent and noticeable mouse pointer for easier browsing.
• Readable fonts: Converts the typeface provided on the site to one of the most readable.
• Read the page: Visitors can hear the text on your site read aloud.

Closing Thoughts

One thing we love most about our work is that it helps make the world a more accessible, inclusive place. As a company, we’ve always been committed to building web products accessible for people with disabilities. We acknowledge that everyone should have an equal opportunity to access digital services and information—and we’re proud to say that our efforts have paid off.

Whether you want us to test your site for compliance or need us to build an accessible digital product for you from scratch, our team has all the skills and expertise required to get the task done right. If you need help making your website or application compliant with accessibility standards, we’d love to help you out. 

Let’s make this world better together.