In this webinar, Bet Hannon, Founder and CEO of AccessiCart, gave non-technical, practical tips for improving website accessibility and discuss the benefits of having an accessible site.

1. Bet Hannon, CEO
AccessiCart
@bethannon
accessicart.com
eCommerce:
The Power of
an Accessible
Website

2. About Me
Bet Hannon
Web developer since 2008
Helped develop over 150 sites
Accessibility geek
Currently CEO at AccessiCart
Find me at @bethannon

3. Our Accessibility Story…
…Starts with a client with a need.

4. Avoid Legal
Issues
ADA Title III Website Accessibility
Lawsuits in Federal Court
Five years of ADA web and app lawsuits
- key observations and trends -
UsableNet , 12/21/22

5. What is Website
Accessibility?

6. CDC estimates 25% of all adults in the
US have a permanent or temporary disability
This increases as we age

7. Website accessibility gives
people with diverse abilities
equal access and
equal opportunity
to access and use web content

8. Screen Readers

10. Many Types of Disabilities
Blindness, but also low vision
Colorblindness
Age-related vision changes
Mobility issues
Reading disabilities
Seizures
Cognitive disabilities
Sensory/focus issues, ADHD
Anxiety & Depression

11. WCAG = Website Content
Accessibility Guidelines
A, AA, AAA
Checklist for Website Accessibility:
https://a11yproject.com/checklist/

12. Tips for
eCommerce
Accessibility

13. Most accessibility devices
are keyboard driven &
screenreader users use keyboard navigation
Start testing your
site by navigating
using only the
Tab & Enter keys

14. Use semantic
markup
Semantic markup also
includes other tags
properly applied
H1 Page title
H2 Section 1 title
H3 Subsection 1.1
H3 Subsection 1.2
H2 Section 2 title
H3 Subsection 2.0

15. Use alt text
on Images
Alt text describes images
<img alt=”text that will
convey the
Image to people who can’t see
it”>
NOT: “img987983.jpg”, “photo”

16. Color Contrast
https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker/

17. Avoid Color Coding
Particularly red vs. green, as this is the most common form of
colorblindness
Red Box = Don’t Green Box = Do
Box Dos and Don’ts
Check site with color checkers or grayscale
monitor
Use color coding alone
Pay attention to contrast in
lightness/darkness
Use red/green alone
Red X = Don’t Green + = Do
Box Dos and Don’ts
Check site with color checkers or grayscale
monitor
x Use color coding alone
+ Pay attention to contrast in
lightness/darkness
x Use red/green alone

18. Use Descriptive Link Text
Links should be indicated by something IN ADDITION to color
Link text should always be descriptive enough to stand on it’s
own out of context
Link text should not be repetitive on a page
Not This:
Click here to read
the report on
campus crime
This:
Click here to read
the report on
campus crime
Not This:
Click here to read
the report on
campus crime

19. Use actual Lists, Tables & Columns
Don’t use “-” or “>” to create what appear to
be lists.
Don’t use spaces to create what appear to be
tables or columns
This:
• Item A
• Item B
• Item C
Not This:
- Item A
- Item B
- Item C

20. PDFs and other docs
Use semantic markup: H1=title, H2 for main points, etc.
All the other tips: color, alt text, descriptive links, etc.
Use table of contents for long docs
Take special care with tables & charts
Use editor tools in Adobe, Word, etc.

21. Multimedia Files
Audio files must have a written transcript
Videos should use captions and/or transcripts
Be sure to correct/proofread auto-generated captions & transcripts

22. Checkout/Signup Process
Checkouts and signups are a
common place to find accessibility
issues
Check for keyboard navigation &
ability to make changes to fields.

23. PSA: Avoid “overlay” Plugins!
They can actually make things worse! And they
don’t stand by you for any lawsuits.
Overlay Fact Sheet
Why AI & Overlay Widgets Fail to Protect or Serve,
Accessibility Works
AccessiBe will Get you Sued, Adrian Roselli
Beware: WordPress Accessibility Plugins Can Make Your
Site LESS Accessible, AccessiCart

24. Resource:
ADA Tax Credit
Businesses may qualify for
a 50% tax credit for making
their website accessible!
Must be either:
Under 30 employees, OR
Under $1M in gross revenue
Entire website project fees are included!
About form 8826, Disabled Access Credit, IRS

25. Benefits of
Accessibility

26. Increase your potential
audience by 25%(or more!)

27. Improve Your SEO

28. Improve EVERYONE’s
User Experience

29. Investment in your
Customers

30. Investment in your
Brand

31. Statement
Example:

32. Statements Usually
Include:
“ongoing commitment to achieving the
highest levels of satisfaction for all
customers”
Committed to WCAG (Web Content
Accessibility Guidelines published by the
Web Accessibility Initiative ("WCAG").
“While we strive to adhere... if you
nevertheless encounter any difficulty...
contact us.”

33. Resource: Accessibility Audits
Does in-depth testing of your site to find all
accessibility issues.
Beware of cheap AI or automated only audits
Look for “human testing” but doesn’t have to be
disabled persons
Typically, a “sampling audit” is more affordable
You can get an audit and have your own developer do
the remediations

34. Accessibility is the right thing to do, but
it makes business sense too!

35. Any
Questions?

36. eCommerce:
The Power of
an Accessible
Website
Bet Hannon, CEO
AccessiCart
@bethannon
accessicart.com