Many people prefer to access content and services through the internet or apps rather than doing business in person. This includes banking at credit unions. Rather than go to a bank location, many customers would rather check their account balance, apply for a loan, or perform other transactions through a website. This makes it all the more important for a credit union website to be secure and accessible.
The Americans with Disabilities Act mandates that businesses not discriminate against people with disabilities, meaning physical buildings and websites must be accessible. Technical standards for web accessibility should be used to make sure that everyone can access and interact with your website content, and that you don’t face legal issues. Our accessibility compliance services can help you determine any areas of improvement for your credit union website and help you make any necessary changes.
Based in Delaware, Inclind works with clients throughout the U.S. - including credit unions - to help them build websites that look great and work well for everyone. We know that accessibility isn’t just a legal requirement but also a smart business decision. We work with our clients to ensure that people of all abilities can use their websites. If you’d like to learn more about our website design, development, and support services for credit unions - including accessibility compliance - reach out today to talk to our team.
What Is Web Accessibility?
If you live in the United States, you are probably familiar with the concept of accessibility, such as having curb cuts to make sure that people with wheelchairs can access sidewalks and streets. These types of physical modifications to buildings and infrastructure are required under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Specifically, Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination based on disability by public accommodations and in commercial facilities.
What many businesses may not realize is that the same law that requires them to make their building accessible also mandates website accessibility. As a practical matter, it makes sense: as the internet is increasingly used to conduct business, it should be accessible to everyone, regardless of ability. Just as a person with a disability should be able to enter your building and open an account or take out a loan, they should also be able to use your website just as an able-bodied person would. Inaccessible web content often means that people with disabilities are denied equal access to information.
Why Web Accessibility Matters
From a business perspective, accessibility makes good financial sense. Beyond legal compliance, making your website accessible means more people can become potential customers. When your website is hard to use and inaccessible, you risk losing paying customers.
Ultimately, accessibility is about making sure that everyone can use your website. This can include everything from using high-contrast fonts so that screen readers work properly for the blind to including captions on videos so the deaf can understand the information communicated. Making accessibility part of your website is simply a good thing to implement - to avoid potential lawsuits and penalties and boost business.
Ensuring ADA Compliance for Your Credit Union Website
Per guidance from the Department of Justice (DOJ), businesses open to the public—including credit unions—must comply with the ADA for their physical locations and websites. Importantly, the federal government does not currently have a law or regulation that sets out specific standards for web accessibility in detail. Instead, a more general rule is that businesses must ensure their websites are accessible to people with disabilities.
While this reality means that businesses have more options for ensuring accessibility, a lack of specific guidance can feel like a gray area. The DOJ refers to technical standards that can be used for website accessibility guidance, including the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and the Section 508 Standards.Below is an overview of what web content is required to comply with these standards.
Perceivable
Perceivable means that both the information and the user interface components are presented in a way that users can perceive. This may include:
- Providing text alternatives for content that doesn’t include text so that it can be changed into other forms (such as adding “alt text” to images)
- Using captions for videos
- Using audio descriptions or media alternatives for video content
- Creating content that can be presented in different ways (such as a simpler layout) without losing information or structure
- Not limiting content to a single display orientation (such as portrait or landscape)
- Not using things like shape or color as the only visual way of conveying information
- Making sure that any content that auto-plays for more than 3 seconds can be paused or stopped
- Using high contrast colors
- Allowing text to be resized up to 200% without loss of content or functionality
Operable
Operable means that both user interface components and navigation are operable. This may include:
- Making all functionality operable through a keyboard
- Ensuring that timing is not an essential part of an event or activity presented by the content (i.e., a user has to click quickly to access the content)
- Giving the option to pause, stop, or hide moving, blinking, scrolling, or auto-updating information
- Warning users of time-outs due to inactivity
- Not using any content that flashes more than 3 times in any 1-second period
- Using titles for all pages that describe their topic or purpose
- Having more than one way available to locate a web page within a set of pages
- Using headings and labels to describe the topic or purpose
- Not using dragging movements for operation unless a single pointer can achieve the action without dragging
Understandable
Understandable means that the information and operation of the user interface must be understandable. This includes:
- Offering a way to identify specific definitions, words, or phrases that are used in an unusual way
- Offering supplemental content for text that requires more advanced reading levels
- Providing a way to identify pronunciation of words when it is necessary for context and understanding
- Using consistent navigational mechanisms
- Identifying input errors for users
- Including labels or instructions when content requires user input
- Ensuring that any authentication processes are accessible
Robust
Robust means that various user agents, such as assistive technologies, can interpret the content.
Common Ways To Improve Accessibility For Your Site
As a practical matter, this can mean doing things like:
- Make sure that there is enough color contrast between the text and background. For example, you shouldn’t use gray text on a light blue background.
- Do not use color alone to provide information, which can make it difficult for people who are color-blind or who have limited vision to understand that information. For example, if you put disclosures about loan terms in red when all other text is black, that might mean that certain people won’t be able to read the content.
- If you use images or videos, provide text alternatives for people who use screen readers. For example, if you have a graphic that talks about interest rates for savings accounts, add alt text so that people using screen readers can also access that content.
- For online forms, make sure that they are accessible. For example, if you offer new account applications on your website, it should be navigable using the keyboard instead of only the mouse.
The Department of Justice has fined businesses for inaccessible websites. Individuals may also file a lawsuit against a credit union for accessibility issues. This makes it incredibly important that your website is fully accessible.
While these requirements may seem onerous, they will ultimately improve and make your website more accessible to a broader range of people, not just people with disabilities. Making your website easier to navigate and use is a win across the board. While the process can be time-consuming and technical, it is well worth the effort.
At Inclind, we offer accessibility audits to help our clients (including credit unions) comply with the ADA. We can analyze your current website for accessibility compliance and then offer you guidance on improving accessibility in terms of design, content, and functionality. We can even perform custom integrations so your website can incorporate the latest technologies.
Work with Inclind for an ADA-Compliant Website
Many businesses look at accessibility as another expense instead of an opportunity. Making your website accessible is a great way to build your business as a credit union. Our team of award-winning designers and developers can help you determine what your website needs to become ADA accessible and then implement those changes for you.
Inclind works with credit unions and other financial institutions throughout the United States to offer high-quality, technologically advanced web development and design services. We have particular experience helping credit unions build highly functional, beautifully designed, accessible websites. Our full range of credit union website services includes support and maintenance, site redesigns, website consulting, and conversion optimization.
We're available if you’d like to learn more about our website development services for credit unions - including accessibility compliance. You can fill out our online contact form, call us at 800-604-8139, or hit the live chat button to talk to one of our experts about your website.