Accessibility Upgrades

Effective accessibility practices can broaden your product’s reach, enhance the user experience for all, and contribute to overall business success. Achieving this does not, however, necessitate a complete re-architecture; our accessibility upgrade service systematically transforms existing applications to meet modern standards, preserving the integrity of your prior development efforts.

We bring your software into WCAG 2.1 compliance while optimizing for screen readers and assistive technologies. Your applications can feature complete keyboard navigation, enhanced color contrast, improved visual clarity, and proper semantic markup with ARIA attributes. We ensure accessibility across all devices and screen sizes, aiming for a broadly inclusive experience.

Beyond compliance, embracing accessibility can expand your user base to include people with disabilities, potentially reduce legal risks, and enhance overall usability. We can help you meet government and industry requirements, demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity that resonates with users and partners.

Our team has the expertise to achieve your accessibility goals while preserving your systems’ durability and reliability. Whether driven by compliance requirements or a desire to serve all potential users, our accessibility upgrade service provides improvements that benefit all users of your software.

Accessibility is not merely a compliance checkbox; it is a fundamental aspect of creating inclusive digital experiences. Understanding the current landscape of web accessibility is crucial for any organization committed to reaching a broader audience and ensuring equitable access to information and services. The statistics below highlight the pervasive challenges and the significant opportunities that accessibility upgrades present.

These figures underscore the imperative for proactive accessibility improvements. By addressing these areas, we not only enhance user experience for individuals with disabilities but also improve overall usability, search engine optimization, and brand reputation. Investing in accessibility, therefore, represents a strategic commitment to a more inclusive and effective digital presence.

Frequently Asked Questions

What accessibility standards do you follow?

Understanding the accessibility standards we adhere to is crucial, as these guidelines ensure your digital products are usable by everyone. We primarily follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA as our foundational benchmark. This widely adopted international standard provides a comprehensive set of recommendations for making web content more accessible.

Of course, different projects often have unique compliance requirements. Therefore, while WCAG 2.1 Level AA serves as our baseline, we are also equipped to help you meet specific regulatory mandates. For instance, we can work with you to achieve Section 508 compliance for government-related websites or ADA compliance for commercial applications, tailoring our approach to your particular needs.

How long does an accessibility upgrade typically take?

The duration of an accessibility upgrade is not a fixed timeline; it varies significantly based on the unique characteristics of your application. Factors such as its overall size, the complexity of its features, and the current state of its accessibility all play a crucial role in determining the effort required.

For instance, a focused accessibility audit coupled with essential, high-impact fixes might typically be completed within 2 to 3 weeks. However, a comprehensive upgrade for a large-scale, intricate application, involving extensive remediation and testing, could extend from 2 to 3 months. Of course, we understand the need for clear expectations. Therefore, after our initial assessment, we will provide a detailed and tailored timeline estimate that accurately reflects your project’s specific scope and requirements.

Will accessibility upgrades affect my site’s design?

It is a common and valid concern that accessibility upgrades might significantly alter a site’s visual design. While some adjustments may indeed be necessary to meet stringent accessibility standards — such as ensuring sufficient color contrast or adjusting font sizes for readability — our primary goal is to integrate these improvements seamlessly. We strive to maintain your site’s established brand identity and aesthetic appeal throughout the upgrade process.

Many crucial accessibility enhancements, though, are entirely invisible to sighted users. For example, implementing proper semantic HTML, logical heading structures, and ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) labels are fundamental for assistive technologies like screen readers. These changes profoundly improve usability for individuals with disabilities without impacting the visual presentation for others. We focus on a balanced approach, ensuring compliance while preserving your design integrity.

Do you provide accessibility documentation?

Effective accessibility is not a one-time fix; it requires ongoing commitment and clear guidance. Therefore, we provide comprehensive accessibility documentation, meticulously tailored to your organization’s specific needs. This documentation is designed to empower your team to understand, maintain, and extend the accessibility features implemented in your system.

Our documentation offerings range from foundational guidelines to extensive, detailed manuals. Each package clearly explains the accessibility features we’ve integrated, ensuring that both content creators and developers have the resources they need. For content creators, we deliver detailed workflows to ensure all new content adheres to accessibility best practices. Concurrently, developers receive precise technical specifications and practical code examples, enabling them to maintain accessibility seamlessly in all future updates.

Furthermore, our documentation includes thorough testing procedures, allowing your team to independently verify ongoing compliance with accessibility standards. These resources are crafted to support your organization in sustaining accessibility long after our initial implementation, fostering a culture of inclusive design.

Can you help with ongoing accessibility maintenance?

Maintaining accessibility is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. As digital technologies evolve, and accessibility standards are refined, continuous effort is required to ensure your digital assets remain compliant and usable for all. Therefore, we offer comprehensive accessibility maintenance services, delivered through a range of tailored packages designed to align with your specific needs and budgetary considerations.

Each of our maintenance packages includes varying levels of support, from regular compliance monitoring and systematic handling of user feedback to proactive updates that address changing accessibility standards. We conduct regular testing with the latest assistive technologies to ensure sustained usability. Whether your organization requires quarterly check-ins, comprehensive yearly audits, or more frequent monthly reviews, we can craft a pragmatic maintenance approach. This ensures your accessibility investment is protected, and your digital presence remains inclusive over the long term.

How do you test accessibility?

Effective accessibility testing requires a multi-faceted approach, combining the efficiency of technology with the invaluable insights of human experience. We implement a comprehensive accessibility testing framework designed to uncover both technical compliance issues and real-world usability challenges.

Our process begins with automated accessibility scanners, which efficiently identify common, programmatic compliance issues. However, we recognize that automated tools alone are insufficient. Therefore, this is followed by in-depth manual testing using a variety of assistive technologies — such as screen readers, voice control software, and alternative input devices — that real users depend on. We meticulously evaluate keyboard navigation patterns to ensure all content is accessible regardless of input method, and every visual element undergoes rigorous color contrast and readability assessment to support users with visual impairments.

Furthermore, a crucial aspect of our approach involves direct collaboration with individuals who have disabilities. This provides authentic user perspectives that no automated tool or simulated testing can replicate, offering insights into genuine user experience. We offer a range of service packages tailored to meet your specific needs and budget constraints, from essential compliance checks to comprehensive accessibility audits with detailed remediation guidance. Each package provides different levels of depth and support, allowing you to choose the solution that best aligns with your organization’s accessibility goals and resources.

What if my site needs complex interactive features?

Developing complex interactive features while ensuring full accessibility presents a significant, though not insurmountable, challenge. We specialize in navigating this complexity, making sophisticated web applications accessible without compromising their functionality or user experience. Our expertise spans the entire spectrum of interactive elements, from essential modal dialogs and advanced form controls to dynamic content updates and custom widgets. For projects requiring highly specialized features, such as rich text editors, we provide thoughtfully designed accessibility solutions that preserve both robust functionality and inclusivity.

Our service packages are structured to address a wide array of needs, ranging from focused accessibility remediation for existing features to comprehensive implementation of new, complex interactive components. Whether your organization requires basic compliance updates for interactive elements or enterprise-level accessible application development, we offer tailored service tiers. These tiers are designed to accommodate both your specific technical requirements and budgetary constraints, ensuring your interactive features remain powerful and accessible to all users.

What about legacy content?

Addressing legacy content for accessibility is a common and often complex challenge for organizations of all sizes. We understand that a one-size-fits-all solution is rarely effective. Therefore, we offer a range of service packages meticulously tailored to your specific needs, existing content ecosystem, and budgetary constraints.

Our approach begins with a thorough assessment of your current content, examining usage patterns and identifying critical areas that demand immediate attention. We prioritize high-impact content — those resources that receive frequent traffic or are essential for core operations — ensuring that the most valuable assets are addressed first.

For clients seeking comprehensive solutions, our premium packages include end-to-end content transformation, coupled with regular maintenance schedules to ensure sustained compliance. However, for those with more limited resources, we offer targeted packages that focus on remediating only the most essential content, while providing pragmatic alternatives for materials that may not warrant immediate, full-scale updates. Each engagement follows a carefully planned timeline with clear milestones, allowing for methodical improvement while minimizing disruption to your operations. Whatever your constraints, we will work with you to develop a pragmatic strategy that effectively balances ideal accessibility outcomes with practical realities.

Do you address mobile accessibility?

In today’s digital landscape, mobile accessibility is not merely an add-on; it is an integral component of a truly inclusive digital presence. A robust accessibility plan, of course, must include strategies specifically tailored to handheld devices, addressing their unique interaction patterns and environmental considerations. Our approach embraces responsive design patterns that dynamically adapt to various screen sizes and orientations while maintaining full functionality and accessibility.

Every application undergoes rigorous testing with mobile screen readers to verify that information remains accessible to visually impaired users. We meticulously design touch targets to accommodate diverse dexterity needs, ensure proper contrast ratios that remain visible even in challenging lighting conditions, and verify that keyboard navigation works intuitively for users who rely on alternative input methods.

Our service packages range from essential mobile compliance assessments to comprehensive accessibility implementations, with flexible options tailored to align with both your organizational needs and budgetary considerations. This ensures your mobile applications are not only functional but also universally accessible.

Do you offer training for our team?

Building internal accessibility expertise is a critical component of a sustainable and inclusive digital strategy. Therefore, we provide comprehensive training solutions designed to empower your team at all experience levels. Our training packages range from introductory sessions, covering fundamental principles, to advanced masterclasses that delve into complex implementation details, each meticulously tailored to your specific needs and budget.

Our accessibility training curriculum encompasses the core principles of inclusive design, practical content creation techniques, development best practices, thorough testing methodologies, and effective strategies to avoid common accessibility pitfalls. Whether your team requires focused training in a particular area, such as accessible form design, or a complete, end-to-end accessibility curriculum, we can customize a program that aligns precisely with your team’s goals and resource constraints. This ensures your organization develops the internal capacity to maintain and champion accessibility long-term.