Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Principle #2: Operable

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) helps protect people with disabilities from discrimination at work and in other areas of their everyday lives. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide guidance on making websites accessible for people with various disabilities. Law firm website designers should understand the principles of WCAG in order to make sure websites are ADA compliant.

These principles include Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (POUR). Perceivable refers to making content accessible via the senses, while Operable means users can use navigation, controls, and other elements. Understandable means website content is easy to comprehend, while Robust refers to content that can function on different technologies as needed.

Here’s a closer look at the Operable Principle for attorney web design.

Keyboard Accessible

Users who are unable to use a mouse to navigate websites should be able to use a keyboard instead. Websites should be set up in a way that allows users to close windows and enter and exit different website sections using buttons on a keyboard. Users should also be able to use cut and paste buttons on a keyboard if they are unable to use drag and drop features that require a mouse. Keyboard accessibility helps ensure that websites are fully usable for those who cannot move a mouse around or click buttons on a mouse.

Enough Time

Websites should provide users with plenty of time to read announcements, navigate, and complete other tasks. Users should be able to do these tasks at their own pace rather than having to deal with time limits. This includes providing users with control over the way content scrolls across or down the page. Scrolling announcements and animations should include a pause button for those who need more time to read or view content. Having enough time also means users should receive notification if a website they are on is about to become inactive. When working on legal website design, providing enough time also means removing time limits on forms or allowing users to adjust the time as needed.

Seizures and Physical Reactions

Under WCAG principles, websites should not have features that can cause seizures or lead to other physical reactions. This involves limiting the number of times videos or images flash and how long these flashes last. Users should also have the option to disable animations when interacting with websites. For websites with flashing images or videos, these areas should be kept small rather than taking up a large part of the screen.

Navigable

Websites should be easy to navigate so that users can find the information they need or get to other pages without difficulty. For example, law firm websites design should make it easy for users to get to different pages that explain the services the firm offers. This allows them to easily find the services they need. Each page should have clear headings and page titles, and the website should provide multiple ways of accessing different pages, such as search bars and navigation menus.

Having an ADA-compliant website is highly important for your law firm. A law firm website design company, such as Law Firm Sites, can assist you in designing a website that meets these standards.