Evaluating Accessibility for Reynolds Landing House Website
by following WCAG Guidelines
Reynolds Landing House
Hospitality and Travel
Accessibility Consultant
Project Overview
Problem: The Reynolds Landing House website faced accessibility challenges that made it difficult for vision-impaired users and individuals relying on assistive technologies to navigate the site effectively. The evaluation aimed to ensure compliance with WCAG 2.1 Level A and Level AA criteria, focusing on creating a website that is Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust.
Evaluation and Recommendations
Perceivable Content:
Enhanced text contrast ratios to meet accessibility standards, ensuring all content is visible for users with low vision.
Added descriptive alt text to all images, including maps, to improve usability for screen readers.
Structured content with proper HTML headings and tags to improve readability.
Operable Navigation:
Updated the navigation menu for keyboard operability, enabling smooth navigation for users who rely on keyboards.
Increased clickable areas for links and buttons, simplifying interactions for users with motor impairments.
Ensured all modal controls were fully accessible via keyboard and assistive devices.
Understandable Design:
Simplified form layouts to make input fields intuitive and easy to interact with.
Added clear labels and instructions to all form elements to assist users relying on text-to-speech technology.
Improved error feedback to provide users with clear guidance on correcting issues during form submissions.
Robust Infrastructure:
Verified compatibility with various assistive technologies, including text-to-speech tools and screen magnifiers.
Ensured content and controls remained functional across multiple browsers and devices.
Used semantic HTML to create a solid foundation for long-term accessibility compliance.
Key Improvements Suggested
Navigation Menu: Enhanced link contrast, keyboard operability, and clickability for all navigation elements.
Text Content: Improved readability with high contrast and text-to-speech compatibility.
Images and Maps: Ensured all images included alt text and made maps accessible with HTML and JavaScript updates.
Forms and Buttons: Created accessible CTAs and improved form usability for mobile and desktop users.
Results and Impact By adhering to WCAG 2.1 Level A and Level AA criteria, the evaluation provided Reynolds Landing House with a roadmap to transform its website into an accessible and user-friendly platform. Implementing these recommendations would ensure compliance with global accessibility standards and deliver a better user experience for all audiences, increasing engagement and bookings.
Conclusion This project underscores my expertise in evaluating and enhancing accessibility for digital platforms. By using WCAG 2.1 guidelines and focusing on the principles of Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust, I created a clear path for Reynolds Landing House to achieve inclusivity and improve its overall user experience.