Ensuring your website images are ADA compliant can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re unsure where to start. It’s important not only to provide an inclusive experience for visually impaired users but also to optimize your website for SEO and ensure a great user experience for all visitors. If you’re in the process of updating your website or building a new one, this guide will help you ensure your images are ADA compliant from the ground up.
At OneEach, we specialize in creating and revamping websites that are accessible, user-friendly, and optimized for nonprofit organizations. Our embedded accessibility features take your site to the next level, ensuring your website is compliant with ADA standards while telling your nonprofit’s story through images.
What Is ADA Compliance?
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance refers to making accommodations that ensure people with disabilities have the same access to services and content as everyone else. In the case of websites, this means creating a digital experience that is accessible to all users, regardless of physical ability.
The ADA’s Title III covers public accommodations and services provided by private entities, which includes websites. Although there’s no specific regulation for websites within the ADA, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has made it clear that websites are considered places of public accommodation. This means websites must be accessible to avoid potential legal issues.
In 2021 alone, there were over 2,300 web accessibility lawsuits filed against U.S. businesses—a 14.3% increase from the previous year. Ensuring your nonprofit website is ADA compliant helps you avoid legal risks and, more importantly, ensures your mission is accessible to all.
What Could Happen If Your Site Is Not ADA Compliant?
The risks of not having an ADA-compliant website are significant. Non-compliance can lead to lawsuits, costly legal fees, damage to your brand reputation, and settlements. For nonprofits, these are risks you simply can’t afford.
But the benefits of compliance go beyond avoiding lawsuits. An ADA-compliant website helps you expand your reach to a wider audience, including donors, volunteers, and community members with disabilities. At OneEach, accessibility tools are available to be built into your website design, ensuring your nonprofit is equipped to serve everyone.
How To Make Website Images ADA Compliant
Ensuring your images are ADA compliant is a key part of making your website accessible. Images should be optimized with alt text, which provides a description of the image for screen readers, making the content accessible to visually impaired users.
1. Add Descriptive Alt Text
Alt text (alternative text) is essential for ADA compliance. This text provides a brief description of the image so that screen readers can convey the information to users who cannot see the image.
Check out this blog, Alt Text for SEO: How to Optimize Your Images by ahrefs, for more information.
Best Practices for Alt Text:
- Be descriptive, but concise: Accurately describe the image in a few words. If it’s a photo of a dog playing fetch, your alt text might read: “Golden retriever playing fetch with a red ball in a park.”
- Avoid redundancy: You don’t need to include phrases like “image of” or “picture of.” Simply describe the content of the image.
- Context matters: Tailor the alt text to match the context of the page. If the image supports a specific part of your story, make sure that’s reflected in the alt text.
2. Use Images That Support The Story
Images should not only be visually appealing but also reinforce the message and story of your content. Whether you’re showcasing your nonprofit’s work, highlighting beneficiaries, or displaying event photos, make sure the images reflect your mission.
Key Tips for Storytelling with Images:
- Stay authentic: Use real photos from your events, team, or community whenever possible. Authentic images connect emotionally with your audience and build trust.
- Avoid stock photo overuse: While stock photos can fill gaps, overusing them can make your site feel impersonal. When you do use stock images, select those that feel relevant and authentic to your message.
- Pair images with compelling content: Ensure each image has a clear connection to the text it accompanies. Use captions to emphasize the role of the image in the larger story.
3. Optimize Images for Speed and SEO
High-quality images are essential for creating a professional-looking website, but it’s also important that these images are optimized for fast loading times. Large, uncompressed images can slow down your website and negatively affect the user experience.
Optimization Tips:
- Compress images: Use tools to compress images without losing quality, reducing file sizes to improve page load times.
- Use the right format: JPEGs are great for photographs and images with a lot of colors, while PNGs are ideal for images with transparency or fewer colors. For icons and logos, SVG files work best as they are scalable and lightweight.
- Set responsive image sizes: Ensure your images resize appropriately for different screen sizes, including mobile devices. Use “srcset” attributes in HTML to serve different image sizes based on the user’s device.
4. Use Accessible Text on Images
Sometimes, images contain text overlays, which can be problematic for accessibility. Users relying on screen readers may not be able to access that text. To ensure all visitors can engage with your content, follow these best practices:
Best Practices:
- Include the text in the alt attribute: If an image includes critical text (e.g., a headline or quote), ensure that text is included in the alt description.
- Use real text instead of images of text: Whenever possible, use actual text on your website rather than embedding text within images. This makes the text searchable and accessible.
- High contrast: If you must use text over an image, ensure there’s enough contrast between the text and the background image so that it’s easily readable. Dark overlays or solid backgrounds can help make text stand out.
5. Make Interactive Elements Accessible
If your images are interactive—such as buttons, links, or sliders—make sure they are accessible. These elements need to be navigable by keyboard and include descriptive text for screen readers.
Accessibility Tips for Interactive Images:
- Include focus states: Ensure users can see when interactive elements, like image buttons, are selected or in focus during keyboard navigation.
- Descriptive labels: For image-based buttons or links, use descriptive text so users know what action the image triggers. For example, a “Donate Now” button should have an appropriate aria-label or alt text to describe the action.
6. Provide Captions for Context
Captions add context to your images and provide additional information that may not fit into the alt text. Captions are also visible to all users, improving accessibility and enhancing the user experience.
Caption Best Practices:
- Keep it relevant: Use captions to further the story or explain the context of the image.
- Be brief: While you want to add context, keep captions short and to the point.
- Consider accessibility: If the caption provides information critical to understanding the image, ensure this information is accessible for screen readers as well.
7. Test Website Accessibility
Once your images are optimized for accessibility, it’s important to test your website to ensure compliance. Submit your request for a free website ADA-compliance evaluation. Additionally, perform manual testing by navigating your site using a screen reader or keyboard-only navigation to see if your images are properly described and accessible.
Accessibility and Inclusivity
Ensuring your website images are ADA compliant doesn’t just protect your nonprofit from legal risks—it makes your mission accessible to a wider audience, including people with disabilities. By following best practices for alt text, optimizing your images for speed and SEO, and ensuring they support your storytelling, you’ll create a more inclusive and engaging website.
At OneEach Technologies, we’re here to help you create an accessible, impactful website. Contact us today to discuss your nonprofit’s needs and see how we can make your website ADA compliant and mission-driven.