The internet has dramatically changed the way all of us experience and interact with the world around us. It’s revolutionized the way we conduct research, communicate with friends and family, and the way we shop. It’s certainly changed the way Agilix Solutions serves customers as well.
While the internet has dramatically changed how we live, it’s historically presented some limitations for people living with disabilities. In an effort to create a more inclusive online experience, Agilix Solutions recently added website accessibility features to goAgilix.com. In this article, we will detail some of the leading features of our site designed to make it more accessible to all users.
Why Accessibility Matters
In 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law. This civil rights law was designed to prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation and all public and private places open to the general public. The internet was not widely accessible at the time, but U.S. courts have since interpreted Title III of the ADA, which mandates that all public services and all electronic and information technology must be accessible to people with disabilities, to apply to websites.
In 1999, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) were published as a set of specific standards that would make the web more accessible to people with disabilities. Through several iterations, WCAG version 2.1 is now cemented as the gold standard in accessibility.
How it Works
The tool we’re using to enable accessibility is a leading automated web accessibility solution powered by artificial intelligence (AI). The tool utilizes two applications working in concert to deliver a more accessible experience. First, there’s an accessibility interface that is a session-based design and a user interface (UI) adjustment tool that alters the website experience based on a user’s individual needs. This interface allows each visitor to create a custom experience with the Agilix Solutions website tailored to their accessibility needs.
The second application is a series of AI-powered machine learning processes. These processes run in the background and use contextual understanding and computer vision models to address the more complex requirements needed for screen reader and keyboard navigation accessibility. This really takes screen-reader functionality to a new level. For sighted users who are used to common and universal website visuals, it’s simple to follow the flow of a site, regardless of how its coded. This AI functionality visually matches elements and behaviors to millions of past encounters to learn from context the purpose of individual elements on a page. This provides a user experience for blind visitors that is more closely aligned to the experience of sighted visitors.
The two applications work in concert to provide a remediation and compliance process that ensures we stay up-to-date on the latest accessibility guidelines and functionality. But more importantly, they work to ensure that every user gets an experience tailored to their needs and abilities.
The result is an Agilix Solutions website that is ADA and WCAG 2.1 compliant, and meets the requirements of many other stringent accessibility standards throughout the world.
Agilix Solutions is committed to providing an inclusive experience for customers both online and offline. If you have suggestions for additional accessibility modifications in the future, we encourage you to contact us to share your ideas.