Why Accessibility Matters
A website for every member. Not just most of them.
One in four Americans lives with a disability. That's not a compliance statistic—that's your members. Parents. Business owners. Retirees. People who deserve the same access to your services as everyone else.
Inclusive by Design
Every Avtec website is built with accessibility from the foundation. Screen reader compatibility, keyboard navigation, and logical structure—because retrofitting is harder than doing it right the first time.
Reduce Legal Risk
ADA lawsuits against financial institutions are increasing. A proactively accessible website demonstrates your commitment and reduces exposure—not by checking boxes, but by genuinely serving all members.
Better for Everyone
Accessibility improvements benefit all users. Clearer navigation. Better contrast. Logical layouts. What helps someone using a screen reader also helps someone squinting at their phone in sunlight.
SEO Benefits
Search engines reward accessible websites. Proper headings, descriptive alt text, and semantic structure help Google understand your content—and help members find you.
Our Approach
Built accessible. Stays accessible.
We don't bolt accessibility onto finished websites. We build it in from day one—structure, code, content, everything. And we help you maintain it as your site evolves.
Accessible Architecture
Semantic HTML. Proper heading hierarchy. ARIA landmarks. Skip navigation links. The invisible structure that makes screen readers work.
Visual Accessibility
Color contrast that meets WCAG standards. Text that resizes without breaking layouts. Focus indicators that show keyboard users where they are.
Content Guidance
We help you write alt text that actually describes images. Link text that makes sense out of context. Forms with proper labels. The content side of accessibility.
Ongoing Compliance
Accessibility isn't a one-time project. We monitor, test, and help you maintain compliance as you add content and your site grows.
What WCAG Compliance Actually Means
WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is the international standard for web accessibility. It covers how people with disabilities interact with websites—vision, hearing, mobility, and cognitive differences.
We build to WCAG 2.1 Level AA, the standard most commonly referenced in ADA compliance. This means:
- Perceivable: Content can be seen, heard, or felt by all users.
- Operable: Navigation works with keyboard, mouse, or assistive technology.
- Understandable: Content and interface are clear and predictable.
- Robust: Works reliably across browsers and assistive technologies.
Accessibility Checklist
What we build into every credit union website.
This isn't a sales pitch—it's the actual work. Here's what accessibility looks like in practice.
Alt Text for Images
Every image gets descriptive alternative text so screen readers can convey the content to users who can't see the visuals.
Keyboard Navigation
Every interactive element—links, buttons, forms—works with keyboard-only navigation. Tab, enter, escape, arrow keys.
Color Contrast
Text and background colors meet WCAG contrast ratios, ensuring readability for users with low vision or color blindness.
Heading Structure
Proper H1-H6 hierarchy helps screen reader users understand page structure and navigate by heading level.
Skip Navigation
A hidden link at the top of every page lets keyboard users skip repetitive navigation and jump straight to content.
Form Labels
Every form field has a properly associated label so screen readers announce what information is needed.
Focus Indicators
Visible outlines show keyboard users which element is currently focused—no guessing where you are on the page.
Resizable Text
Text can be enlarged up to 200% without breaking layouts or requiring horizontal scrolling.
ARIA Landmarks
Semantic roles (navigation, main, footer) help assistive technology users understand page regions and jump between them.
Descriptive Links
"Click here" tells you nothing. We use link text that makes sense on its own—"View auto loan rates" instead of "Learn more."
Video Captions
Videos include captions for deaf and hard-of-hearing users—and for anyone watching without sound.
Error Identification
Form errors are clearly identified with text descriptions, not just color changes that some users can't perceive.
Accessibility Widget
Beyond built-in accessibility, we offer an optional accessibility widget that gives members additional control over their experience:
- Text scaling: Increase font size beyond browser defaults.
- High contrast modes: Switch to high-contrast color schemes.
- Reading guides: Highlight the current line of text.
- Animation controls: Pause moving elements for users sensitive to motion.
- Screen reader optimization: Additional enhancements for assistive technology.
Extra Layer of Control
Give members the tools to customize their experience.
Our accessibility widget provides a visible, branded interface where members can adjust the site to their specific needs. It's not a replacement for proper accessibility—it's an enhancement on top of an already accessible foundation.
The widget integrates seamlessly with your credit union's branding and is available as part of our accessibility services.
FAQ
Questions about accessibility?
Accessibility can feel overwhelming. We're here to help you understand what matters for your credit union and your members.
The ADA doesn't explicitly mention websites, but courts increasingly interpret it to include digital services. Financial institutions are considered places of public accommodation, and several credit unions have faced ADA lawsuits over inaccessible websites. NCUA has also issued guidance encouraging accessibility. The safest approach: build accessibly from the start.
The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) is the law. WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is the technical standard that defines how to make websites accessible. When courts evaluate ADA compliance for websites, they typically reference WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the benchmark. We build to that standard.
No. Overlay widgets can't fix underlying accessibility problems in code and content. They're tools that help some users customize their experience, but they don't address issues like missing alt text, improper heading structure, or keyboard traps. Real accessibility requires building it into the foundation. We offer a widget as an enhancement—not a substitute.
PDFs need accessibility too—proper tagging, reading order, and structure so screen readers can interpret them. We can guide you on making documents accessible and recommend tools for creating accessible PDFs. When possible, we suggest offering HTML alternatives for important information.
We use a combination of automated testing tools (WAVE, axe, Lighthouse) and manual testing—keyboard-only navigation, screen reader testing with NVDA and VoiceOver, and color contrast analysis. Automated tools catch about 30-40% of issues; manual testing catches the rest. We do both.