Latest news with #WebAIM
Globe and Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Digital Silk Announces U.S. Companies Prioritize Custom Web Development to Meet Accessibility and SEO Demands
Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - May 28, 2025) - Digital Silk, an award-winning web development company focused on creating brand strategies, custom websites and digital marketing campaigns, is announcing a surge in client demand for custom web development projects that prioritize both accessibility compliance and search engine performance. The intersection of accessibility compliance and SEO in custom web development for U.S. businesses. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: With the tightening of ADA and WCAG regulations in the U.S., alongside Google's continued emphasis on Core Web Vitals, 2025 has seen businesses across sectors turning to custom solutions to ensure their websites meet these rising standards. According to a report from WebAIM, over 96% of homepages tested in 2024 had detectable WCAG 2 failures - a gap that brands are increasingly eager to close to reduce legal risks and improve user inclusivity. At the same time, Google's Core Web Vitals updates are driving heightened scrutiny of web performance, particularly around loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability. A 2024 survey by Search Engine Journal reported that 68% of U.S. marketers cite Core Web Vitals as a top SEO priority. The overlap between accessibility improvements (such as clear navigation and keyboard-friendly design) and SEO practices (like optimized structure and mobile responsiveness) have positioned custom web development as a critical solution for modern digital teams. Integrating Accessibility, SEO, and Performance Digital Silk has responded by offering integrated services that address: ADA/WCAG compliance audits and remediation Core Web Vitals optimization across design and development SEO-focused site architecture and content enhancements Custom CMS solutions enabling ongoing compliance and performance tracking These combined efforts are helping companies with processing digital assets against regulatory and search engine shifts. "Accessibility and SEO are no longer separate conversations," says Gabriel Shaoolian, CEO of Digital Silk. "In 2025, businesses recognize that a compliant, high-performing website can potentially boost organic visibility, improve user engagement and reduce bounce rates." Market Growth Highlights Core Web Vitals have become a defining metric for over 85% of SEO agencies and in-house teams according to industry research (source). Websites failing accessibility standards face rising litigation, with 4,605 ADA lawsuits filed in federal court in 2023 alone (source). Why Custom Development is Leading the Way Companies are increasingly turning to agencies like Digital Silk to deliver the combined demands of accessibility, Core Web Vitals, and SEO as well as fully customized builds that align with technical, legal, and marketing goals. About Digital Silk Digital Silk is an award-winning Miami web development company focused on growing brands online. With a team of seasoned experts, Digital Silk delivers industry-leading digital experiences through strategic branding and cutting-edge web design with the aim to drive more conversions and digital marketing services to boost awareness and engagement.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Digital Silk Integrates Accessibility Compliance into All Website Builds as WCAG Standards Tighten in the U.S.
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - May 21, 2025) - Digital Silk, an award-winning agency focused on creating brand strategies, custom websites and digital marketing campaigns, has announced a major accessibility initiative for 2025: all websites launched by the agency will now meet or exceed WCAG 2.2 AA compliance standards by default. This move follows key findings from WebAIM's 2024 report that show 96.3 percent of homepages in the U.S. still fail basic accessibility checks. With growing legal scrutiny from the Department of Justice and increasing litigation around ADA non-compliance, Digital Silk's latest mandate positions accessibility as non-negotiable for U.S. brands aiming to mitigate legal risk and uphold digital inclusion. Built-In Accessibility Sets the New Baseline for New York Web Design in 2025 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: Accessibility Compliance Becomes the New Baseline for New York Web Design in 2025 According to the CDC, 61 million U.S. adults live with a disability—roughly one in four Americans—making accessible web design not only a legal obligation but a business necessity. Inclusive design also improves site performance by potentially boosting SEO, lowering bounce rates and enhancing user satisfaction. How Digital Silk Integrates Accessibility From the Ground Up Digital Silk's revised workflow includes a hybrid approach that blends automated scanning tools with manual reviews conducted via keyboard navigation and screen readers. Designers adhere to strict color-contrast tokens, semantic HTML structures and ARIA-label checklists to meet and exceed WCAG 2.2 standards. For organizations undergoing a redesign, Digital Silk recommends the following: Audit Existing Pages: Identify and resolve WCAG 2.2 violations before starting any rebuild. Adopt Design Tokens: Standardize accessible color and typography system-wide. Ensure Keyboard Navigation: All interactive elements must work without a mouse. Maintain Ongoing Monitoring: Quarterly audits help detect and fix regressions over time. Accessibility as a Growth Lever for U.S. Brands Digital accessibility is now being seen as a competitive advantage across sectors, especially as U.S. web design trends lean heavily toward inclusive, human-first digital experiences. This shift marks a critical change in the approach to user interface design in markets like New York, where accessibility is rapidly becoming a benchmark for quality. About Digital Silk Digital Silk is a full-service New York Web Design Agency focused on growing brands online. With a team of seasoned experts, Digital Silk delivers industry-leading digital experiences through strategic branding and cutting-edge web design to drive more conversions and digital marketing services to boost awareness and engagement. Media Contact Jessica ErasmusMarketing Director & PR ManagerTel: (800) 206-9413Email: jessica@ To view the source version of this press release, please visit Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Travel websites ‘almost always inaccessible' leaving disabled users frustrated and unable to book
Travel businesses are missing out on millions in revenue because their websites are nearly impossible for disabled people to use. Accessibility in online environments has been assessed by two key players - WebAIM, a nonprofit focused on enhancing the web experience for users with disabilities, and AudioEye, a company specialising in digital accessibility. Both reports cite travel websites as some of the worst offenders when it comes to accessibility. WebAIM's 'Million' report assessed accessibility across the top 1,000,000 websites and found that, overall, travel websites had almost 60 errors on their homepage, a 17 per cent increase from last year. AudioEye's Digital Accessibility Index identified issues too, with poor colour contrast, vague links and inaccessible forms cited as the most common errors. The World Health Organisation says one in six of the global population lives with some form of disability. At least 2.2 billion people have a visual impairment, with almost 400 million estimated to have a severe challenge with vision. An estimated 43 million people are registered as blind. 'With around 20 per cent of the population reporting a disability, ignoring accessibility barriers can have a negative impact on a large population of potential customers and site visitors,' Jared Smith, executive director of WebAIM, explains to Euronews Travel. Much research has been done on the value of catering to disabled travelers. In the UK, the spending power of those with disabilities, known as the 'purple pound,' is estimated to exceed £50 billion (€58) in 2025. 'Web accessibility is not only the right thing to do, it is also required by law,' Smith notes. 'Because most travel websites have significant accessibility barriers, users with disabilities will spend their time and money at sites that have addressed accessibility issues.' is the most visited travel website in the world, with over 500 million monthly visits. Yet it ranked 712,074th out of the million websites assessed, by far the lowest ranking out of all the major travel companies. did not respond to a request for comment. Airbnb and came in around halfway down the ranking, while Agoda ranked 377,532nd. The travel companies doing the best included Uber, ranking just over 8,000th, and Skyscanner, coming in at 1,113th. For most of the errors detected, the most common problem was low contrast text, detected on 79.1 per cent of the homepages checked. Not providing 'alternative text' on images - a sentence describing what the image contains - was a problem for more than half the websites. Other common issues included missing labels for form inputs, empty links and empty buttons, all of which can make it hard for a visually impaired person to understand the content. Research from AudioEye found that 41 per cent of travel and hospitality websites made it hard for keyboard-only users to navigate, find information and make bookings. The report also found that colour contrast issues were highest in travel and hospitality across all business segments. Related This US airline has made its flights more accessible with braille signage inside cabins Amsterdam, London and Paris ranked among the best cities in the world for accessible travel Lucy Edwards lost sight in her right eye at age 11 due to a genetic condition. She lost the remainder of her sight at 17. Today, she's an award-winning presenter, author and disability activist, committed to inclusivity across all industries. 'Travel websites are almost always inaccessible,' Lucy tells Euronews Travel. 'Images are not described via text, so I rely on my friends, family, and Husband to describe the beautiful scenes to me.' But it's not just the beautiful travel images that people like Lucy miss out on. Problems arise when it comes to booking the trip when websites aren't formatted for accessible reading. 'It's so infrequent that I can book a holiday independently,' Lucy says. 'I'm always afraid I will book something wrong because there are so many pop-ups that disable my screen reader.' Screen readers are pieces of software that convert the text displayed on a computer screen into speech or, in some cases, even Braille. It's a crucial piece of technology in enabling users with visual impairments or learning disabilities to access and interact with digital content. 'Websites as a whole do not cater for screen reader users,' Lucy explains. 'As a blind person, I feel frustrated every single day browsing the web.' Related Travelling with disabilities: Tips and advice for a smooth trip when you have accessibility needs How do the EU's new disability cards facilitate cross-border travel? The European Accessibility Act (EEA) will come into force on 28 June this year. It sets out standards across EU member states, aiming to remove barriers and ensure that people with disabilities can participate fully in society. While the EEA applies to more than just websites, a key component is making all websites trading in the EU accessible to everyone. Any company either based in the EU or that does business within the EU with at least 10 employees and a €2 million plus turnover will be expected to comply. Specifically, the law requires all websites to be perceivable, operable, understandable and robust for every user. It uses standards set out by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, commonly called WCAG, as a minimum requirement. In its most basic form of implementation, WCAG requires readable fonts with high contrast colour schemes, clear navigation with descriptive links, alternative text to be included for all images and video captions, and ensuring all interactive elements are keyboard accessible. Noncompliant companies could face fines and legal action, exclusion from procurement activities and negative publicity. 'Overall the [web] experience has left me in tears,' Lucy confides to Euronews Travel. 'I'm so lucky that I have sighted help, but it shouldn't have to be this way.' Clearly, the EU agrees with this and is poised to make it uncomfortable for nonconforming businesses. With the EEA just weeks away, it's time for travel firms to step up their game and make planning, booking and experiencing travel something everyone can enjoy.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Travel websites ‘almost always inaccessible' leaving disabled users frustrated and unable to book
Travel businesses are missing out on millions in revenue because their websites are nearly impossible for disabled people to use. Accessibility in online environments has been assessed by two key players - WebAIM, a nonprofit focused on enhancing the web experience for users with disabilities, and AudioEye, a company specialising in digital accessibility. Both reports cite travel websites as some of the worst offenders when it comes to accessibility. WebAIM's 'Million' report assessed accessibility across the top 1,000,000 websites and found that, overall, travel websites had almost 60 errors on their homepage, a 17 per cent increase from last year. AudioEye's Digital Accessibility Index identified issues too, with poor colour contrast, vague links and inaccessible forms cited as the most common errors. The World Health Organisation says one in six of the global population lives with some form of disability. At least 2.2 billion people have a visual impairment, with almost 400 million estimated to have a severe challenge with vision. An estimated 43 million people are registered as blind. 'With around 20 per cent of the population reporting a disability, ignoring accessibility barriers can have a negative impact on a large population of potential customers and site visitors,' Jared Smith, executive director of WebAIM, explains to Euronews Travel. Much research has been done on the value of catering to disabled travelers. In the UK, the spending power of those with disabilities, known as the 'purple pound,' is estimated to exceed £50 billion (€58) in 2025. 'Web accessibility is not only the right thing to do, it is also required by law,' Smith notes. 'Because most travel websites have significant accessibility barriers, users with disabilities will spend their time and money at sites that have addressed accessibility issues.' is the most visited travel website in the world, with over 500 million monthly visits. Yet it ranked 712,074th out of the million websites assessed, by far the lowest ranking out of all the major travel companies. did not respond to a request for comment. Airbnb and came in around halfway down the ranking, while Agoda ranked 377,532nd. The travel companies doing the best included Uber, ranking just over 8,000th, and Skyscanner, coming in at 1,113th. For most of the errors detected, the most common problem was low contrast text, detected on 79.1 per cent of the homepages checked. Not providing 'alternative text' on images - a sentence describing what the image contains - was a problem for more than half the websites. Other common issues included missing labels for form inputs, empty links and empty buttons, all of which can make it hard for a visually impaired person to understand the content. Research from AudioEye found that 41 per cent of travel and hospitality websites made it hard for keyboard-only users to navigate, find information and make bookings. The report also found that colour contrast issues were highest in travel and hospitality across all business segments. Related This US airline has made its flights more accessible with braille signage inside cabins Amsterdam, London and Paris ranked among the best cities in the world for accessible travel Lucy Edwards lost sight in her right eye at age 11 due to a genetic condition. She lost the remainder of her sight at 17. Today, she's an award-winning presenter, author and disability activist, committed to inclusivity across all industries. 'Travel websites are almost always inaccessible,' Lucy tells Euronews Travel. 'Images are not described via text, so I rely on my friends, family, and Husband to describe the beautiful scenes to me.' But it's not just the beautiful travel images that people like Lucy miss out on. Problems arise when it comes to booking the trip when websites aren't formatted for accessible reading. 'It's so infrequent that I can book a holiday independently,' Lucy says. 'I'm always afraid I will book something wrong because there are so many pop-ups that disable my screen reader.' Screen readers are pieces of software that convert the text displayed on a computer screen into speech or, in some cases, even Braille. It's a crucial piece of technology in enabling users with visual impairments or learning disabilities to access and interact with digital content. 'Websites as a whole do not cater for screen reader users,' Lucy explains. 'As a blind person, I feel frustrated every single day browsing the web.' Related Travelling with disabilities: Tips and advice for a smooth trip when you have accessibility needs How do the EU's new disability cards facilitate cross-border travel? The European Accessibility Act (EEA) will come into force on 28 June this year. It sets out standards across EU member states, aiming to remove barriers and ensure that people with disabilities can participate fully in society. While the EEA applies to more than just websites, a key component is making all websites trading in the EU accessible to everyone. Any company either based in the EU or that does business within the EU with at least 10 employees and a €2 million plus turnover will be expected to comply. Specifically, the law requires all websites to be perceivable, operable, understandable and robust for every user. It uses standards set out by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, commonly called WCAG, as a minimum requirement. In its most basic form of implementation, WCAG requires readable fonts with high contrast colour schemes, clear navigation with descriptive links, alternative text to be included for all images and video captions, and ensuring all interactive elements are keyboard accessible. Noncompliant companies could face fines and legal action, exclusion from procurement activities and negative publicity. 'Overall the [web] experience has left me in tears,' Lucy confides to Euronews Travel. 'I'm so lucky that I have sighted help, but it shouldn't have to be this way.' Clearly, the EU agrees with this and is poised to make it uncomfortable for nonconforming businesses. With the EEA just weeks away, it's time for travel firms to step up their game and make planning, booking and experiencing travel something everyone can enjoy.
