October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and we wanted to mark this occasion by talking about the thing we know best, websites. Many organizations include employment opportunities directly on their website with a “careers” page. Others have an entire website devoted to hiring. In either case it is important that your online hiring process is accessible to everyone.  

Defining The Terms:

Website accessibility involves taking precautions to ensure that people with disabilities do not encounter barriers when trying to access your website and its information. Generally, there are four main categories of access to consider. These are: 

• Audible Access: Your website needs to be accessible to people who are deaf and hard of hearing.  
• Visual Access: People who have low vision, are blind, or are color blind need to be able to access the information on your website.  
• Cognitive Ability: There are many people who live with a range of cognitive disabilities, that should be accounted for in your online hiring process.  
• Motor Ability: Many people who have limited fine motor skills need to be able to access all areas of your website without using a mouse.  

There are several steps that you can take to ensure that you hiring website is accessible to all of these groups of people. Doing this will help you attract top talent, support diversity, and prevent discrimination for your organization.

Making the Change: 

• Captions: Often the online hiring process includes videos about your organization. Make sure that all videos and audio content have captions and/or transcripts. 
• Captcha Tests: These tests, which are used to determine if a webpage user is human, should also have an audio option.  
• Screen Reader Compatibility: A screen reader translates a website’s information into speech or braille.  But, for this to work your page structure needs the right navigational elements like page titles, headers, and sub-headers. Additionally, all photos and non-decorative images need to have alternative text that can be read by a screen reader.  
• Form Fields: In online hiring people fill out forms, answer questions, and submit information about themselves using form fields. So, all form fields like check boxes need labeled. This is so people understand what kind of form field it is and the information it requires. It should also be setup to validate user input and notify users about mistakes and how to correct them.  
• Color Contrast: Color blindness effects about 8% of men in the world and people who are color blind typically cannot see red, green, or blue lights clearly.  So, test the design elements of your website and online hiring forms for people who are color blind.
• Keyboard Accessibility: Make sure that your website is able to be fully navigated using only a keyboard.  
• Timed Content: If your website has content that expires after an allotted amount of time make sure that users are able to adjust, extend, or turn of the time limit. This is also something to consider when conducting online, automated interviews.  
• Moving Content: Many websites use moving content to create visual interest and engage users. This may include slideshows, videos, or pop-up boxes. It is important that this kind of content avoids excessive blinking, which could induce seizures. You should also include a stop or pause button for people with cognitive or visual-processing disabilities.  

Understanding The Reason:

In 2019 the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a 7.3% unemployment rate among people with disabilities. In order to provide equal opportunity for employment it is important to make your online application and interview process accessible. Is your website accessible? Contact GovUnity Websites for a free accessibility assessment and find out.  

In response to COVID 19 GovUnity is now offering website design and hosting services to communities without a web presence as part of a $70/month 3-year contract. This offer is valid now through December 31st. Contact GovUnity today and work with are team of experts to build a website that meets all of your needs.