A Detailed Guide on Joomla Website Accessibility

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#webaccessibility #Joomla

Our methodology

Our unique research methodology for digital accessibility combines user testing, feature analysis, and hands-on experience. We review various remediation software and platforms to provide top recommendations.

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Websites have become such an integral part of our daily lives and because of this, business owners are far more aware of ADA compliance.

To achieve Joomla website accessibility, Joomla extensions and plugins are available. However, there are other tools and services that you can tap into too.

If you are a website owner that uses this platform, this guide will provide you with all the information you need on Joomla website accessibility.

According to Title 3 of the ADA, businesses are required to make modifications in order to accommodate people with disabilities. Despite the fact that websites weren’t originally named in the ADA, recently, courts have ruled that they should be included.

If you use BigCommerce, your website also needs to conform to ADA and WCAG guidelines.

Read our definitive guide on ADA compliance to find out more, including step-by-step instructions on how to make your website fully accessible and ADA compliant.

About Joomla

Since its launch in 2005, Joomla has had its fair share of ups and downs. It was formerly regarded as the best CMS option for many developers.

joomla homepage

Nonetheless, Joomla has become one of the most popular content management systems (CMS). After WordPress, it is presently the second most used CMS platform.

Moreover, 30 percent of all websites presently use Joomla as their content management system. This is mostly because users can apply more than 30+ accessibility tools to enahance their sites.

More so, Joomla makes it easier for individuals with dyslexia and other challenges to consume and navigate websites.

Joomla’s accessibility assistance demonstrates the company’s direction of “all together” and “Inclusion is in our heart.” Color contrast is used throughout the Joomla UI, and the site’s structure is laid out to make navigating between elements that much easier.

A Fast and Efficient Way to Comply with Web Accessibility Guidelines

Our top-recommended web accessibility solution is accessiBe. This advanced AI-powered tool makes it easier to apply the latest WCAG standards to your site by simply adding a line of code to the back-end.

Joomla Website Accessibility and ADA Compliance

In the same way that any other website or CMS is expected to be accessible, a Joomla website is no exception. Remember, all businesses should adhere to inclusivity practices.

joomla accessibility

You will lose both clients and money if you don’t modify your Joomla site to be ADA compliant. Therefore, it’s important to invest in software to help you conform to the WCAGSection-508, and ADA compliance guidelines.

Remember that the e-commerce industry is evolving, so you need these tools to keep your business growing and thriving.

Accessibility Tools, Extensions, Resources, and Support on Joomla

To enhance your website’s user experience, browse the app store on Joomla’s platform. These Joomla extensions can help you in auditing and improving your site’s accessibility.

Joomla Extensions That are ADA/WCAG/Section508 Compliant

These extensions are designed to fulfill accessibility standards such as WCAG 2.0, Section 508, and ADA.

DJ-CookieMonster

This lightweight Joomla plugin was designed to provide information about your website’s cookie policy. There are eight distinct styles to choose from. It also includes important customization options.

DJ Mega Menu

This responsive Joomla menu system adheres to WCAG 2.1, Section 508, and ADA compliance. With this plugin, you can customize each menu item, including the number of columns. Additionally, you may add modules to the menu.

DJ Image Slider

With this responsive plugin, you can give each slide a title, description, and hyperlink to an article, menu item, or any other URL.

DJ Tabs

This extension displays material in a tabbed or accordion format. It works with various content types, including single articles, articles organized by category, and modules.

More so, there are twelve preconfigured themes to choose from.

Joomla Templates That are ADA/WCAG/Section508 Compliant

The following Joomla themes adhere to WCAG 2.0, Section 508, and ADA requirements. All templates are accessible and are well-suited to the needs of public institutions and organizations.

If you’re interested in developing an accessible website, you might choose one of these themes:

JM University

This excellent Joomla template for schools is designed for university websites. It presents school activities in a contemporary and engaging way. More so, this template makes use of the content tabs, gallery, and slider extensions.

JM Simple

This is an excellent, business-oriented Joomla template for building effective commercial websites. It provides everything necessary for a contemporary, financial, or marketing website. The home page is available in three demo versions: business, marketing, and hosting firm.

JM Education

This contemporary Joomla template suits educational websites. You should visit the demo site to learn more about the template’s capabilities.

 

Joomla Modules That are ADA/WCAG/Section508 Compliant

The following Joomla Modules can make your website WCAG, Section 508, and ADA compliant for free.

Simple Image Slider

There is no limit to the slides you can make and show with this picture slider module. You can add a title, description, and buttons to all slides. There are also a lot of choices in terms of customization.

JM Social Icons

With this module, you may display social network symbols and links to your accounts. Create as many icons as you want, then set the color for them.

JM Best Features

With this module, you can showcase your product’s best characteristics. In addition to the featured image, you can also present features in two columns. You can even include a URL in the title of each item.

JM Simple Tabs

Use this basic plugin to display information in an infinite number of tabs. You can utilize horizontal and vertical tabs in the same document. Text, responsive embedded video, or photos can all be shown in tabs.

JM Image Carousel

Using this easy access module, you can show images in three distinct ways (carousel, flat, overflow). You can also add next/prev buttons or bullet indications to the page. Other options include using the mouse’s scroll wheel.

How to Make Your Joomla Website Accessible?

You can also make your websites more accessible by using other tools. As a Joomla website owner, you can improve your web accessibility efforts with the help of third-party, automated web accessibility plugins.

accessiBe-small-logoaccessiBe
  • WCAG
  • ADA
  • AODA
  • Section 508 Compliant

accessiBe is one of the most talked-about web accessibility tools available today. It helps take a lot of the manual work out of becoming ADA compliant by making it quicker and easier to identify web accessibility issues on your site.

Pros

  • Simple, affordable, effortless, and compliant worldwide
  • 7-day free trial
  • Account managers available to guide you
  • 5 min installation and 48-hour compliance process

Cons

  • Built specifically for websites and small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs)- some web apps might not be compatible

Existing Clients

UserWay
  • WCAG
  • ADA
  • AODA
  • Section 508

UserWay is trusted by thousands of leading brands that want to create a more inclusive experience for their online users. With the help of an easy-to-use accessibility overlay, it’s never been easier to ensure your Magento site is compliant with some of the top ADA requirements.

Pros

  • Quick and easy process
  • Multiple solutions and services offered
  • 1M+ website installations
  • Special monitoring tools for developers

Cons

  • Customer support is lacking

Existing Clients

logo of the company porche
logo of Duke University

Wrapping Up

Almost everything takes place online, from lectures and seminars to interviews and research.

So, there’s a good reason why web accessibility has become so important in today’s digital world.

You can use the guidelines and tools mentioned in this article to meet Joomla website accessibility standards and requirements more quickly.

You can also kickstart your journey by auditing your Joomla site on Accessibility Checker

If you find this Joomla article helpful, feel free to browse other blogs to know more about making your site accessible:

Frequently Asked Questions

You can start by adding an accessibility interface to your site – this allows users to alter your site in a way that caters to their needs or disability. Additional steps you can take are to add alt tags to all your images, text transcripts to video files, adjust your color contrast ratio to at least 4:5:1, and use the proper header structures.

"Writing about digital accessibility for a long time, I see the change from ...
Casandra Visser
Head of Content
How we reviewed this article
  1. Current version
  2. Modified July 21, 2022
  3. Modified July 19, 2023

    What we changed

    Article was reviewed by an expert

  4. First Draft of the Article July 11, 2024

    What we changed

    Joomla compliance details were reviewed and updated where necessary

I have been helping global businesses bring their brands to life online for over 14 years now and I still love it! I am particularly passionate about ensuring online content is accessible to everyone. I’ve spent years learning as much as possible about web accessibility, ensuring I can educate others on its importance no matter what sector they are in.

Danny Trichter is a dedicated researcher specializing in digital accessibility, ensuring that websites and digital platforms are usable by everyone, including those with disabilities. Beyond his professional pursuits, Danny enjoys exploring new destinations, sharing his travel experiences on his blog, and discovering hidden gems in Thailand where he currently resides. In his leisure time, he loves hiking, connecting with nature, and capturing the beauty of the world through his camera lens

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