An Essential Guide to Umbraco Accessibility

#Umbracoaccessibility #webaccessibility

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.

Written and researched for humans by humans

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Pedro Velhinho
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CMS platforms have truly simplified the process of building attractive and engaging websites. However, today, there are additional requirements to consider during the development process, accessibility being one of the most important. 

There are no two ways about it, ADA compliance is essential, whether you run your business from a physical store, a website, or both. 

Unfortunately, a large percentage of websites are still not fully compliant with ADA and WCAG requirements, which is why we’ve created this blog.

If you have created your site using Umbraco, this accessibility guide is for you.

About Umbraco

Established in 2000, Umbraco is a well-known, open-source ASP.NET CMS platform that is currently installed across 700,000+ domains. 

umbraco homepage

The flexibility that Umbraco offers is one of the main reasons why it’s so popular among web developers and content marketers. You start every project with a completely blank sheet, making it that much easier to compile a framework that meets all of your requirements.

However, you can also benefit from features such as built-in caching, Open APIs, Razor templating, multilingual support, and more.

And if you cannot find a particular feature that you need, you will more than likely be able to find it within the Umbraco Marketplace or one of the many community packages. 

Accessibility on Umbraco

Now that we’ve recapped what Umbraco is capable of, you may be wondering whether the platform is accessible?

Unfortunately, Umbraco wasn’t created with accessibility in mind. Instead, the creators have left accessibility requirements in the hands of developers who choose to use the platform. 

So while building a website on Umbraco won’t help you meet the legal requirements for website accessibility, there are still steps you can take to protect your brand, your site, and support your users. 

How to Make Your Umbraco Website Accessible

Ready to offer a more inclusive experience on your Umbraco website? Here are some of the steps you can take:

Sign Up for an Umbraco Accessibility Course

Because Umbraco is aware of how important accessibility is, they do offer accessibility training on their site. The course covers topics such as accessible HTML, CSS & JS, inclusive design, assistive technologies, and working with Umbraco. On completion of the course, you gain an official Umbraco Accessibility Badge. 

Remediate Your Site Manually

This isn’t the most popular option because of how time-consuming it is, but it’s still an option. If you want to check and remediate your website manually, you’re going to need to have knowledge of the latest WCAG requirements.

Once you audit your website to identify any accessibility issues, you can gradually start correcting them until you are compliant. 

Use a Third-Party Accessibility Solution

If you want a fast and effective way to make your Umbraco website accessible, a third-party solution is the best option. Solutions such as accessiBe is an automated solution that uses AI technology to scan and remediate issues on your site. 

They also make it easier to monitor your site on an ongoing basis to stay on top of any new accessibility issues that arise. 

Other recommended solutions include Userway, and Essential Accessibility.

accessiBe
  • WCAG
  • ADA
  • AODA
  • Section 508

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

Pros
  • Account managers available to guide you
  • 5 min installation
  • 100,000+ clients use accessiBe
  • Includes accessibility statement and certification
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 Duke University
logo of the company porche

Wrapping Up

Yes, accessibility does add a few extra steps to the web development process, but they are essential. 

By focusing on Umbraco accessibility, you are doing your part to create a more inclusive experience for all users, including potential customers. 

What’s more, by using any of the third-party solutions mentioned above, achieving ADA and WCAG compliance has never been easier. There’s also the added bonus of being able to rely on Umbraco’s community of developers for additional support should you need it. 

Find out whether your Umbraco website is accessible or not by conducting a test on Accessibility Checker

Ready to Improve Your Accessibility Knowledge?

Here are a few other blogs we thought you would find interesting:

Managing your clients’ Umbraco websites? By joining a third-party accessibility solution partner program, you can benefit from exclusive offers, while helping your clients meet ADA compliance requirements. 

How we reviewed this article
  1. Current version
  2. Modified November 30, 2023

    What we changed

    Umbraco accessibility suggestions were updated where necessary

  3. Modified January 20, 2023

    What we changed

    Article was reviewed by an expert

  4. First Draft of the Article March 24, 2022

With over 14 years of experience in digital strategy, Casandra helps global brands create accessible, user-friendly online experiences. She’s deeply passionate about web accessibility and committed to making online content inclusive for everyone, regardless of ability. Casandra has spent years studying WCAG guidelines, accessibility tools, and assistive technologies to better support businesses in building compliant websites. Her goal is to educate teams across all industries on the importance of digital inclusion and empower them to create content that truly works for everyone.

Ritvik is a dedicated IAAP-certified Accessibility Expert with over 5 years of hands-on experience in making the digital world more inclusive. Specializing in WCAG 2.1 and 2.2, ADA, and Section 508 compliance, Ritvik has successfully completed over 150 accessibility projects. With expertise in assistive tools like JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack, Ritvik ensures comprehensive accessibility testing and provides detailed, actionable recommendations for developer teams.

Pedro has spent over a decade helping digital platform owners meet and exceed WCAG compliance standards. As a trusted accessibility consultant, he brings a sharp eye for inclusive design and in-depth knowledge of the latest standards, ensuring our content aligns with best practices for digital accessibility, usability, and assistive technology compatibility. Pedro’s mission is clear: to make the web a more inclusive space for everyone.

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