Compliances

Everyone needs to and should be able to access the web so the standards are followed. Companies are legally required to follow them, but also because it is the right and fair thing to do. It’s why POLODA AI was created and it guarantees proper accessibility. What’s important about the specific standards set, and compliance with them, is that when you’ve made sure your site is in fact compliant, you know that most or all user challenges that people complain of will be removed, clearing the way for greater and freer use and enjoyment of your site.

And, in nearly every case, eliminating obstacles to full access invites the certainty of greater revenues for the site owner. That’s a nice bonus.

We should mention that aside from doing the right thing, it is wise to protect your business from legal action regarding any lack of compliance, whether the litigation is justified or not. POLODA AI helps you do that.

While there are many, many details to take into account, the overall aim is always to strive to ensure that all users can access your content, or at least the greatest number of users possible.

Consider the various disabilities that may interfere with access.

People who are blind or visually impaired will often be using screen readers. Can the majority of screen readers work with your content? Does your site have alt text? Do the important functions of your site present only visually, or have you provided alternative options?

For those who can see but perhaps need colour-blindness functionality, greater contrast, larger text, or a different font: what options have you set up for their use?

People who are deaf or hard of hearing will need captioning and transcription for any audio or video with audio. And so forth. Clearly, there are many, many considerations.

Start with the POLODA AI widget and see what violations can be cleared immediately. You may be surprised at how effective it is. In fact, it may clean your site up entirely.

Then, if you see that further investigation and remediation is needed, decide if you need the POLODA AI advanced widget, or, at the next level, a manual site audit.

All steps toward compliance are good steps. That still leaves your way forward open to creating greater accessibility for your content. See where you can get started, and start.

For example, a common thread you’ll find at the centre of almost all web accessibility standards is privacy protection for web users. People with disabilities should never be required to submit private information about their diagnoses or be forced to label themselves as even having one. Additionally, some types of personal information should never be used for marketing purposes without explicit consent, and disabilities are at the top of that list.

That is why POLODA AI does not store or collect any personally identifiable information about our users.

We believe in Privacy by Design, which means all of our products are planned from the very beginning to not require personal information in order to operate. User privacy is a central principle that guides all of the decisions we make as a company.

Beyond preserving individual privacy, compliance standards seek to ensure everyone is able to access the internet without facing unnecessary barriers or hurdles. Just because someone is differently-abled doesn’t mean they should be excluded from the many benefits of using the internet. And, as more government agencies and businesses moving many of their services online, universal access has become a requirement. It’s almost impossible to function in modern society without navigating the web.

Because of this new level of necessary access, compliance standards are increasing in importance, and the number of new standards created every year continues to grow.

The speed at which compliance standards are changing, and the increasingly technical nature of the field, have made it increasingly difficult for most web developers and IT departments to stay current. This has led to the development of businesses like POLODA AI that specialise in accessibility and help organisations navigate their compliance journeys while simplifying the process along the way.

The most important standards you should know are briefly described below with links to pages that contain more details. Please note: just because a law originates in another country, outside where your organisation is based, does not mean the law does not apply. Most countries have signed treaties and other agreements that require their businesses and other organizations to follow their web compliance standards. This is why, for example, most companies in the USA are compliant with GDPR, which was enacted by the European Union. POLODA AI products and services meet and often exceed, all of the standards listed here.