--- title: "Daily Buzz: Create an Accessible Association Website" id: "46403" type: "post" slug: "daily-buzz-create-an-accessible-association-website" published_at: "2019-04-19T20:54:48+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-17T01:08:29+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/04/19/daily-buzz-create-an-accessible-association-website/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/04/19/daily-buzz-create-an-accessible-association-website.md" excerpt: "Accessibility standards are always changing. To keep your organization inclusive, your website needs to be usable by everyone. Also: Design a positive future for your association." taxonomy_category: - "Marketing / Communications" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Accessibility" - "AssociationsNow" - "Digital Inclusion" - "Technology" - "Web Design" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Executive Team" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Daily Buzz: Create an Accessible Association Website Be it at an annual meeting or new learning programs, your association is always striving to make every aspect of your organization inclusive for all. So, why should your website be any different? “Access to the digital world is becoming increasingly important for everyone. But for many disabled people, interacting with website elements and accessing information online can range from difficult to outright impossible,” [usability expert Inge De Bleecker writes on CMSWire (opens in a new tab)](https://www.cmswire.com/digital-experience/web-accessibility-serves-everyone-heres-how-to-get-started/) . “Using common website elements such as navigation bars, radio buttons, sliders, and forms can be particularly challenging.” To make your association’s digital space usable by everyone, De Bleecker suggests aligning website development with the latest [Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (opens in a new tab)](https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/Understanding/intro) (WCAG). But because accessibility standards, like technology, are ever-changing, it’s also important to continue to prioritize accessibility and update your website as needed. “As accessibility standards evolve, one constant will be unchanging: progressive companies (like Microsoft) will continue to make accessibility a priority,” she says. “That’s because accessibility is important for everyone—not just those requiring assistive technology.” ### Reinventing for the Future > “Generally, fragmentation is a weakness of our association business models.” Garth Jordan may have a dystopic view of the future of associations, but it’s not all bad. Keeping certifications in the domain of associations at [https://t.co/M3oSMqwKpk (opens in a new tab)](https://t.co/M3oSMqwKpk) > [#assnchat (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/assnchat?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#assnprofs (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/assnprofs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [pic.twitter.com/s969WlcmUJ (opens in a new tab)](https://t.co/s969WlcmUJ) > > — Sidecar (@sidecarglobal) [April 19, 2019 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/sidecarglobal/status/1119223878935556097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **The history of your organization** doesn’t solidify its future. [Garth Jordan writes on Association Success (opens in a new tab)](http://associationsuccess.org/article/a-futurists-view-on-the-amazon-of-certifications) that, with LinkedIn’s new focus on certifications—a space traditionally owned by associations—organizations that aren’t willing to reinvent themselves face a dim future. “If you’re feeling stuck due to company culture, your board, lack of funding, or—well, it doesn’t matter,” he says. “You’re a leader, you’re daring and spirited. Now is the time to stick your neck on the line and boldly design your organization’s future.” ### Other Links of Note **Is your association** falling victim to [these nine barriers of innovation (opens in a new tab)](https://www.wbtsystems.com/learning-hub/blogs/barriers-association-innovation) ? From the WBT Systems blog. **Facebook ads aren’t foolproof**. The Sprout Social blog outlines [how to devise a comprehensive Facebook strategy (opens in a new tab)](https://sproutsocial.com/insights/facebook-advertising-strategy/) . **Email marketing isn’t** a science, but [these psychology-based tips (opens in a new tab)](https://www.clickz.com/the-science-of-email-marketing-how-psychology-can-help-email-open-rates/231394/) from ClickZ can make your messaging more engaging. (alexsl/iStock/Getty Images Plus) [Jeff Hsin](https://associationsnow.com/author/jeff-hsin/) [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/jeff-hsin/) Tags: [#Accessibility](https://associationsnow.com/tag/accessibility/) [#Digital Inclusion](https://associationsnow.com/tag/digital-inclusion/) [#Technology](https://associationsnow.com/tag/technology/) [#Web Design](https://associationsnow.com/tag/web-design/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoTechnology at Any AgeFebruary 24, 2012](https://associationsnow.com/2012/02/24/technology-at-any-age-2/) - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Tech Stack: How AI Is Changing the Association PlaybookOctober 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/29/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-tech-stack-how-ai-is-changing-the-association-playbook/) - [VideoNew Web Site DemoAugust 19, 2010](https://associationsnow.com/2010/08/19/new-web-site-demo/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: More Than Marketing: The Power of Strategic CommunicationsJuly 30, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/07/30/associations-now-presents-more-than-marketing-the-power-of-strategic-communications/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2019%2F04%2F19%2Fdaily-buzz-create-an-accessible-association-website%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !