Integrating accessiBe with Squarespace: A Comprehensive Guide and Product Review

Written By David Akinyemi

Web accessibility ensures that all users, including those with disabilities, can navigate and interact with websites easily. It's not just a legal requirement but also a moral one that promotes inclusivity and equal access to information. As important as this is, it’s not always easy to achieve for website owners who use Squarespace. But with accessiBe - an ADA Compliance Squarespace Extension - that challenge becomes easier to resolve. Using AI technology, accessiBe automatically adjusts websites, making them more accessible and compliant with standards like the WCAG. With this article, we will guide you through the process of integrating accessiBe with your Squarespace website to ensure it is accessible and compliant. And along the way, we will also review accessiBe and how well it performs across Squarespace websites we’ve shipped as leading Squarespace development agency.

The accessiBe Edge

accessiBe is an AI-powered tool designed to improve web accessibility. It scans your website and automatically makes adjustments to ensure it is compliant with accessibility laws and guidelines. accessiBe enhances web accessibility through several key features:

It optimises compatibility with screen readers for visually impaired users, improves keyboard navigation for those who rely on keyboards instead of a mouse, modifies colours and contrasts to assist users with visual impairments, and provides real-time adjustments to continuously update and fix accessibility issues as they arise.

Furthermore, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires websites to be accessible to all users and non-compliance can result in legal action and fines. Fortunately, accessiBe helps ensure your Squarespace website meets these legal standards. And beyond that, web accessibility improves the complete user experience. It ensures that everyone, regardless of ability, can access and enjoy your content. This inclusivity can enhance your site's reputation and user satisfaction.

 

Interested in learning how to create accessible Squarespace Websites?

Read accessiBe’s Guide

 

How do you Integrate accessiBe with your Squarespace Site?

There are a few steps to ensure you're ready and good to go:

1. Make sure your Squarespace website is fully built and live: Check that all elements, such as text, images, and navigation, are functioning correctly.

2. Visit the accessiBe website and sign up for an account: You'll need this account to access the tools and features necessary for  integration.

Step-by-Step Integration Guide

To start, log into your accessiBe account and navigate to the dashboard. The accessiBe dashboard is user-friendly and easy to navigate, featuring sections for managing your websites, reviewing accessibility reports, and customising settings. There you can also adjust settings such as colour schemes, button placements, and accessibility profiles, allowing you to tailor accessiBe to fit your Squarespace website's design and specific needs.

Adding accessiBe Code to Squarespace

Next, you need to embed accessiBe's code into your Squarespace site. Follow these steps:

In your accessiBe dashboard, you will find the embed code provided. This code is necessary for integrating accessiBe with your website.

Log into your Squarespace account and go to your website’s pages.

Scroll down to Website Tools > Custom Code > Code Injection.

Paste the accessiBe embed code into the Footer Area.

Save your changes and refresh your website to activate accessiBe.

Customising accessiBe on Squarespace

Once you have integrated accessiBe, you can customise the widget to better match your site’s design and branding.

- Customisation Options in the accessiBe Dashboard: In the accessiBe dashboard, navigate to the customization section. Here, you can change the widget’s appearance, including colours, icon styles, and button shapes.

- Adapting the Widget to Match Your Site’s Design and Branding: Adjust the widget's settings to align with your website's look and feel. You can choose colours that match your brand, modify the size and placement of the widget, and even customise the text to better suit your audience.

Testing the Integration

After customization, it’s crucial to test the widget to ensure everything is functioning correctly. Simply go through your website and check if the accessiBe widget is visible and operational. Afterward, you can test different accessibility features to make sure they work as expected, such as screen reader adjustments and keyboard navigation.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting Tips

  • Widget Not Appearing: Double-check that the embed code is correctly placed in the Code Injection section or code block.

  • Accessibility Features Not Working: Ensure there are no conflicts with other plugins or custom code. Try disabling them one by one to identify the issue.

  • Slow Loading Times: Verify that your internet connection is stable and that there are no server issues on either the accessiBe or Squarespace side.

Review of accessiBe’s Performance

  • Ease of Use for Site Visitors: The interface is clean and straightforward. Site visitors can easily spot the accessibility widget, typically located in a corner of the screen. With one click, users can access a range of accessibility features.

  • Accessibility Features in Action: The features are highly responsive. For instance, the screen reader adjustment significantly improves the experience for visually impaired users by ensuring that all elements on the page are properly announced. Keyboard navigation is smooth, so users can move through the site without needing a mouse.

  • Examples of Improvements on the Site: There were some instances where certain website elements weren't fully optimised. For example, complex interactive components like forms or dynamic content may still pose challenges for some users with disabilities.

  • Feedback from Users with Disabilities: Many users with disabilities appreciated the improvements accessiBe provided. For example, one user mentioned that the screen reader compatibility made it much easier for them to access content they previously struggled with. Another user appreciated the customizable colour contrast options, which made reading articles on the site less straining on their eyes.

Advantages of Using accessiBe

accessiBe offers several advantages for website owners looking to enhance accessibility including:

  • Ease of Integration: One of the most significant benefits of accessiBe is its ease of integration. The process is straightforward and can be completed in just a few simple steps. This makes it accessible to website owners of all skill levels.

  • Comprehensive Accessibility Features: accessiBe provides a wide range of accessibility features that cater to various disabilities and user preferences. From screen reader adjustments to color contrast enhancements, it offers comprehensive solutions to improve accessibility for all users.

  • Legal Protection and Compliance: By using accessiBe, website owners can ensure their sites comply with accessibility laws and regulations, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This not only protects them from potential legal issues but also demonstrates their commitment to inclusivity and equal access.

accessiBe’s Unique Selling Points

accessiBe stands out in the market for several reasons. Its AI-powered automation scans and adjusts websites in real-time, ensuring continuous compliance with accessibility standards without manual intervention. Moreover, when it comes to keeping websites accessible as content changes or new guidelines are introduced, accessiBe takes the cake. It offers 24/7 monitoring and updates to ensure your website never slips up.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

From what we've seen of accessiBe's capabilities so far, we believe it provides significant value to Squarespace website owners. It is a reliable solution if your goal is to maintain accessibility compliance and ensure your website serves your audience equally. We particularly loved the user-friendly interface and ongoing monitoring and updates functionality.

While accessiBe is beneficial for all websites seeking to improve accessibility, there are specific use cases where we think it may be particularly well-suited:

  • Squarespace E-commerce Websites: accessiBe is especially valuable for e-commerce websites, where accessibility can significantly impact sales and customer satisfaction. Its features, such as keyboard navigation and screen reader adjustments, make it easier for all users to navigate product pages and complete purchases.

  • Educational Institutions: Educational institutions can also benefit from accessiBe's comprehensive accessibility features to ensure that their online learning platforms and resources are accessible to all students, including those with disabilities.

  • Small Businesses: Small businesses with limited resources for web development can benefit from accessiBe's automated approach to accessibility. It provides an affordable and efficient solution for ensuring their websites comply with accessibility standards.

Considerations for Ongoing Accessibility Maintenance

While accessiBe automates many aspects of accessibility maintenance, one cannot be too careful. Website owners need to remain vigilant and proactive in ensuring ongoing compliance. Hence regular monitoring and testing of accessibility features is a must. It is also beneficial to stay informed about updates to accessibility guidelines. This is crucial for maintaining an inclusive online presence.

Conclusion

Web accessibility is essential not only for legal compliance but also for fostering an inclusive online environment where all users can comfortably access and interact with content regardless of their disabilities. Creating such a platform will enable you to serve a wider audience and give them a satisfying experience. I would recommend accessiBe to any Squarespace website owner who prioritises these things. Its comprehensive and user-friendly approach to accessibility ensures that the process of ensuring compliance with accessibility standards is fully automated and simplified for you even if you're not particularly web savvy.

Have you tried accessiBe? What are your thoughts? Please share them with us.

References and Resources

For further reading on web accessibility and related topics, consider exploring the following resources:

To learn more about accessiBe and its features, as well as access documentation and support resources, visit the official accessiBe website:

For assistance with code injection and customization on Squarespace, refer to the following help and support articles:

This review was written in association with accessiBe

David Akinyemi
Previous

Permira takes Squarespace Private: Spaceworks Scoop and what this deal means for Squarespace Customers.
Next

Drive Sales Through Squarespace Conversion Rate Optimisation: A Guide for Small Businesses