Difference Between SEO Text and Compliance Text

Text was often written for bots to achieve the highest SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and ranks on Google possible. However, along with aiming to be Google friendly, writers also need to write with an accessibility plan in mind. This leads to some changes, such as the text description of videos. Before, image text would often be a nonsensical repetition of keywords to get the attention of bots. Now images need to be descriptive to adhere to AODAs requirements or other accessibility mandates. 

While these accessibility requirements can be difficult to implement, AI is getting increasingly more capable of writing for humans. It will not be too long before AI conversion tools can create accessibility globally, and this may be the only way total accessibility for people with disabilities can be affordable. Though this discussion has mostly been about the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, the need for web content accessibility has become a priority far beyond the Government of Ontario’s policies.   

For the time being, many sites have been taken down for lack of web accessibility and affordability to comply with AODA standards, and many more will be. There is still so much content that is not compliant, and therefore liable. With this policy in place, it takes very little to set up a lawsuit (although showing initiative to be accessible for people with disabilities definitely helps). For now, it seems that only large companies will be able to make their websites accessible, but that may change if AI conversion becomes more common.