Creating an accessible web experience will ensure that your users, regardless of their abilities, can use and interact with your site effectively.
Accessibility in web design goes way beyond being a feature; it’s a must-have that increases user experience and even improves rankings.
Businesses can, therefore, adopt optimized practices for developing websites that are accessible to people with visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive disabilities.
With the world changing fast, accessibility has started to become a legal requirement. Therefore, it would be very important to learn the best practices of web design for accessibility.
What is Web Accessibility?
Web accessibility is developing websites and applications in such a way that factors in people with some kind of disability.
This means providing an interface that will be perceivable, operable, and understandable for users with visual, auditory, cognitive, and physical limitations.
An accessible website enables users to navigate around and through a page without there being any barriers to their movement.
Designing a Website with Inclusive User Experience
Designing an accessible website involves adhering to the workings and practices that make it usable to all its users. Key strategies include the following:
1. Follow WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)
The WCAG provides a global standard for web accessibility by outlining steps that will make content more accessible for people with disabilities.
2. Keyboard Accessibility Design
Many users of motor disabilities use keyboards or other assistive devices to control their computers instead of using a mouse.
Ensuring a website is completely usable without a mouse allows access to content, benefiting users with motor impairment. Or those with certain cognitive disabilities who may need alternative navigation methods.
3. Using Descriptive Alternative Text for Images
They’re tools for users with visual disabilities who need help reading a webpage. Adding descriptive alt text for images ensures that users visually understand what is on the page.
It’s critical because users might not be able to see pictures, which gives them context and makes the visual elements of your site accessible.
4. Use High Color Contrast
Poor contrast can render the content indecipherable to visually impaired users, such as color blindness.
High color contrast when designing between the text and background helps ensure readability by all users, especially those with low vision and color blindness.
5. Providing transcripts and captions for multimedia
Transcripts and captions for any video and audio materials should be included so that persons who are deaf may make use of this material.
Captions could allow the user to read the audio. Transcripts give the users a full account of the spoken content within the multimedia presentation, making it accessible to all.
6. Use Clear, Readable Fonts
Individuals with cognitive disabilities or reading impairments may be unable to read ornamental or complicated fonts.
Selecting clear, readable fonts will ensure a maximum level of clarity that allows users with learning disabilities or dyslexia to easily access your resource.
7. Using Scalable Text
Providing scalable text allows users to scale it up or down to suit their needs. For some people with vision disabilities, this is the only way to read and access the content.
8. Testing Your Website’s Accessibility
Website testing is important. You need to consult experts and seek advice on how accessible your website is. Luckily, many providers offer this solution.
For example, at Top5Accessibility, you can get your website reviewed and tested to see if it’s designed for accessibility. They’ll then give you a report showing areas well done and where you need to improve.
Principles of Web Accessibility
Understanding full web accessibility requires understanding the basic principles that form the foundation for accessible web design.
1. Perceivable
Content must be perceivable to all users, meaning they should be able to detect it using one or more of their senses.
Examples include alt text for images and captions for videos; if delivered auditorily, this makes the content perceivable by people with sensory disabilities.
2. Operable
A website is operable when users interact with it, irrespective of the method used. This means ensuring that the site can be navigated using a keyboard and assistive technologies and that all interactive elements are accessible.
3. Understandable
The content should be understandable to the users, meaning the site’s language and structure should be clear and intuitive.
Under this principle, users with cognitive disabilities will be able to follow the flow of the website with no mess found.
4. Robust
A robust website works across various devices, browsers, and assistive technologies. Technologists are constantly upgrading versions and improving technology.
To keep it accessible, the website must be compatible with current and future devices.
Accessibility and Importance in Websites
Accessibility is not a privilege; it’s a need that guarantees an inclusive digital experience. Here are some key reasons why accessibility should be at the top of the priority list in web design:
1. Improves Usability
An accessible website is more user-friendly for every citizen, not just for people with disabilities. Clear navigation, readable fonts, and intuitive designs make sites easier for visitors.
2. Improves SEO Ranking
Search engines like accessible content because it can add to the overall user experience.
Accessibility features like alt text with images and transcripts with videos clarify how search engines find and index that content for better SEO rankings.
3. It’s a Legal Requirement
For most regions in the world, such as the US, this is no longer a recommendation, but it is legally necessary to have an accessible website maintained.
For example, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, digital content provided must be accessible by persons with disabilities.
4. Increases User Base
Making your website accessible means opening the door to a much larger audience, including public audiences with disabilities who might otherwise be barred from access.
An inclusive design means you can reach more customers and prospective customers.
5. Creates an Inclusive Experience for All
With an accessible website, user, irrespective of their different abilities, will have equal opportunity to engage with or interact with your content.
Inclusion engenders goodwill, enhances brand reputation, and reflects an appreciation of every customer by your business.
Conclusion
An accessible web experience benefits everyone, from users with disabilities to search engines that depend on accessibility features to crawl and index your site correctly.
Following best practices, such as adhering to the WCAG and ensuring keyboard accessibility, are just a few ways to make a website inclusive.
When you make your website accessible, you will follow the law to the letter and create an inclusive and user-friendly web for all users.
