In this world, every person has goals and aims and wants to achieve something despite physical barriers such as disabilities. It becomes really necessary for developers to keep in mind their website is accessible to every community and every person.
Here, in this blog, we’ll give you a proper guide to website accessibility and ting you should follow.
What is website Accessibility?
It is the practice of developing and creating websites that can be used by people of all disabilities and abilities.
Website accessibility also includes individuals with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments. The main motive of this practice is to provide everyone with access to understand, perceive, navigate, and interact with website content.
Importance of Website Accessibility
There are various Benefits of this practice, and some of them are mentioned below;
- Make sure that everyone can access information and services online regardless of their abilities, which makes it inclusive.
- Many countries in the world have laws that demand that websites be accessible to people with disabilities.
- Accessible design mostly leads to a better overall User experience for all users, including those without disabilities.
- Well it’s a fact that by making your website accessible, you will reach a larger audience, including seniors and individuals with temporary disabilities.
Guide to Website Accessibility
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Understand Accessibility Standards
Try to get familiarize yourself with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which summarize about the best practices for making a web content more accessible.
These guidelines are organized into four principles:
- Perceivable
- Operable
- Understandable
- Robust (POUR)
Use Semantic HTML
Use proper HTML elements like <header>, <nav>, <main>, <footer>, and <article> to give structure to your content.
Make sure that all elements are correctly inserted and used according to their purpose.
Provide Text Alternatives
Use alt text for images that describes the content or function of the image. Ensure that any non-text content (videos, audio) has transcripts or captions.
Ensure Keyboard Navigation
Make sure all interactive elements such as links, forms, and buttons are accessible via keyboard (using Tab, Enter, Space, etc.). Implement focus styles so users can see which element is currently selected.
Design for Color Contrast
Provide good contrast between background colors and text. Use tools like the WebAIM Color Contrast Checker to verify contrast ratios. Avoid using color alone to convey information, such as instructions that depend solely on color cues.
Use Clear and Consistent Navigation
Keep navigation consistent across pages to help users predict where to find information. Use clear, descriptive link text that conveys meaning outside of context.
Structure Content Clearly
Use headings (<h1>, <h2>, etc.) to create a logical content hierarchy. Break up text into smaller sections with bullet points, lists, and appropriate whitespace.
Implement Responsive Design
See that your website is usable on various devices and screen sizes. Test your site on desktop devices, tablet, and mobile. Consider users who may zoom in on content, and avoid fixed widths that could hamper readability.
Make Forms Accessible
Label all form elements clearly using <label> tags. Provide error messages and suggestions when users fill out forms incorrectly.
Test for Accessibility
Use tools that helps in accessibility testing (like WAVE, Axe, or Lighthouse) to identify potential issues. Perform manual testing with screen readers like NVDA, JAWS to understand the user experience from an accessibility perspective.
Educate Your Team and Stay Updated
Train your team on accessibility and its best practices to make sure everyone understands their role in maintaining accessibility. Accessibility standards and best practices evolve, so stay informed about changes in guidelines and technologies.
Conclusion
Making your website accessible is something that every developer should understand, even if they are not practicing it. Hopefully, we have done a good job making you understand website accessibility, its practices, and why it is important.
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