How to Make Your Website Accessible: Tips That Will Benefit All Users

Web accessibility isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. In a digital world where everyone should have equal access, learning how to make your website accessible for all users is no longer optional. It’s a legal requirement, a moral obligation, and a business imperative.

But how do you ensure your website is truly accessible?

This guide will walk you through the process, from understanding web accessibility and its legal implications, to conducting audits, implementing features, and enhancing user experience.

Let’s make the web a place for everyone.

Making Your Website Accessible: A Comprehensive Guide

• The TLDR: 14 Tips to help make your website accessible to all users
• Web accessibility is a crucial aspect of digital inclusivity.
• Legal implications of non-compliance can be severe.
• Making your website accessible benefits all users.

My 14 Tips to help make your website accessible to all users

Here are some comprehensive tips to help make your website accessible to all users, based on the principles outlined in the guide and additional considerations for web accessibility:

1. Understand Web Accessibility: Learn about web accessibility and why it’s crucial for inclusivity. This includes understanding the different types of disabilities that affect how people use the internet.
2. Conduct an Accessibility Audit: Use tools like WAVE, AChecker, or Google’s Lighthouse to evaluate your website. Combine automated testing with manual testing, including navigating your site using screen readers and keyboard-only navigation.
3. Follow WCAG Guidelines: Familiarize yourself with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and ensure your website meets these standards at the AA level at least, which covers a wide range of recommendations for making web content more accessible.
4. Implement Alt Text for Images: Provide concise and descriptive alternative text for all images on your site, which helps screen readers understand the content of images.
5. Ensure Keyboard Navigation: Make sure all aspects of your website can be navigated using a keyboard alone, which is crucial for people who cannot use a mouse.
6. Use Semantic HTML: Implement semantic HTML to provide a better structure for your content, making it easier for assistive technologies to interpret your web pages.
7. Add ARIA Landmarks: Use Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) roles to enhance the accessibility of your website by defining ways to make web content and web applications more accessible to people with disabilities.
8. Provide Sufficient Contrast: Ensure there is adequate contrast between text and background colors to make content easy to read for users with visual impairments.
9. Include Text Resizing: Allow users to resize text up to 200% without loss of content or functionality, aiding those with visual impairments.
10. Offer Video and Audio Transcripts: Provide captions for videos and transcripts for audio content, making multimedia accessible to users who are deaf or hard of hearing.
11. Test with Real Users: In addition to technical audits, gather feedback from real users, including people with disabilities, to identify usability issues that automated tools might not catch.
12. Regular Updates and Maintenance: Continuously monitor and update your accessibility features as new content is added and as standards and technologies evolve.
13. Create an Accessibility Statement: Develop and publish an accessibility statement on your website, detailing your commitment to accessibility and the measures you’ve implemented.
14. Educate Your Team: Ensure that everyone involved in your website’s content and development understands the importance of accessibility and how to achieve it.

Follow these steps to make your website more accessible and provide a better user experience for everyone, fulfilling both moral obligations and legal requirements. This not only helps those with disabilities but also improves the overall usability and reach of your website.

Understanding Web Accessibility

Web accessibility is the practice of ensuring that websites, tools, and technologies are designed and developed so that people with disabilities can use them. It’s not just about disabled users being able to navigate your website, but also being able to interact with it and understand its content.

The importance of web accessibility cannot be overstated. It’s a crucial aspect of digital inclusivity, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities, can access and benefit from the internet.

There are various types of disabilities that can affect web usage, including visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, and neurological disabilities. Each of these disabilities requires different accommodations. For example, a visually impaired user might rely on a screen reader to navigate your website, while a user with a physical disability might use a keyboard instead of a mouse.

The Legal Implications of Web Accessibility

Web accessibility isn’t just a matter of good practice—it’s also a legal requirement in many jurisdictions. In the U.S., for example, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act both require certain organizations to make their websites accessible to people with disabilities.

Non-compliance can have serious consequences, including lawsuits, fines, and damage to your brand’s reputation. In 2019, the number of federal lawsuits related to website accessibility reached a record high, with over 2,200 cases filed.

How to Ensure Your Website is Accessible and User-Friendly

Ensuring that your website is accessible and user-friendly involves several steps. First, you need to understand the different types of disabilities and how they affect web usage. This will help you identify potential barriers to accessibility on your website.

Next, you should conduct an accessibility audit to identify any issues that need to be addressed. This can be done using automated tools, manual testing, or a combination of both.

Finally, you should implement the necessary changes to make your website accessible. This might involve modifying your website’s code, design, or content.

Making Your Web Application Accessible

Making your web application accessible involves similar steps to making your website accessible. However, web applications often have additional complexities due to their interactive nature.

For example, you might need to ensure that your web application is keyboard-accessible, meaning that all functionality can be accessed using the keyboard alone. You might also need to ensure that your web application is compatible with assistive technologies, such as screen readers and voice recognition software.

One Way to Make Your Website More Accessible

One simple way to make your website more accessible is to ensure that all images have alt text. Alt text is a brief description of an image that can be read by screen readers, providing context for visually impaired users.

However, it’s important to note that this is just one aspect of web accessibility. A truly accessible website requires a comprehensive approach, taking into account all types of disabilities and all aspects of your website’s design, content, and functionality.

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Your Website Accessible

• Master the art of conducting an accessibility audit.
• Learn to implement key accessibility features.
• Discover how to test your website for accessibility.

Step 1: Conducting an Accessibility Audit

An accessibility audit is your first step towards creating a more inclusive website. It involves evaluating your website’s current level of accessibility and identifying areas that need improvement.

How to Conduct an Accessibility Audit

Start by reviewing the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These guidelines, developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), provide a comprehensive framework for creating accessible web content. Familiarize yourself with the four principles of WCAG: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.

Next, manually navigate your website using only a keyboard. This will help you identify any navigation issues that might be present for users who can’t use a mouse or touch screen.

• Ensure you’re familiar with the WCAG guidelines. Visit the W3C website for the most up-to-date information.

Tools and Resources for Conducting an Audit

There are several tools available that can assist you in conducting an accessibility audit. Automated tools like WAVE, AChecker, and Google’s Lighthouse can scan your website and identify potential accessibility issues.

Remember that these tools can’t catch everything. It’s also important to involve real users in your audit process. Consider hiring individuals with various disabilities to test your website and provide feedback.

Step 2: Implementing Accessibility Features

Once you’ve identified areas for improvement, it’s time to start implementing accessibility features.

Different Accessibility Features to Implement

There are numerous accessibility features you can implement on your website. These include alternative text for images, captions for videos, and keyboard accessibility. Other features include high contrast mode, resizable text, and skip navigation links.

How to Implement These Features on Your Website

Implementing these features will depend on the specific technology and platform your website is built on. However, there are general principles you can follow. For example, to add alternative text to images, you can use the “alt” attribute in your HTML code. For captions, you can use the “track” element in HTML5.

• Ensure you’re using the correct HTML attributes for implementing accessibility features. Refer to the HTML5 Accessibility website for accurate information.

Step 3: Testing for Accessibility

After implementing accessibility features, it’s crucial to test your website to ensure these features are working as expected.

How to Test Your Website for Accessibility

Testing for accessibility involves both automated testing and user testing. Automated testing can be done using the same tools you used for your accessibility audit. User testing, on the other hand, involves getting feedback from real users. This can be done through surveys, interviews, or usability testing sessions.

Tools and Resources for Testing Accessibility

There are numerous tools available for testing website accessibility. These include automated tools like WAVE and AChecker, as well as screen readers like JAWS and NVDA. For user testing, consider using platforms like UserTesting.com, which can connect you with a diverse group of users.

• Ensure you’re using the most up-to-date versions of accessibility testing tools. Visit the official websites of these tools for the latest versions.

By following these steps, you can make your website more accessible and user-friendly, benefiting all users and ensuring compliance with accessibility standards.

Making Your Website Screen Reader Friendly

• Screen readers are essential tools for visually impaired users.
• Making your website compatible with screen readers enhances accessibility.
• Implementing screen reader friendly features can be done in a few steps.

Understanding Screen Readers

Screen readers are software applications that convert text on a screen into audible speech. They’re a lifeline for visually impaired users, enabling them to navigate the digital world. By making your website compatible with screen readers, you’re not only complying with accessibility standards but also expanding your audience reach.

The Importance of Screen Reader Compatibility

A screen reader-friendly website is a must in today’s digital age. It’s not just about inclusivity; it’s also about business. According to the World Health Organization, over 285 million people are visually impaired worldwide. That’s a significant market you could be missing out on if your website isn’t accessible.

Implementing Screen Reader Friendly Features

There are several features that can make your website more accessible to screen readers. Here’s how to implement them:

Use Semantic HTML

Semantic HTML elements like headers, lists, and links provide context to screen readers. They help the software understand the structure of your website and present it in a way that makes sense to the user.

Provide Alt Text for Images

Screen readers can’t interpret images. However, they can read the alternative text (alt text) that you provide for each image. This text should be a brief description of the image, allowing visually impaired users to understand its content and context.

Ensure Keyboard Navigation

Not all users can use a mouse. Some rely on keyboard navigation, which is also how screen readers navigate a website. Make sure all your website’s features can be accessed using the keyboard alone.

Use ARIA Landmarks

Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) landmarks help screen readers understand the layout of your website. They identify different sections of a page, like navigation, main content, and footer, making it easier for users to navigate.

Test Your Website

Finally, test your website with a screen reader. This will give you a firsthand experience of what visually impaired users go through when they visit your site. You can use tools like NVDA or VoiceOver for testing.

By making your website screen reader friendly, you’re taking a significant step towards accessibility. It’s a process that requires attention to detail and a commitment to inclusivity. But the benefits – a wider audience, improved SEO, and compliance with accessibility standards – make it well worth the effort.

Enhancing User Experience Through Accessibility

• Accessibility is a key factor in user experience.
• Improving accessibility can lead to increased user engagement and satisfaction.
• Practical tips and examples will be provided to help you enhance your website’s accessibility.

The Role of User Experience in Accessibility

User experience (UX) and accessibility are two sides of the same coin. When a website is accessible, it means that all users, including those with disabilities, can use it effectively. This inclusivity not only broadens your audience reach but also enhances the overall user experience.

A website that is easy to navigate, read, and understand will naturally attract and retain more users. This is where accessibility comes into play. By ensuring that your website is accessible, you are essentially improving the user experience by making it easier for all users to interact with your site.

The relationship between UX and accessibility is symbiotic. Improving one aspect invariably enhances the other. For instance, a website that is designed with accessibility in mind will be easier to navigate, leading to a better user experience. Conversely, a website that provides a great user experience will likely be more accessible because it caters to the needs of all users.

Tips for Improving User Experience Through Accessibility

Use Clear and Simple Language

One way to make your website more accessible is by using clear and simple language. Avoid jargon and complex sentences that may confuse users. Instead, opt for plain language that is easy to understand. This not only benefits users with cognitive disabilities but also those who are not native speakers of the language your website is in.

Ensure Adequate Contrast

Another tip for improving accessibility is to ensure adequate contrast between text and background colors. This makes it easier for users with visual impairments to read your content. There are many online tools available that can help you check the contrast ratio of your website.

Provide Alternative Text for Images

Providing alternative text for images is another important aspect of website accessibility. This text, often referred to as “alt text,” is read by screen readers to describe the content of the image to users who are visually impaired.

Make Your Website Keyboard-Friendly

A keyboard-friendly website is one that can be fully navigated using a keyboard alone. This is crucial for users who cannot use a mouse or touch screen due to physical disabilities. Ensure that all menus, buttons, and forms on your website can be accessed using the keyboard.

Include Captions or Transcripts for Audio and Video Content

For users who are deaf or hard of hearing, provide captions for video content and transcripts for audio content. This ensures that these users can access the information in your multimedia content.

Websites That Have Successfully Improved User Experience Through Accessibility

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a prime example of a website that has successfully improved user experience through accessibility. The BBC’s accessibility guide provides comprehensive information on how to make their content accessible to all users, including those with disabilities, offering keyboard navigation that allows users to jump directly to content or accessibility help. This is especially beneficial for visually impaired users or those who prefer not to use a mouse.

Another example is the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). Their website is designed with accessibility in mind, featuring high contrast colors, large text, and a simple, easy-to-navigate layout.

I found several other well-known websites have significantly enhanced user experience by focusing on accessibility, making their platforms welcoming and usable for all users, including those with disabilities. Here are some more notable examples:

1. Apple – Known for its comprehensive accessibility features, Apple’s website includes options like text magnifiers, adjustable display settings, VoiceOver functionality, and Siri for navigation and commands, making the site highly accessible.
2. Patagonia – As an e-commerce site, Patagonia incorporates high text contrast and image alt texts to improve navigation and shopping experience for all users, particularly those with visual impairments.
3. Scope – This organization’s website utilizes high color contrast ratios and keyboard-friendly navigation to aid visually impaired users, while also maintaining a vibrant and engaging design.
4. Eventbrite – Eventbrite’s platform is designed to be straightforward with options to skip animations and adjust content presentation, catering to users with cognitive and visual disabilities.

These examples demonstrate the importance of integrating accessibility features into website designs to not only comply with legal standards but also to enhance user engagement and satisfaction​ (Convince & Convert)​​ (HubSpot Blog)​​ (Accessibility Checker)​.

Maintaining and Updating Your Website for Continued Accessibility

• Ensuring your website remains accessible is a continuous process, not a one-time task.
• Regular audits and staying updated on accessibility standards are key to maintaining accessibility.
• This section will guide you through the process of maintaining and updating your website for continued accessibility.

Explanation of why maintaining and updating your website for accessibility is important

Accessibility is not a static state. As your website evolves, so should its accessibility. New content, features, or design changes can inadvertently introduce accessibility barriers. Regular maintenance and updates ensure that all users, regardless of their abilities, can continue to use your website effectively.

Tips for ensuring your website remains accessible as it evolves and grows

1. Keep accessibility in mind during updates: Whenever you add new content or features, ensure they are accessible. This includes using alt text for images, captions for videos, and ensuring that interactive elements can be used with a keyboard.
2. Test your website regularly: Use accessibility testing tools to regularly check your website for potential issues. These tools can identify problems like missing alt text, poor color contrast, and inaccessible forms.
3. Train your team: Make sure everyone involved in maintaining your website understands the importance of accessibility and knows how to implement it.

Regular Accessibility Audits

Regular accessibility audits are crucial for maintaining an accessible website. These audits can identify any new barriers that have been introduced and ensure that previous issues have not reoccurred.

Importance of conducting regular accessibility audits

Conducting regular accessibility audits ensures that your website remains accessible as it evolves. These audits can identify new barriers that may have been introduced during updates and ensure that previous issues have not reoccurred.

How to schedule and conduct these audits

1. Schedule regular audits: Depending on the size and complexity of your website, you may want to conduct audits monthly, quarterly, or annually.
2. Use a combination of tools and manual testing: Automated tools can identify many common accessibility issues, but they can’t catch everything. Manual testing, including using your website with a screen reader or keyboard, can identify issues that tools might miss.
3. Document your findings: Keep a record of the issues you find, along with their solutions. This can help you avoid repeating the same mistakes in the future.

Staying Updated on Accessibility Standards and Practices

Accessibility standards and best practices are continually evolving. Staying updated ensures that your website remains accessible to all users.

Importance of staying updated on the latest accessibility standards and practices

Staying updated on the latest accessibility standards and practices ensures that your website remains accessible as these standards evolve. This can also help you anticipate and prepare for future changes.

Resources for staying updated on accessibility

1. Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG): These guidelines, maintained by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), are the gold standard for web accessibility.
2. Accessibility blogs and newsletters: Many organizations and experts in the field regularly publish articles and newsletters about the latest developments in web accessibility.
3. Accessibility conferences and webinars: These events can provide in-depth information and training on the latest best practices.

Additional Resources:

Here’s a comprehensive glossary and FAQ section:

Glossary of Terms

1. Web Accessibility: The practice of ensuring that websites are usable by people of all abilities and disabilities.

2. WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines): A set of guidelines developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) that provides a framework for making web content more accessible to people with disabilities.

3. ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act): U.S. legislation that requires public and private spaces to be accessible to people with disabilities, including web accessibility.

4. Screen Reader: A software application that translates text and other elements into speech or braille, used by individuals who are blind or visually impaired.

5. Alt Text (Alternative Text): A short description of an image on a web page, designed to be read by screen readers and displayed in place of an image if it cannot be loaded.

6. ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications): A set of attributes that define ways to make web content and web applications more accessible to people with disabilities.

7. Keyboard Navigation: The ability to use a website using a keyboard only, without the need for a mouse.

8. Semantic HTML: HTML that introduces meaning to the web page rather than just presentation. It includes elements like <header>, <footer>, and <article> which define the content structure.

9. Compliance: Adherence to a set of standards or regulations. In the context of web accessibility, compliance usually refers to meeting the requirements set forth in the WCAG and ADA.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is web accessibility and why is it important? A1: Web accessibility ensures that websites are designed and developed so that all users, including those with disabilities, can use them effectively. It’s important because it promotes inclusivity and equal access, which is a legal requirement and a moral imperative in many jurisdictions.

Q2: What are the legal implications of not making a website accessible? A2: Failing to make a website accessible can lead to legal consequences such as lawsuits and fines, especially under laws like the ADA in the United States. Non-compliance can also damage a brand’s reputation and exclude potential users from accessing the site.

Q3: How can I conduct an accessibility audit for my website? A3: An accessibility audit can be conducted using a combination of automated tools and manual testing. Tools like WAVE, AChecker, or Google’s Lighthouse can help identify common accessibility issues, while manual testing involves navigating the site using assistive technologies like screen readers and ensuring keyboard accessibility.

Q4: What are some key accessibility features I should implement on my website? A4: Key features include providing alt text for images, ensuring keyboard navigation, using semantic HTML, implementing ARIA landmarks, and providing text alternatives like captions and transcripts for audio and video content.

Q5: How often should I test my website for accessibility? A5: Regular testing is crucial. It’s recommended to test your website for accessibility after any significant changes and periodically review it to ensure ongoing compliance. This can vary from monthly to quarterly tests depending on the scale of the website and frequency of updates.

Q6: Can accessibility improvements affect my website’s SEO? A6: Yes, many accessibility improvements, such as using proper heading tags and ensuring that images have descriptive alt text, can also enhance SEO. Accessible websites tend to have better structure and quality content, which search engines favor.

This glossary and FAQ provide essential information and guidance for anyone looking to improve their website’s accessibility. By understanding and applying these principles, website owners can ensure their sites are inclusive and accessible to all users.

The Final Step: Embracing Accessibility

Web accessibility isn’t just a legal requirement, it’s a commitment to inclusivity. It’s about understanding the diverse needs of users, implementing features that cater to these needs, and regularly auditing your website to ensure it remains accessible.

Remember, an accessible website enhances user experience, making your site more welcoming and user-friendly. It’s not just about compliance, but about creating a digital space where everyone feels valued and catered to.

Now, it’s time to put these insights into action. Start with an accessibility audit, implement the necessary features, and don’t forget to test. Make your website screen reader friendly and keep yourself updated on the latest accessibility standards and practices.

How will you ensure your website remains accessible as it evolves and grows?

Remember, the journey to accessibility is continuous, but every step you take makes the web a more inclusive place for all. So, let’s get started.