Top 10 Tips for Making Your Website Accessible

According to WHO, 1 billion people — about 15% of the global population — live with a disability. As the world’s population continues to grow and age, the number of people with disabilities is expected to increase dramatically according to WHO. In fact, approximately 80% of all Americans with disabilities use the internet on a daily basis.

With these numbers in mind, it’s evident that making your website accessible should be a top priority. Not only is it the right thing to do, but it can also help you tap into a larger audience and create a better user experience for everyone.

Here are 10 tips to make your website more accessible:

1. Check to see whether your site is keyboard-friendly.

Unlike a mouse, which allows users to easily click on links and scroll through content, it can be difficult for people with visual or motor impairments to use a keyboard. To ensure your site is usable by as many people as possible, ensure there are no broken links and that all actions can be performed using the keyboard alone.

This means users should be able to tab through content, use enter or spacebar to select items, and easily access drop-down menus.

2. Use descriptive alt text for images.

Alt-text is the text that appears in place of an image if it can’t be displayed. This is important for users who are visually impaired and using a screen reader, as well as for users who are navigating the site using a keyboard.

It’s also important to use descriptive alt text so that search engines can index the image and understand what it represents.

3. Use clear, simple language.

Many people with disabilities rely on assistive technology such as screen readers to navigate the internet. This technology reads aloud the text on a website, making it important to use clear and simple language that can be easily understood.

In addition, avoid using jargon or abbreviations as they can be difficult for screen readers to pronounce.

4. Structure your content in an easy-to-read format.

Breaking up your content into concise paragraphs and using headers can help users navigate your website more easily. This is especially important if you’re using a screen reader, as it will read through the content in one long stream of text otherwise.

Easy-to-read format content is also optimized for users who are skimming your site, so it’s a win-win for everyone.

5. Use color contrast to make your site usable by people with limited vision.

People with limited vision often rely on high-contrast colors to make the texts easier to read. To ensure your site is usable by everyone, be sure to use a high enough contrast between background and foreground color when designing your text and other visual elements.

You have to choose your colors carefully. Alternatively, you can also use a tool like a contrast checker to test the color combinations on your site.

Another thing to note is that – for people with color blindness, using color to communicate information can be difficult or even impossible. To avoid excluding this group of users, supplement your use of color with other indicators such as shape, size, or position.

6. Use headings and subheadings to structure your content.

In addition to using clear, simple language in your content, it’s also important to use proper formatting such as headings and subheadings to make the information easier to understand.

This is especially true for users with cognitive disabilities who may find it difficult to scan through long, unstructured blocks of text.

Headings and subheadings can make your content more readable and scannable, helping everyone to get the information they need more quickly and easily.

7. Implement ARIA roles on your site.

Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) are special attributes that help screen readers to interpret and interact with a web page.

ARIA roles are generally used in conjunction with HTML elements like buttons, links, and other interactive components on a site.

By using ARIA roles, you can ensure that screen readers have the correct information about your site’s interface so that users can easily navigate and interact with your content.

8. Use captions and transcripts for audio and video content.

If you have any audio or video content on your website, it’s important to provide captions or transcripts so that users who are deaf or hard of hearing can still access the information.

In addition, captions and transcripts can also be helpful for users with cognitive disabilities who may find it difficult to process spoken information.

When creating captions and transcripts, try to use clear, simple language that is easy for a wide range of users to understand.

And remember to keep your captions and transcripts up-to-date as you make changes to your audio or video content.

9. Use accessible forms to ensure that everyone can access your site.

One of the key components of a usable website is the ability for users to easily enter and submit information through online forms.

However, many forms on websites are not accessible due to poor design or coding practices, which can make it difficult for people with disabilities to fill out and submit information.

To ensure that your forms are accessible, use clear and simple language in the fields, provide clear instructions so that users know what to do, and avoid using required fields unless absolutely necessary. And remember to test your forms regularly to make sure they’re still working properly for all users.

10. Test your site for accessibility.

There are a number of ways to test your site for accessibility, including using online tools and manual testing. These tools can help you to identify any accessibility issues on your site so that you can make the necessary changes.

Some common accessibility issues to look out for include:

• missing or incorrect alt text on images
• lack of color contrast
• problems with navigation and site structure
• issues with audio and video content
• missing or incorrect captions and transcripts
• difficulties accessing non-text content

Testing your site for accessibility can help you to identify and fix any potential issues so that everyone can use your site more easily.

Accessibility is a more important subject than ever before.

By following the tips above, you can help make your site more usable for people with a wide range of disabilities and needs. And by helping this group of users to access your content, you can also improve the overall experience for all of your visitors.