How can you make your website more accessible to people with disabilities?

1 Understand the principles of accessibility

Accessibility is the practice of designing and developing websites that can be used by people with different abilities, preferences, and devices. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the international standards for web accessibility, and they are based on four principles: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. These principles mean that your website content should be presented in different ways, that your website functionality should be easy to use and navigate, that your website information should be clear and consistent, and that your website compatibility should work with different browsers and assistive technologies.

2 Use semantic HTML and CSS

Semantic HTML and CSS are the foundation of web accessibility, as they provide structure, meaning, and presentation to your website content. Semantic HTML uses tags that describe the content and its purpose, such as <h1> for headings, <p> for paragraphs, <ul> for lists, and <a> for links. Semantic CSS uses properties and values that control the appearance and layout of your website content, such as font-size, color, margin, and display. Using semantic HTML and CSS helps screen readers and other assistive technologies to understand and communicate your website content to users with disabilities.

3 Add alt text and captions

Alt text and captions are text alternatives that describe the content and function of non-text elements, such as images, videos, audio, and graphs. Alt text and captions help users with visual or auditory impairments to access the information and context of these elements, as well as users with low bandwidth or slow connections. To add alt text and captions, you can use the alt attribute for images, the <track> element for videos and audio, and the <figcaption> element for graphs. Make sure your alt text and captions are concise, relevant, and accurate.

4 Ensure color contrast and readability

Color contrast and readability are important aspects of web accessibility, as they affect how users perceive and comprehend your website content. Color contrast is the difference between the foreground and background colors, and it should be high enough to make your text and images visible and distinguishable. Readability is the ease of reading and understanding your text, and it depends on factors such as font size, font style, line height, and spacing. To ensure color contrast and readability, you can use tools such as WebAIM's Color Contrast Checker and Readability Test Tool to check and improve your website design.

5 Provide keyboard and focus support

Keyboard and focus support are essential for web accessibility, as they enable users to interact with your website using only the keyboard, without relying on the mouse or touch screen. Keyboard support means that your website elements can be accessed and activated using the tab, arrow, enter, and space keys, as well as other keyboard shortcuts. Focus support means that your website elements have a visible and clear focus indicator, such as a border or outline, that shows which element is currently active or selected. To provide keyboard and focus support, you can use the tabindex attribute, the :focus pseudo-class, and the ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes and roles.

6 Test and evaluate your website accessibility

Testing and evaluating your website accessibility is the final and ongoing step to ensure that your website meets the web accessibility standards and the needs of your users. Testing and evaluating your website accessibility involves using different methods and tools, such as manual testing, automated testing, user testing, and accessibility audits. Manual testing involves checking your website using different browsers, devices, and assistive technologies, such as screen readers, magnifiers, and keyboards. Automated testing involves using software or online tools, such as WAVE, Lighthouse, or axe, to scan and identify accessibility errors and warnings. User testing involves asking real users with disabilities to use and provide feedback on your website. Accessibility audits involve hiring a professional or an organization to conduct a comprehensive and detailed assessment of your website accessibility.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?