How do you promote HTML5 accessibility?

Using semantic elements not only makes your HTML code more meaningful but also improves accessibility, search engine optimization (SEO), and the overall structure of your web documents. These elements help both humans and machines better understand and navigate the content.

Dive into the power of HTML5's semantic elements! They give meaning to content, making it more comprehensible for assistive technologies. Elements like `<article>`, `<aside>`, `<nav>`, and `<section>` provide context about your content's structure. It's like giving your webpage a well-defined outline, making it more navigable and intuitive for everyone, especially those using screen readers.

Understand the Basics of HTML5 Accessibility: Before promoting HTML5 accessibility, it's important to understand the basics. HTML5 provides several elements and attributes that help improve web accessibility. These include semantic elements like `<header>`, `<nav>`, `<main>`, and `<footer>` which describe the purpose of each section of a web page, making it easier for screen readers and other assistive technologies to interpret content. One of the simplest ways to promote accessibility in HTML5 is to use semantic HTML elements appropriately. For example, use `<nav>` for navigation menus, `<article>` for articles, and `<button>` for interactive elements. This helps screen readers understand the structure and content of your web page.

I think use HTML5 its the most stable since 2014. The semantic elements just very helpful than just div div and div. Learn html5 and other front end development code will seems easier to learn.

HTML is the mother of them all, even the xmls can't help but apply it... Contributing with the strong tags. Place then where you need emphasis, for instance you want to style a work or text separately in a sentence probably embedded in a paragraph tag. The strong tag makes this easy and that's how I use it. Could be applied to other things but to me this is it's "strong" place.

And remember an alt tag should describe the image, not its use. alt="Product photo" ? alt="A picture of a screwdriver with a red handle and polished metal shaft on a white background." ? Unfortunately I've yet to find a client with the budget to pay for that level or work, many struggle to even get a decent image uploaded. A.I will help tremendously here, and is already able to describe images to people who can't see them.

Pictures paint a thousand words, but what if someone can't see them? By adding descriptive `alt` text to images, you ensure screen readers can convey the image's meaning. And for multimedia content, captions are vital. They're not just for the hearing-impaired; think about anyone trying to watch a video in a noisy environment!

In most cases, HTML elements work fine and do not require adding ARIA. Typically, ARIA is used to make interactive elements more functional.

Placeholders are an easy way for users to understand what needs to be entered in certain inputs. It’s an optional approach for better user semantics.

Imagine filling out a form blindfolded. Labels guide users, and when paired with form elements using the `for` attribute, they're powerful allies for accessibility. While placeholders offer hints, remember they shouldn't replace labels. Keep your forms friendly and clear for all.

To add to this, another feature that can be added is a ‘skip to main content’ button that appears when tabbing through content. It can help bypass content that is repeated on each page. There is information on this in the WCAG documentation.

Not everyone relies on a mouse. Some prefer the rhythmic dance of pressing keyboard keys. Ensure your web elements are tab-accessible in a logical order. Implement roles and ARIA attributes where needed. Give users the freedom to explore your website with both hands on the keyboard.

Have a certified Accessibility tester or Section 508 test your code. Also have people who use assistive technology test your site or code.

Don't just assume; validate! Use tools like WAVE or AXE to scan your site for accessibility issues. Manual testing, like navigating only with a keyboard or using a screen reader, offers invaluable insights. After all, machines help identify issues, but the human touch ensures genuine accessibility.

WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is your treasure map for accessibility. Familiarize yourself with its guidelines and strive for at least AA compliance. Remember, every step towards WCAG adherence is a stride towards an inclusive web for all.

The title of this story "How to Promote HTML5 Accessibility" doesn't really match the content, which is about how to make HTML accessible. Promotion is difficult to go into and depends on how policies and procedures are established and enforced in general. All content writers, editors, developers, even if they don't necessarily work directly in the HTML code, must have basic training on accessibility for content (heading structure, meaningful links, accessible table formats, color contrast, alt text, not using color alone, etc.) and it must be enforced through QA and other processes. I'm almost out of characters, so I can only say, it's a part of org culture.

Take Google Lighthouse scores with a pinch of salt. The lighthouse algorithm ignores if you give an onClick to do some JavaScript action or route to a link on a div or span instead of button or link. It raises an alarm if you put a h3 under h2 without a h1 in between them. But won’t reduce your score if there’s no headings at all in your page. It won’t be asking you to wrap your multiple radio buttons or checkboxes in a fieldset or to add the statement next to it as a legend. Similar stuff goes for semantics of table. There are many more cases. A website could have no elements other than div & span and then get lighthouse score of 90. So having the ability to analyze issues yourself & using accessibility focused plugins is a must.

Using semantic markup is the #1 thing a developer can do to make sure their product is accessible. When working with frameworks like Angular and React, it's important to remember that they provide powerful tools for building interactive user interfaces, but they don't inherently enforce the use of semantic HTML.

Fixing lighthouse's accessibility reported issues is a good starting point for making the site as per the standard accessibility guidelines. In cases where the site is built with heavy animations it's a good measure to add reduced motion support for the site.