How To Make Your Website Accessible: A Complete Guide

With an estimated 15% of the global population living with some form of disability, creating an inclusive online experience is crucial for reaching a wider audience and fostering a positive brand image. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the essential steps to make your website accessible, adhering to international standards and best practices.

The digital space has become an integral part of our daily lives, serving as a primary source of information, communication, and commerce. However, for millions of individuals with disabilities, navigating the web can be a challenging and frustrating experience. By implementing accessibility features, you cater to this significant portion of the population and improve the overall user experience for all visitors.

Understanding Web Accessibility

Web accessibility refers to the practice of designing and developing websites that can be used by people with various disabilities, including visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairments. The goal is to create an inclusive digital environment where all users can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with web content effectively.

The Importance of Web Accessibility

Implementing accessibility features on your website offers numerous benefits:

Expanded audience reach: By making your site accessible, you open your content and services to a broader demographic, including the millions of people with disabilities worldwide.
Improved user experience: Many accessibility features, such as clear navigation and well-structured content, benefit all users, not just those with disabilities.
Legal compliance: In many countries, the law mandates web accessibility for certain types of websites, particularly those of government agencies and public institutions.
Enhanced SEO: Many accessibility practices align with search engine optimisation techniques, potentially improving your site’s visibility in search results.
Positive brand image: Demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity can enhance your organisation’s reputation and appeal to socially conscious consumers.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the most widely recognised standards for web accessibility. Developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), these guidelines provide a framework for creating accessible web content. The WCAG is built on four fundamental principles:

Perceivable: Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive.
Operable: User interface components and navigation must be operable by all users.
Understandable: Information and the operation of the user interface must be understandable to all users.
Robust: Content must be robust enough that it can be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies.

Designing for Accessibility

Creating an accessible website begins with thoughtful design. By incorporating accessibility considerations from the outset, you can ensure that your site is inherently inclusive and user-friendly for all visitors.

Colour Contrast and Readability

One of the most critical aspects of accessible design is ensuring sufficient colour contrast between text and background elements. Poor contrast can make content difficult or impossible to read for users with visual impairments or colour blindness.

To meet WCAG standards:

Aim for a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text (18-point or 14-point bold).
Use online tools like the WebAIM Contrast Checker to verify your colour choices.
Avoid using colour as the sole means of conveying information or indicating action.

Typography and Text Formatting

Clear, legible typography is essential for all users, but particularly for those with visual or cognitive impairments:

Choose sans-serif fonts for better readability on screens.
Use a font size of at least 16 pixels for body text.
Maintain consistent text formatting throughout your site.
Avoid using all caps for long passages of text, as this can be difficult to read.
Ensure sufficient line spacing (1.5 times the font size) and paragraph spacing.

Layout and Navigation

A well-structured layout and intuitive navigation system are crucial for accessibility:

Use a logical heading structure (H1, H2, H3, etc.) to organise content.
Provide clear and descriptive labels for all interactive elements.
Ensure that all functionality is available using a keyboard alone.
Offer multiple ways to find content, such as a search function and site map.
Maintain consistent navigation across all pages of your site.

Responsive Design

With the increasing use of mobile devices, it’s essential to ensure your website is accessible across various screen sizes and orientations:

Implement a responsive design that adapts to different viewport sizes.
Ensure that all content and functionality are available on mobile devices.
Use appropriate touch target sizes for interactive elements on touch screens.
Allow users to zoom in on content without losing functionality or readability.

By incorporating these design principles, you lay the foundation for an accessible website that caters to users with diverse needs and preferences.

Implementing Accessible Content

Once you have established an accessible design framework, the next step is ensuring that the content is accessible to all users. This involves carefully considering how information is presented and structured on your website.

Alternative Text for Images

Alternative text, or “alt text,” is a crucial element for making visual content accessible to users who rely on screen readers or have images disabled:

Provide descriptive alt text for all meaningful images.
Keep alt text concise (generally under 125 characters) but informative.
For decorative images, use empty alt text (alt=””) to indicate that they can be safely ignored by screen readers.
For complex images like charts or infographics, provide a longer description in addition to the alt text.

Accessible Multimedia

Video and audio content should be made accessible to users with hearing or visual impairments:

Provide captions for all video content, including dialogue and important sound effects.
Offer transcripts for audio-only content.
Include audio descriptions for videos where important visual information is not conveyed through dialogue.
Ensure that media players have keyboard-accessible controls.

Structuring Text Content

Properly structured text content is essential for users who rely on screen readers or have cognitive impairments:

Use semantic HTML elements to convey the structure and meaning of your content (e.g., <header>, <nav>, <main>, <article>, <aside>, <footer>).
Break up long passages of text into shorter paragraphs and use subheadings to improve readability.
Use descriptive link text that makes sense out of context (avoid “click here” or “read more”).
Provide a “skip to main content” link at the beginning of each page to allow users to bypass repetitive navigation.

Tables and Data Presentation

When presenting tabular data, ensure that it is accessible to users of assistive technologies:

Use proper table markup, including <thead>, <tbody>, and <th> elements for headers.
Provide a caption or summary that explains the purpose and content of the table.
Avoid using tables for layout purposes; use CSS for positioning instead.

Forms and Interactive Elements

Accessible forms are crucial for allowing all users to interact with your website:

Provide clear, descriptive labels for all form fields.
Group related form elements using <fieldset> and <legend> tags.
Ensure that error messages are clear and provide instructions on how to correct mistakes.
Allow sufficient time for users to complete forms, or provide options to extend time limits.

By implementing these content accessibility practices, you ensure that all users can access and understand the information presented on your website, regardless of their abilities or the assistive technologies they may use.

Technical Considerations for Accessibility

Beyond design and content, several technical aspects should be considered when creating an accessible website. These considerations involve your site’s underlying code and structure and compatibility with assistive technologies.

Semantic HTML

Using semantic HTML is fundamental to creating an accessible website. Semantic elements provide meaning and structure to your content, making it easier for assistive technologies to interpret:

Use appropriate HTML5 elements like <header>, <nav>, <main>, <article>, <aside>, and <footer> to define the structure of your pages.
Employ heading tags (<h1> to <h6>) in a logical, hierarchical order.
Utilise list elements (<ul>, <ol>, <li>) for presenting groups of related items.
Apply the <table> element only for tabular data, not for layout purposes.

ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications)

ARIA attributes can enhance the accessibility of dynamic content and complex user interface controls:

Use ARIA landmarks to define regions of a page (e.g., role=”main”, role=”navigation”).
Apply ARIA labels and descriptions to provide additional context for interactive elements.
Implement ARIA live regions to announce dynamic content changes to screen reader users.
Be cautious not to overuse ARIA; in many cases, proper semantic HTML is sufficient.

Keyboard Accessibility

Ensuring that all functionality is accessible via keyboard is crucial for users who cannot use a mouse:

Make sure all interactive elements can be reached and activated using the Tab key.
Provide a visible focus indicator for all interactive elements.
Implement logical tab order that follows the visual layout of the page.
Avoid keyboard traps where users cannot navigate away from an element using the keyboard.

Accessible Forms

Forms are often a critical point of interaction on websites. Ensure they are accessible to all users:

Associate labels with form controls using the for attribute or by nesting the control within the label.
Group related form elements using <fieldset> and <legend> tags.
Provide clear error messages and instructions for correcting input errors.
Use the autocomplete attribute to help users fill in forms more easily.

Responsive and Mobile Accessibility

With the increasing use of mobile devices, it’s crucial to ensure your site is accessible across different screen sizes and orientations:

Implement a responsive design that adapts to various viewport sizes.
Ensure touch targets are large enough (at least 44×44 pixels) for users with motor impairments.
Allow users to zoom in on content without losing functionality or readability.
Test your site’s accessibility on various devices and screen sizes.

Addressing these technical considerations creates a robust foundation for an accessible website that works well with assistive technologies and provides a consistent experience across different devices and platforms.

Testing and Maintaining Accessibility

Creating an accessible website is an ongoing process that requires regular testing and maintenance. As your site evolves and new content is added, it’s crucial to ensure that accessibility standards are consistently met.

Automated Testing Tools

Automated testing tools can quickly identify many common accessibility issues:

WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool): A free online tool that provides visual feedback about the accessibility of your web content.
axe DevTools: A browser extension that checks for accessibility issues directly in the browser’s developer tools.
Lighthouse: An open-source tool by Google that audits performance, accessibility, and more.

While these tools are valuable, they cannot catch all accessibility issues and should be used in conjunction with manual testing.

Manual Testing

Manual testing involves human evaluation of your website’s accessibility:

Keyboard testing: Navigate through your entire site using only the keyboard to ensure all functionality is accessible.
Screen reader testing: Use screen readers like NVDA (free) or JAWS to experience your site as a visually impaired user would.
Colour contrast checking: Manually review your site’s colour scheme to ensure sufficient contrast for readability.
Content review: Evaluate your content for clarity, readability, and proper structure.

User Testing

Involving users with disabilities in your testing process can provide invaluable insights:

Recruit individuals with various disabilities to test your website.
Observe how they interact with your site and gather feedback on their experience.
Address any issues or difficulties they encounter during testing.

Ongoing Maintenance

Maintaining accessibility is an ongoing process:

Incorporate accessibility checks into your content creation and publishing workflow.
Regularly audit your site for accessibility issues, especially after major updates or redesigns.
Keep your team informed about accessibility best practices and provide training as needed.
Stay updated on the latest accessibility guidelines and technologies.

Documentation and Accessibility Statement

Documenting your accessibility efforts and providing an accessibility statement on your website demonstrates your commitment to inclusivity:

Create an accessibility statement that outlines the measures you’ve taken to make your site accessible.
Include contact information for users to report accessibility issues or request assistance.
Regularly update your statement to reflect ongoing accessibility improvements.

By implementing a comprehensive testing and maintenance strategy, you ensure that your website remains accessible over time, providing an inclusive experience for all users.

Tools and Resources for Implementing Accessibility

Implementing web accessibility can seem daunting, but numerous tools and resources are available to assist developers, designers, and content creators in making their websites more inclusive.

Accessibility Evaluation Tools

These tools help identify and fix accessibility issues:

WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool): A free online tool that provides visual feedback about the accessibility of web content.
axe DevTools: A browser extension that checks for accessibility issues directly in the browser’s developer tools.
Lighthouse: An open-source tool by Google that audits performance, accessibility, and more.
Color Oracle: A free colour blindness simulator for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Screen Readers

Testing with screen readers is crucial for understanding how visually impaired users experience your site:

NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access): A free, open-source screen reader for Windows.
VoiceOver: Built-in screen reader for macOS and iOS devices.
JAWS (Job Access With Speech): A popular commercial screen reader for Windows.

Design and Development Tools

These tools can help create more accessible designs and code:

Accessible Color Palette Builder: Helps create colour schemes that meet WCAG contrast requirements.
Stark: A plugin for design tools like Sketch and Adobe XD that helps create accessible designs.
Pa11y: An automated accessibility testing tool that can be integrated into your development workflow.

Educational Resources

Staying informed about accessibility best practices is crucial:

Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI): Provides strategies, standards, and resources to make the Web accessible to people with disabilities.
A11Y Project: A community-driven effort to make web accessibility easier.
WebAIM Articles: Comprehensive guides on various aspects of web accessibility.

Accessibility Plugins and Frameworks

These tools can help add accessibility features to your website:

accessiBe: An AI-powered web accessibility solution that automates many aspects of making a website accessible.
UserWay: Offers various accessibility widgets and tools to enhance website accessibility.
React Aria: A library of accessible UI primitives for React applications.

Professional Services

For organisations needing expert assistance:

Accessibility consultants: An experienced digital accessibility agency can provide guidance and conduct thorough accessibility audits.
Training programs: Workshops and courses to educate your team on accessibility best practices.
Certification programs: Organisations that offer accessibility certifications for websites and web professionals.

By leveraging these tools and resources, you can streamline the process of implementing accessibility features and ensure that your website meets the highest standards of inclusivity.

Conclusion

By prioritising web accessibility, you’re not just complying with standards or avoiding potential legal issues; you’re creating a better web for everyone. You’re ensuring that all users, regardless of their abilities or devices, can access, understand, and interact with your digital content. In doing so, you’re contributing to a more inclusive digital world and setting your organisation apart as a user-centric design and development leader.