Designing for Website Accessibility: A Principles-Based Approach to Web Standards Compliance 👩💻🕸️
Hello, fellow web designers and developers! 👋 Are you aware that designing a website is more than just making it look visually appealing? In this blog, we’re going to talk about website accessibility and why it is vital to consider when creating a website.
First things first. What is website accessibility? 🤔 In a nutshell, website accessibility refers to creating a website that is usable and understandable by all people, regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities. Website accessibility is a critical element of web design that ensures equal access to information and services for everyone. So, let’s dive into the principles-based approach to website accessibility.
1. Perceivable 🔍
One crucial aspect of website accessibility is making sure that your website content is perceivable by everyone. This means that individuals with visual or hearing impairments can access your website content with ease.
Provide alternative text descriptions for images and multimedia.
Many visually impaired individuals use screen readers to access website content. To ensure your website is perceivable to everyone, provide appropriate alternative text descriptions for images and multimedia. This allows screen readers to automatically describe the content to users.
Provide captions and transcripts for audio and video content.
For individuals with hearing impairments, captions and transcripts are essential to access and understand audio and video content on your website.
2. Operable 🎮
The operability of a website is based on how easy it is for users to use and navigate your website. Website accessibility requires designing a website that is operable by all people, regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities.
Ensure your website navigation is keyboard accessible.
Many individuals with disabilities rely on keyboard navigation to browse the internet. Ensure that users can navigate your website using a keyboard.
Ensure your website is easily navigable.
An easily navigable website helps individuals with cognitive disabilities find and access website content with ease. Use clear and concise labeling and avoid complex menus or designs that may confuse users.
3. Understandable 🤔
Website accessibility focuses on creating websites that are easily understandable for all users, including those with cognitive or language barriers.
Use clear and concise language in website content.
Avoid using overly technical or complex language that may exclude some users from understanding your website content.
Provide input assistance for form elements.
Individuals with disabilities that affect their motor skills may require input assistance to fill out web forms. Providing input assistants, such as autocomplete options, can help users fill out forms with ease.
4. Robust 💪
The robustness of a website is based on the website’s functionality on different user agents. Website accessibility requires designing websites that function correctly across different user agents, including assistive technology.
Use valid HTML and CSS.
Valid HTML and CSS ensures that your website is accessible to all users, regardless of their assistive technology or web browser.
Ensure website content is compatible with assistive technologies.
Assistive technologies, such as screen readers, rely on website content to function correctly. Ensure your website content is compatible with assistive technologies to provide equal access to all users.
And there you have it, folks! These are the principles-based approaches to website accessibility that we recommend following. Remember, creating an accessible website is not just a legal requirement, but it’s also the right thing to do. By following these principles, you can ensure that your website is accessible to everyone. Happy web designing! 🎉👩💻
