Why Accessibility Matters in Web Design
Introduction
Accessibility in web design means making sure that websites can be used by as many people as possible, including those with disabilities. Building accessible websites helps create a better, more inclusive internet where nobody is left out.
Why Is Accessibility Important?
Making accessibility a priority in web design isn’t just the right thing to do. It also benefits users and businesses alike. Here are a few key reasons why accessibility matters:
It’s the Law
Laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) require websites to be accessible. Inaccessible websites can even face legal action.
It Expands Your Audience
About 1 in 4 adults in the United States lives with a disability. Designing for accessibility opens up your site to millions more users who might otherwise be excluded.
It Improves User Experience for Everyone
Features like closed captions, high contrast text, and keyboard navigation don’t just help people with disabilities, they help everyone.
Accessibility Can Boost Your SEO
Search engines reward websites that are structured well and easy to navigate. Many accessibility best practices, like using proper headings and alt text, also improve your site’s visibility in search results.
Real World Examples
Accessibility in action can be easy to spot once you start looking for it. Here are a couple of examples that show the difference between accessible and inaccessible web design:
Good Example: Apple.com
- Strong color contrast
- Thoughtful use of alt text for images
- Excellent keyboard and screen reader support
Poor Accessibility in Websites
Unfortunately, not every website is built with accessibility in mind. Many websites, especially those built before accessibility standards became widely recognized, can present serious challenges for users with disabilities. For example:
- Older small business websites
- Many older websites for small businesses still use tiny text, low-contrast color schemes, and images without alt text, making them difficult for people with visual impairments to use.
- Flash-based sites (historically)
- Older Flash websites were notoriously inaccessible because screen readers couldn’t understand them
How Beginners Should Prioritize Accessibility
As a beginner web designer, you don’t need to master every advanced accessibility concept right away. But there are several simple steps you can take to ensure your websites are more accessible from the start. Here’s a quick checklist of easy-to-implement practices:
Use descriptive alt text for images
Make sure every image on your site has a meaningful description so screen readers can convey the content to visually impaired users.
Ensure high color contrast
Use a color contrast checker to make sure your text stands out clearly against background colors. This helps users with vision impairments read your content easily.
Structure your content with headings (H1, H2, H3, etc.)
Properly using headings creates a clear content hierarchy, making it easier for all users, including those with screen readers, to navigate your site.
Add descriptive links
Instead of “click here,” try to make your links more descriptive, like “learn more about our accessibility features.” This helps both screen reader users and search engines.
Make sure your website is keyboard navigable
Check that all interactive elements (forms, buttons, etc.) can be navigated with just a keyboard. This helps users who can’t use a mouse.
Test your site with screen readers
Spend a few minutes testing your website with a screen reader to get a sense of how it’s experienced by users who rely on this technology.
Use accessible forms
Make sure all form fields have proper labels and instructions to guide users through the process.
Additionally, to make things even easier, there are several free tools that can help you test and improve the accessibility of your website. Here are some tools you can use:
Quickly check if the text on your website meets the recommended contrast ratios for readability. This tool helps ensure your text is accessible to users with visual impairments.
NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access)
NVDA is a free screen reader that you can use to test how your website sounds to users who rely on screen readers to navigate. It’s a valuable way to identify areas where accessibility might be lacking.
WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool
WAVE provides a quick way to evaluate the accessibility of your website by flagging issues such as missing alt text, low contrast, and other common accessibility problems.
A11Y Color Contrast Accessibility Validator
Another color contrast tool, this one specifically helps you evaluate the accessibility of your color choices according to WCAG guidelines.
Google Lighthouse is a powerful tool built into Chrome DevTools that provides an in-depth audit of your website’s accessibility, performance, and more. It’s a great all-in-one tool for improving web quality.
The Bigger Picture: Designing for All
Web accessibility is about creating a more inclusive and user-friendly internet. By implementing the practices we’ve discussed, you’re improving the overall user experience for everyone. As a beginner, you don’t have to make every page perfect, but small improvements add up. By prioritizing accessibility from the start, you’re setting yourself up to build websites that are both functional and inclusive.
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