Accessibility in web design is the norm. The websites are tailored to meet the unique needs of disabled people so that they can navigate, comprehend, and interact with your website regardless of their disabilities.
Access to information and communication technologies, including the Web, is a fundamental human right, as per the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD).
In light of this, web accessibility supports people with all sorts of disabilities as well as others, including:
- older people
- people in rural areas
- people in developing countries
Accessible design boosts user experience and satisfaction in different situations and devices, enhances the brand experience, and increases market reach.
What Exactly is Accessibility in Web Design?
An accessible web design meets the browsing requirements of all people, including those who are differently abled, such as individuals suffering from blindness, autism, color blindness, deafness, dyslexia, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). People, irrespective of their disabilities, can still browse and understand the website’s offerings.
To put things more concretely, web accessibility considers all disabilities that make website browsing difficult for the disabled, including:
- auditory
- physical
- speech
- cognitive
- neurological
- visual
Web accessibility also helps people without disabilities, for instance:
While using small screens such as mobile phones, smart watches, smart TVs, and other devices and employing different input modes, etc.
- Older people with changing abilities.
- People with “temporary disabilities” such as a fractured arm or lost glasses.
- People with “situational limitations,” such as “too much sun” or an environment that is not audio-compatible.
- People using a slow Internet or those with bandwidth variations
Web designers must make their websites accessible by following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and several best practices.
Benefits of Accessibility in Web Design
An accessible website serves all sorts of users, not just people with disabilities.
Here are the six key benefits:
Increased Web Traffic: Since both abled and differently-abled people can access accessible websites, higher web traffic is probable.
Improved User Experience: Information can easily be accessed by both kinds of users and even old people, which improves user experience and satisfaction rate of your site.
Better User Engagement: An accessible website makes it easier for users to interact with content, prompting them to spend more time on your site exploring different features, thus increasing user engagement.
Boosts Website SEO: The benefits of better user engagement and increased web traffic results boost search engine rankings. Plus, Google gives importance to accessible websites, which can further boost your SEO.
Enhances Brand Identity: An accessible website indicates to all users that they matter, increasing brand awareness and building trust in your brand.
Reduces Bounce Rate: An accessible website keeps the user engaged for a longer time, reducing the possibility of users leaving the site soon. This reduces bounce rate, as users find the site interactive, valuable, and easy to use.
Thinking of how to make your website more accessible. Here, we have discussed ten best practices to make your site accessible.
10 Best Practices to Make Your Website Accessible
- High- Contrast Between Foreground and Background
Whether on images, buttons, or other elements, foreground text should be clear and contrast with background colors.
- Move Beyond Color Contrast
Color contrast undoubtedly makes the text more readable. That said, having an additional way to differentiate elements can also be very beneficial. For instance, an asterisk indicates mandatory form fields, while website copywriters can use labels to determine categories on forms.
- Make Interactive Elements Identifiable
Make interactive elements, such as links and buttons, easily identifiable.
- Provide Clear and Consistent Navigation Options
The navigation across pages should have consistent labeling, styling, and positioning. To make site navigation more accessible, you can also offer a Site Map or Site Search. Breadcrumbs will help users know where they are on a website or page.
- Provide Feedback
When a user submits a form or makes a mistake while interacting with your website, you should notify the user through feedback. Feedback that calls for user action should be displayed prominently.
- Use Headings and Spacing for Related Content
Use whitespace between related content to make it easily scannable and understandable.
- Adding a description to images
Adding Alt text to images makes it easier for website visitors to describe the image content to the visually impaired.
- Keyboard compatible
Make the navigation keyboard compatible for users with trouble using the mouse. - Captions for audio content
You can give captions for audio content to help users with hearing impairments.
- Create designs for different devices
Consider how page information is presented on devices with different-sized viewports, such as mobile phones or zoomed browser windows. This means the header and navigation buttons should be placed in prominent areas of the screen, while the size of the text and line width should ensure maximum readability.
Conclusion
Accessibility in web design ensures that your site is accessible to all, irrespective of disabilities. By following accessibility guidelines, you ensure your website is inclusive, user-friendly, and beneficial to all people, thus improving the user experience. Consider consulting top web designers to ensure your website creates a better web experience for everyone by helping you come up with an accessible website.
