Importance of Website Accessibility
There are several reasons why website accessibility is important. The first benefit is that it ensures
that
everyone, even people with disabilities, can use your website. This group may include those with
cognitive,
motor, visual, or hearing impairments. You can ensure that everyone has access to the information and
services
you provide by making your website accessible.
Finally, several countries, like the US, have
laws
requiring websites to be accessible. According to the Equality Act of 2010, companies
and organizations are
required to make a reasonable effort to make their services accessible to everyone, including those with
disabilities. If you don’t follow these guidelines, your company risk having legal action taken against
it.
How to Improve Web Accessibility?
HTML code that is properly structured can increase accessibility. This covers the use of heading tags,
alt
attributes for pictures, and properly labeling form elements.
Ensure that all written information is readable, and for non-text content like pictures, videos, and
audio
files, provide an alternative text.
Enable keyboard-only navigation so users can use your website without a mouse or other pointing device.
As an alternative to incorporating generic link text like “click here,” implement descriptive link
language that
identifies the link’s final destination.
To make text and /images simpler to read for people with vision impairments, use
high-contrast color combinations.
To make all media accessible to people who are hard of hearing or deaf, every video content should have
subtitles, and all audio content should have transcripts.
Regularly assess your website’s usability for people with disabilities.
Use assistive technology to better understand how your website functions for users with disabilities,
such as
screen readers, speech recognition programs, and magnifiers.
Implementing these steps can make your website more accessible and user-friendly for individuals with
disabilities.
How to Achieve Web Accessibility?
There are several actions you can take to make your website more accessible, but the following are some
of the
most important ones:
The alt tags for the /images on your website should contain descriptions. Make sure the alt tags are
accurate and
detailed so that those who are visually impaired and blind may understand what the image represents.
Website users with cognitive impairments may find it simpler to interpret the content if the headings
are clear.
Use headings to organize the content and make it simpler to read. Keep it brief so that visitors will
stay on
your website longer and not get easily bored.
Subtitles and transcripts for videos can make the content easier to understand for viewers with hearing
impairments. Additionally, this can help to improve your website’s SEO. The simpler and more
user-friendly your
website is, the easier it will be for Google crawlers to find it.
People with visual impairments will find it easier to view your website if you use contrasting colors.
Make sure
the text and background have a noticeable contrast.
Ensure that your website can be navigated using a keyboard. Individuals with mobility impairments will
find it
easier to access your website as a result.
Additionally, conforming to website accessibility standards is both an ethical responsibility and a
legal
necessity in numerous countries. To make your website inclusive and accessible to all visitors, web
designers
should prioritize accessibility.
If you are looking for the best web design company in the US, check our services and previous
work samples on
accessible web designs. Contact us and let’s get started on your website.