Creating a website that’s welcoming and informative for all visitors isn’t just a nice thing to do — it’s a necessity. This is especially true for government and public sector websites, which are often the first point of contact for citizens and businesses looking for services and information.
An accessible website is one that can be used by people of all abilities and disabilities, including those with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments. An inclusive website is one that is designed for everyone, regardless of their individual needs or abilities.
Luckily, there are plenty of best practices you can follow to make your website accessible and inclusive for all visitors. Let’s take a look at 10 of the most important ones.
1. Use alt text for all images
Alt text (alternative text) is a short description of an image that screen readers can read out loud to visually impaired users. Alt text is also displayed in place of an image while it’s loading or if the image file is broken.
Alt text helps visually impaired users understand the content and context of an image. It also helps people with cognitive disabilities who use screen readers get a better understanding of the content on a page.
When writing alt text, keep it brief and descriptive. If the visual content is decorative or doesn’t add any value to the content, you can use empty quotation marks to indicate it’s a decorative image (alt=””). To simplify this process, you can use tools like the Attrock Alt Text Generator to create effective and accessible image descriptions. Similarly, if you publish podcasts, including a podcast transcript ensures that users who are deaf or hard of hearing—or those who prefer reading—can access the content in a text format. Websites that provide essential services or information — such as public records lookup tools should prioritize accessibility from the ground up to ensure all users can access critical data without barriers.
2. Ensure all interactive elements are keyboard accessible
The keyboard is the main way users with disabilities navigate a website. As a result, it’s crucial that all interactive elements on a website are keyboard accessible.
For example, you should be able to navigate through a form using the Tab key and submit the form using the Enter key. And, if a user makes an error when filling out a form, they should be able to use the keyboard to navigate to the error message and hear the error message read out loud.
You can check the keyboard accessibility of your website by turning off your mouse and trying to navigate the website using only your keyboard. If you’re able to navigate the website and interact with all the elements, then your website is keyboard accessible.
To enhance both accessibility and conversion optimization, consider implementing form tracking to analyze user behavior within formsidentifying drop-off points and improving the overall user experience for all visitors.
3. Use headers to break up content
Using headers is a great way to break up your website content into smaller, more digestible pieces. It also makes your content more accessible to screen reader users.
Screen readers use HTML headers to help users navigate content on a page. When you use headers to break up your content, it creates a logical structure that makes it easier for screen reader users to understand what your content is about and to navigate to the parts of the page that are most relevant to them.
It’s important to use headers in a way that makes sense. Don’t just use them to make text bigger or bold. Make sure you use the right header level for the content you’re marking up, and make sure you use headers in a hierarchical way. For example, if you have a main section on your page, use an H2 header. If you have subsections within that main section, use H3 headers, and so on.
4. Make sure your website is navigable by screen readers
Screen readers are assistive technologies that people with visual impairments use to read the content on a web page. They convert text into speech, and they can also be used with braille displays.
Screen readers can only read the content on a web page if it has been properly structured. This means that web designers need to use proper HTML to create a logical order of content that can be read by screen readers in the correct sequence.
Screen readers also rely on the use of alt text to describe images and other non-text content. If an image doesn’t have alt text, the screen reader will simply say “image” and then move on to the next piece of content. This can make the content on your website difficult to understand for people with visual impairments.
In addition to using proper HTML and alt text, you should also make sure that your website is navigable by screen readers. This means that you should include landmarks and headings to help users navigate your website more easily.
5. Use high color contrast
Color contrast refers to the difference in light between the text and the background or you can remove the background. Good color contrast makes the text easier to read and understand for people with low vision, color blindness, or dyslexia.
To check your color contrast, you can use a tool like WebAIM’s Contrast Checker. This tool will tell you if your color contrast is good or if it needs to be adjusted.
You should also avoid using color as the only way to convey information. For example, if you’re using a traffic light system (red, yellow, green) to indicate different statuses, you should also include text or an icon to represent each status. This way, people who are colorblind can still understand the information you’re trying to convey.
In addition to contrast, the type of fonts you use can significantly affect readability for users with dyslexia or low vision. Stick to clean, sans-serif fonts and avoid decorative or overly compressed styles. A consistent and legible fonts collection improves usability and ensures your content is accessible to a wider audience.
6. Avoid flashing content
Flashing content can trigger seizures and other physical reactions in some people.
To prevent this from happening, avoid using any content that flashes more than three times in any one-second period. If you must use flashing content, provide a way for users to turn it off.
7. Create a clear and simple layout
The layout of your website is crucial for creating an inclusive user experience. A clear and simple layout is also a cornerstone of eCommerce growth strategies, as it helps reduce bounce rates and improve conversions. In the same spirit of operational clarity, many organizations also turn to outsource procurement to streamline backend processes and improve efficiency across the board.This includes how you structure your content, as well as how you design your navigation and other page elements.
One of the most important aspects of your layout is making sure it’s clear and simple. This means using plenty of white space, breaking up your content with headers and subheaders, and avoiding clutter.
You should also use a predictable layout so users know where to find things on your website. For example, most websites have the navigation across the top of the page or in a sidebar. Users expect to find the logo in the top left corner of the page, and the search bar in the top right.
When designing your layout, you should also consider how it will look on different devices and screen sizes. Make sure your website is responsive, and test it on a variety of devices to make sure it looks good and is easy to use. A tool like the Webflow deal can help streamline this process by offering responsive design features out of the box.
8. Avoid using PDFs
PDFs are a common file format for sharing documents, but they can be difficult for screen readers to interpret.
If you must use a PDF, make sure it is tagged correctly, and that the text is selectable. If you’re creating the PDF yourself, you can use the “Save as” feature in Microsoft Word and select “PDF” as the file format.
Otherwise, you can use a PDF accessibility checker to make sure they are accessible to everyone.
9. Use closed captions for video content
Closed captions are a text version of the spoken content in a video. They are essential for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, but they also benefit anyone who has trouble understanding spoken language, such as people who are not fluent in the language being spoken or those who are watching video without sound.
You should always provide a text-based alternative to the audio content in your video, and you should also use closed captions in your video content to make it accessible to the broadest audience possible. For example, if you sell electronics online and use video reviews or tutorials, captions can make your content accessible to all potential buyers.
YouTube and Vimeo both make it easy to add closed captions to your video content and send in emails if needed. If you’re embedding video content on your website, be sure to select a player that supports closed captions.
10. Avoid using audio that plays automatically
Not only is this a major pet peeve for many users, but it can also be highly disruptive for those with screen readers or other audio-based assistive technologies. If you do need to include audio that plays automatically, make sure there is an option to pause or turn off the audio. Also, be sure to include a warning at the top of the page so users know what to expect.
Conclusion
There are a lot of moving parts to web design and development, and it can be easy to overlook some of the details that make a website accessible and inclusive. However, by considering these best practices, you can ensure that your website is welcoming to all visitors.
