Building an accessible website
What does 'accessible website' mean?
Websites are basically built to work for all people regardless of the device, language, software, or location. But, in many cases, they are not accessible to people who have different abilities of auditory perception, movement, vision and cognitive skills.
When websites, applications, technologies tools are built poorly, they can bring difficulties in their use by excluding people with different abilities.
Having an accessible website is important to all companies that exist online, which do not want to exclude anyone from using their products and services. When a website has achieved this goal, it is accessible to everyone.
Why should your page be accessible for everyone?
Applications and websites are important sources of information in our daily lives therefore, having an accessible website is defined as a fundamental human right.
This type of site helps you improve the brand and the experience of the visitors in the page, have a good reputation in the market where you operate, and increase your revenue.
Therefore, it is essential that the page provides equal opportunities for everyone desipite the disabilities.
Who benefits from an accessible website?
A website should be accessible for individuals who:
- Have poor vision, hearing and movement difficulties
- Have 'temporary disabilities' as a result of external factors (limb damage, have undergone surgery, are in restrictive environments, etc.)
- Are not keen on technologies and find it difficult to use them
- Have a poor internet connection
How to build an accessible website
Some aspects of an accessible website are easy to understand and implement, while some others require deeper knowledge. When building an accessible site you need to:
Ensure the website is easily used with the keyboard
For a website to be accessible, it must function without the use of a mouse. This is because many technologies are based on keyboard interaction which makes navigating on the page easier. This includes all interfaces, contents, links, etc. The most common way to navigate the keyboard is via the 'Tab' button.
Insert subtitles for integrated audio/video
Subtitles provide real-time content for users who do not have access to audio or video. Despite their limitations, these people will be able to understand the content and be informed about what you are showing to them. There are some subtitles that can be turned on and off according to the user's need or desire and the subtitles should be put inside the audio or the video.
Use Alt text for images
Alternative texts helps in understanding images when they do not appear on the page, or when the individual is visually impaired or has difficulty with sight. A positive effect of 'Alt text' is that it improves the SEO of your site by adding more information to it.
Make sure the clickable elements have the right size
Increasing the size of the elements of the page can help people with motor and visual difficulties. If the text is not evident and the letters are small, it may make it harder for users to navigate it. Make sure your site is suitable for everyone, even when parts of it have different sizes.
Make sure the page has the right contrast between text, images and colors
Many people and especially those who are color blind may not have a good experience on a page where there is little to no contrast between colors, text and images. It is a fundamental detail to make sure the text is distinct from the background or the buttons and colors should be selected carefully.
Test your site by how it is used by your target audience
A website that is accessible on different devices ensures that everyone who uses one has equal access to the content. Web pages are tested for:
- Mobiles
- Tablets
- Page functionalities
- Performance
- Interface etc.
Conclusion
All companies that exist online should have an accessible website so they won't have to exclude those who have physical difficulties such as visual, auditory, physical and cognitive skills. Nevertheless, those who have temporary disabilities should not be excluded either.
An accessible site has many benefits, both for users and the company, as thanks to it, you can increase your income and reputation in the market where you operate but also improve your brand.
