The web should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities or the assistive technologies they use. Web accessibility isn’t just about compliance with standards—it’s about creating inclusive digital experiences that allow all users to navigate, understand, and interact with your content effectively. When we design with accessibility in mind from the start, we create better experiences for everyone.
Understanding Web Accessibility
Web accessibility means designing and developing websites that people with disabilities can use effectively. This includes individuals who are blind or have low vision, are deaf or hard of hearing, have motor disabilities, or experience cognitive challenges. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide the framework for making content accessible, built on four fundamental principles: content must be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.
Visual Design and Color
Color plays a crucial role in web accessibility, but it should never be the sole method of conveying information. When using color to indicate required form fields, error states, or interactive elements, always provide additional visual cues like icons, text labels, or different styling patterns. This ensures users with color blindness or those using monochrome displays can still understand your interface.
Contrast ratios are equally important for readability. Text should have sufficient contrast against its background—at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text. This benefits not only users with visual impairments but also anyone viewing your site in bright sunlight or on older displays. Tools like WebAIM’s contrast checker can help you verify your color combinations meet these standards.
Typography and Readability
Choose fonts that are clear and easy to read, avoiding overly decorative typefaces for body text. Maintain generous line spacing and comfortable font sizes—typically 16px or larger for body text. Allow users to zoom your content up to 200% without losing functionality or requiring horizontal scrolling. This flexibility accommodates users with various visual needs and preferences.
Break up large blocks of text with headings, lists, and white space to improve scanability. Use a clear hierarchy with properly structured headings (H1, H2, H3) that follow logical order. This structure helps screen reader users navigate your content efficiently and benefits all users by making information easier to digest.
Keyboard Navigation
Not all users can operate a mouse or touch screen. Your website must be fully navigable using only a keyboard, which means every interactive element needs to be reachable using the Tab key. Provide clear visual focus indicators so users can see where they are on the page as they navigate. The default browser focus outline might not match your design, but ensure any custom focus styles are highly visible.
Implement logical tab order that follows the visual flow of your page. Users should be able to move through your interface in a predictable sequence that makes sense contextually. Avoid keyboard traps where users get stuck in a particular section of the page without a way to move forward or backward.
Form Accessibility
Forms are often the most critical interaction points on websites, so making them accessible is essential. Provide clear, descriptive labels for every form field, and ensure these labels are properly associated with their inputs. Use the <label> element or aria-labelledby attribute to create these associations programmatically.
Clearly indicate required fields using text or symbols, not just color. When validation errors occur, provide specific, helpful error messages near the relevant fields. Use aria-describedby to associate error messages with form controls so screen readers can announce them appropriately. Group related form fields using <fieldset> and <legend> elements to provide additional context.
Images and Alternative Text
Every informative image needs alternative text that conveys the same information to users who cannot see it. Write alt text that describes the purpose or content of the image within its context, not just what the image looks like. For decorative images that don’t add meaningful information, use empty alt attributes (alt="") so screen readers skip them.
For complex images like charts or infographics, consider providing detailed descriptions in the surrounding text or through expandable sections. This ensures all users can access the same information, regardless of how they consume your content.
Interactive Elements and Feedback
Make interactive elements like buttons and links easily identifiable through consistent styling and adequate size. Touch targets should be at least 44×44 pixels to accommodate users with motor disabilities. Provide clear labels for all interactive elements—avoid generic text like “click here” or “read more” that doesn’t describe the action or destination.
When users interact with your interface, provide immediate and clear feedback. Loading states, success messages, and error notifications should be announced to screen readers using ARIA live regions. This keeps all users informed about the results of their actions.
Content Structure and Navigation
Organize your content with a logical heading structure that creates a clear outline of your page. Use landmarks like <main>, <nav>, <aside>, and <footer> to help users understand and navigate your page structure. Provide skip links that allow keyboard users to jump directly to main content, bypassing repetitive navigation elements.
Create consistent navigation patterns across your site so users can predict where to find important functions. Breadcrumbs, search functionality, and site maps help users understand where they are and how to find what they need.
Testing and Validation
Regular testing is crucial for maintaining accessibility. Use automated tools like axe-core, WAVE, or Lighthouse to identify potential issues, but remember that automated testing only catches about 30% of accessibility problems. Manual testing with keyboard-only navigation, screen readers, and other assistive technologies provides deeper insights into the user experience.
Consider involving users with disabilities in your testing process through user research or accessibility consulting services. Their firsthand experience provides invaluable feedback that can improve your implementation beyond what technical testing alone can achieve.
Building Accessibility into Your Process
The most effective approach to web accessibility is building it into your design and development process from the beginning. Include accessibility considerations in your design system, conduct accessibility reviews during development, and establish testing protocols before launch. Train your team on accessibility principles and provide resources for ongoing learning.
Document your accessibility decisions and create style guides that include accessible patterns and components. This consistency helps maintain accessibility standards across your entire digital presence as your team and projects grow.
Moving Forward
Creating accessible websites requires ongoing commitment and learning, but the impact extends far beyond compliance requirements. When we design for users with the most constraints, we often create better experiences for everyone. Accessible design principles like clear navigation, readable text, and intuitive interactions benefit all users, whether they use assistive technologies or not.
Start with small improvements—adding alt text to images, improving color contrast, or ensuring keyboard navigation works throughout your site. Each step toward better accessibility makes your content more usable and inclusive. The goal isn’t perfection from day one, but rather building awareness, skills, and processes that support accessible design as a fundamental part of how you create digital experiences.
Web accessibility is ultimately about respect for your users and recognition that diversity in how people access and interact with information makes the web stronger and more valuable for everyone.
At 7Shades Digital, we specialised in creating strategies that help businesses excel in the digital world. If you’re ready to take your website to the next level, contact us today!
