Why Having an Accessible Web Design Is Important?

Accessible web design seems to be everywhere these days. And that’s no coincidence! More and more companies recognise how important it is to give equal access to all types of people in their online services.

Accessibility features are part of many local and worldwide laws, so it’s important to implement them in the development process. Otherwise, your online business or web page may suffer legal consequences.

The concept is far less difficult than one should think. In our latest blog post we are going to highlight all of the main design trends and tips to make your web page as accessible as possible.

Why Is It Important and Who Benefits From It?

Accessible web design is design that helps people with different disabilities navigate the online world easier. It also integrates them into everyday tasks and services easier.

Online accessibility provides easier access for people with disabilities, but is also important for people who don’t have any disability at all. Accessible web design equals good design, so any features are a benefit to all internet users.

Accessibility design is also crucial and very beneficial for businesses and companies, based online or those who provide online services. It’s extremely important for e-commerce, government services, privately owned businesses – for everybody. Good accessible design means that more people can access your content and in return it elevates your company to a whole other level.

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How to Know if My Website Is Compliant With the Law?

When talking about accessible design, the first thing you need to do is to check and see if there are any laws or accessibility requirements in your area of the world.

For the United States for example, the dominant law in that field is ADA or Americans with Disabilities Act. It outlines all the ways in which you have to make your business and content accessible to people with disabilities.

For Canada, the corresponding law is the AODA. It also outlines all the fields that need to provide accessibility to their clients or users.

In Europe, The EU Commission is the governing body that administers the local law for website accessibility.

All of the above have their own guidelines and rules on what accessible design online really is. But ultimately, they all follow one universal set of guidelines and rules in online accessibility and that is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, published and updated by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

This comprehensive list is the main source of information for web designers and developers worldwide. The guidelines are divided in three levels – A, AA and AAA.

The best way to be sure you are compliant with local laws on accessible web design is to follow these guidelines and reach compliance Level AA. This is a very high level of accessibility design that is the foundation of most modern laws in the field. If you comply with Level AA, you are good to go!

What Challenges Do You Face if Your Website Is Not Accessible?

It’s not a far stretch to say that a not accessible website is losing users or clients. Not providing enough people with access to your web page can result in only one thing – limited reach of users. So, why exclude such a large group of society when they need the same things as everybody else? Makes no sense, right?

One other thing that’s extremely important if you’re in the role of a business owner, web designer or web developer - not offering accessible web design is punishable by law.

Accessibility lawsuits can be extremely expensive. Most of them finish with a deal, but still companies have to pay large amounts of money to plaintiffs, to the court, etc. Even after a deal, the companies are mandated to make changes to their web pages so they comply with the ruling standards – even more money.

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Tips on how to Design an Accessible Website

As we said, the governing rules on web accessibility and design are updated and managed by W3C. The comprehensive list can be found online and it gives very in-depth ideas and tips on how to achieve accessibility.

Here, we are going to give you pro tips on accessible web design. Also, online you can find all sorts of web accessibility tools and website accessibility checklists to guide you.  

We have chosen the most common techniques used online and let that not fool you. All of these are design ideas and solutions that make disabled people’s lives easier.

Ensure Your Site Allows Keyboard Navigation

Keyboard navigation is one of the most important tips you’ll read here.

Large groups of disabled people can’t use a mouse or a normal keyboard to navigate online. So, here come all types of special assistive technologies like keyboards that cater to their individual needs.

Navigation is one of the most important things in any web design. This is the way people reach information and services online. So, you have to make sure to implement the use of keyboards early on in the design process.

Enabling people to use their keyboards as a navigation tool literally unties their hands online. People with different types of motor disabilities will be able to navigate your web page easier via a keyboard or specially-made navigation keyboards.

Use Heading Hierarchies

Implementing the well known H1, H2, H3 or headings is also a key feature for accessibility.

Following the classical scheme of hierarchy can make navigation even easier. Most web browsers, keyboards and other sorts of products allow users to skip to different parts of the information. That skipping is based on the hierarchy of the text.

Implementing the use of headings is crucial, but only if you follow the right order. For example, you should always use the heading logic – H2 can’t be followed by H4.

This structure provides easier navigation and logical order of information for screen reader users.

Use High-Contrast Colors

The color scheme of any website is one of the first design features everybody thinks about. A good color scheme is not only pleasing to the eye, but it also provides easier access to information.

When designing a web page with accessibility in mind, you should always think about color contrast. Colors that don’t go well together can make content practically invisible to users with visual disabilities. This means large portions of information will be lost because of bad color contrast.

Based on Level AA guidelines, the minimum contrast ratio of elements has to be 4.5:1.

Provide Alt Text for Images

Alternative text for images or alt text for short caters to the needs of people with visual disabilities.

Alt text provides additional information of something that is perceived mainly by the eyes. People with visual problems may not be able to read a table of information or see an important image on a screen, if that’s necessary.

Alt text is also crucial for screen readers. Those devices basically read the information on the screen out loud so that the user can understand everything that’s in front of him.  

Add Captions and Transcripts to Videos

Captions and transcripts to videos is also another way to include people with disabilities. You have to keep in mind that they are different from subtitles. While subtitles are a written form of the dialog on screen, captions and transcripts provide even more information of what’s happening on the screen at all times.

For example, if you have a video on how to use some kind of product, people with visual problems won’t be able to understand it and ultimately use it. 

That’s why you need good quality captioning that includes a full explainer on what’s happening in the video – from the movements of persons, to changes in scenery, to music and sounds, etc.

Transcripts on the other hand provide written information for screen readers to interpret. By providing transcripts for videos blind users can, in some sense at least, see what is happening on the screen while listening to the transcript read by the screen reader.

Source: Unsplash

Design Forms Carefully

Sometimes, forms are needed to order a product, require a service, etc. Forms should be design with the utmost attention to detail

All forms should have relevant labels (ex. if you have a box for Name there should be Name spelled over the box). Labeling gives people with disabilities another way to navigate and read them via accessibility software.

Also, if you implement forms that require a certain type of action for a specified amount of time, you have to be sure to give an alternative for people with disabilities. A person who can’t see can’t complete a task in limited time, for example.

All of these are also crucial for people with different cognitive disabilities. They perceive information in a different way.

Conclusion

Accessible web design is a concept that involves people with disabilities online with the help of different techniques and design features. There are numerous accessibility standards and laws for accessible web design, but the core guidelines are provided by the World Wide Web Consortium.

Web design that is accessible to all can be hugely beneficial to both people with disabilities and companies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Implement Accessible Web Design From the Start of the Project?

Yes! Actually, this is the best way to go. This will ultimately make it easier in the future to implement even more accessibility features and it will also ensure that your web page is in compliance with the law.

Are There Laws That Make Sure Web Pages Are Accessible?

Yes, there are. They are all different based on the local legislation, but they have something in common – they all follow the universal guidelines by W3C.

How to Start Making Your Web Pages Accessible?

The best way is to hire an expert that can look through your design and provide the necessary information. 

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