We all want our websites to be beautiful, engaging, and easy to navigate. But what if accessible design and other features aren’t available to everyone? Have you ever considered this?
Good website design should be based on accessibility. This means that the website should be designed so that everyone can use it in the same way, regardless of their ability or disability.
Now you’re thinking: “Accessibility? Isn’t that for dedicated websites?” Wrong! An accessible website is about creating a better user experience for all, including people with disabilities:
- For visually impaired people, imagine navigating a website with blurred text or the colours are incomprehensible.
- Hard of-hearing people: is it the audio content captioned on your website?
- Users with limited mobility: imagine the frustration of interacting with a website that requires precise mouse movements.
Accessibility isn’t just about making websites usable for a small group of people. It is also about creating a more accessible and fairer web for all.
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So, how do you can make an accessible design? Here are 5 key areas to focus on:
Text and Color: The Foundation of Readability
- Use High Contrast: Make sure your text is easily read against the background. Avoid using colour combinations that are difficult for colourblind people to distinguish.
- Font Size Matters: Choose a font size large enough to be read comfortably, especially on smaller screens. Also, remember line height and spacing to ensure readability.
- Say No to Comic Sans (Mostly): Although tempting, stick to clear, legible fonts like Arial, Helvetica, or Verdana. Avoid overly decorative or stylised fonts that can be difficult to read.
Example: For high contrast, consider using white or light grey text on a black background.
Image Alternatives: Beyond the Visual
- Alt Text is Your Friend: Always provide descriptive alt text for images. This helps the screen reader understand the image’s content.
- Don’t Overdo It: Keep the alt text short and informative, and don’t just repeat the image file name.
- Don’t Forget Video Captions: Provide transcripts or captions for all video content to allow deaf or hard-of-hearing people to understand audio information.
Example: Instead of simply writing “Image of a cat” for the alt text, use more descriptive words: “A fluffy orange cat sitting on a windowsill, looking out at a sunny garden.”
Navigation and Structure: Making the Web Easier to Explore
- Logical Page Structure: Use headings, lists, and other HTML elements to create a clear page structure to help screen reader users navigate your content more easily.
- Focusable Elements: Ensure that all interactive elements, such as buttons, links, and form fields, are easily navigable using keyboard shortcuts.
- Consistent Navigation: Use a clear and straightforward horizontal navigation menu that is easy to find and understand.
Example: Instead of using a complex dropdown menu, consider a simple horizontal navigation menu with clear labels for each page.
Forms and Interactivity: Making it Easy to Interact
- Clear Form Labels: Provide clear and concise labels for all form fields so users understand the requested information.
- Error Messages: Provide helpful messages when the user enters incorrect data into a form field.
- Keyboard-Friendly Forms: Ensure users can navigate forms and select options using keyboard gestures.
Example: Instead of just saying, “Enter your email address,” consider providing a label like “Email Address (Required)” to make it clear what is needed.
Responsive Design: Accessible on Every Screen
- Fluid Layout: Design your website with a responsive layout that adjusts to various screen sizes and orientations. This is crucial for users with visual or mobility impairments who may be using devices with limited screen space.
- Touch-Friendly Interactions: Make sure all buttons and links are large enough to be easily touched on touchscreens.
Example: Instead of using a fixed-width layout that forces users to scroll horizontally on smaller screens, consider using a responsive design that automatically adjusts to different screen sizes.
Bonus Tip: Think about user experience! Test your own user experience by imagining yourself using your website with a disability. Do you understand how to navigate? What is challenging to use? By putting yourself in the shoes of users with different needs, you will gain valuable knowledge on making your design more accessible.
In Conclusion
Yes, I must admit that I also need to pay more attention to Accessibility. This means creating websites that are enjoyable for everyone to use. It’s not about adding some extra features; it’s about creating a better user experience for everyone. So, dear fellow web designers, let’s make a website for every need!
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