Creating a website that works for everyone is more important than ever in today’s digital world, and – luckily for you, it’s easier than you might think. Accessible design goes beyond aesthetics, focusing on creating experiences that are inclusive for all users regardless of their abilities. Whether it’s tweaking your colour scheme or simplifying navigation, a few adjustments can go a long way.
In this article, we’ll go through the best practices when designing for accessibility and the benefits that go along with it.
What does designing for accessibility mean?
Designing for accessibility means building a website that is easy for everyone to use, regardless of their abilities. It’s about thinking ahead and adding features that will help people with different needs. This can be done by ensuring buttons are big enough for those with limited motor skills, or using a combination of colour, shape and text for those with low vision.
Essentially, it’s about creating something where everyone can comfortably navigate and understand your content. The goal is simple, make sure no one gets left out because of how your website is designed. Besides, you wouldn’t want to miss out on potential customers because they can’t access your web content!
How to design a website for accessibility
When designing a website for accessibility, a wide and diverse range of user needs need to be accounted for. Here are a few user needs, alongside their best web accessibility design practices, to help your website become more accessible.
Users with dyslexia
- Keep text short and simple – Make sure content is written in plain language and is broken down into small, digestible sections.
- Provide sufficient spacing – Make sure there’s enough space between lines of text and paragraphs to reduce visual clutter.
- Incorporate text to speech options – Offer a feature on your website that can read text out loud to the user.
- Use visual aids – Include images and infographics to support and enhance text.
Users with physical or motor disabilities
- Use descriptive labels – Clearly label all interactive elements such as buttons and forms, to help users understand their functions.
- Ensure easy click targets – Make buttons and links large enough and easy to click, and space them out to avoid accidental selections.
- Design with keyboard accessibility in mind – Ensure interactive elements including forms and menus can be navigated using just a keyboard.
- Ensure responsive accessible design – Make sure your website works well on different devices and screen sizes.
Users with low vision
- Use high contrast colours – Use high contrast text and background combinations to improve user readability.
- Avoid relying on colour alone – Use a combination of colour, text and shapes to convey information.
- Include alt text – Ensure all images have clear and descriptive alt text for those with visual needs as well as screen readers.
- Design for screen magnification – Follow a linear and logical layout to ensure that all content on the page stays intact when zoomed in.
Users who are hard of hearing or deaf
- Use visual indicators – This can be done through use of icons and animations to convert important information that might be delivered through sounds.
- Break up content – Use a linear layout and break up content with subheadings and images to increase readability.
- Offer transcripts – Provide written transcripts for audio content such as podcasts.
- Provide subtitles – Ensure all videos include accurate captions or subtitles.
Users on the autistic spectrum
- Create focused content – Avoid clutter and excessive information on a single page to help users focus on the content without any distractions.
- Build simple layouts – Maintain a consistent layout and design throughout the website to create a predictable user experience.
- Use clear and concise language – Write straightforward text to make content more readable and to avoid confusion.
- Minimise sensory overload – Avoid busy graphics and flashing animations that can be overwhelming for the user.
Users of screen readers
- Use semantic HTML – Ensure to structure content with appropriate HTML tags to provide a clear structure.
- Organise content logically – Make sure content is in a logical order to ensure that it reads well when navigated by the screen reader.
- Ensure keyboard accessibility – Screen readers often rely on keyboard navigation, so ensure that interactive elements can be accessed and operated via keyboard alone.
- Create accessible links – Use descriptive text for links that give context and clearly indicate their destination e.g. “Contact us” instead of just “Click here”.
The benefits of designing for accessibility
Designing for accessibility offers numerous benefits that extend beyond just accommodating users with disabilities.
Broader audience reach
As of 2021/22, 16 million people in the UK had a disability. This is 24% of the population! By not catering to them in your web design you are limiting your reach. Accessible design ensures that people with various disabilities – whether they’re visual or motor related – can navigate and enjoy your website. Designing for accessibility also means that your website isn’t just for a select group of people, it’s open to everyone.
Enhanced user experience
When focusing on web accessibility design, you’re also improving the overall user experience. Features that help people with disabilities, like clear navigation, can make your website more pleasant to use for everyone who visits. It’s about creating a smoother experience that benefits all users, not just those with specific needs.
Improved SEO
Accessible design also overlaps with SEO practices. Adding descriptive alt text to images and using semantic HTML can help search engines understand and index your content better. So whilst you’re making your website more accessible, you’re also boosting its visibility in search results, making it easier for people to find what they’re searching for.
Positive brand image and ethical responsibility
Embracing web accessibility design shows a commitment to inclusivity and social responsibility. By making your website accessible to everyone, you’re showing that you value and respect all users. This significantly boosts your brand’s reputation as users appreciate businesses that prioritise creating inclusive spaces, and this commitment helps you stand out.
Go accessible or go home
By making your website accessible for everyone, from those with disabilities to users on different devices, you’re setting yourself up for success. So, why settle for anything less? Go accessible or risk being left behind.
Need some guidance on making your site more user friendly? Get in contact with us today!
