An accessible design for a website means that the website is designed and developed in a way that makes it usable and understandable for people with disabilities. This includes people with visual, auditory, physical, cognitive, and neurological disabilities.
Some key features of an accessible design for a website include:
Alternative text for images
Providing alternative text for images allows people with visual impairments to understand what the image is showing.
Keyboard accessibility
Ensuring that all content can be accessed and navigated using only a keyboard is essential for people with mobility impairments.
Color contrast
Ensuring the color contrast between text and background is sufficient is important for people with visual impairments.
Video and audio transcripts
Providing transcripts for videos and audio content allows people with hearing impairments to understand the content.
Easy-to-read fonts
Using easy-to-read fonts and font sizes is important for people with cognitive impairments.
Clear navigation
Providing clear and consistent navigation throughout the website makes it easier for all users to find the content they need.
By designing websites with accessibility in mind, developers can ensure that the website is usable for the widest possible audience, including people with disabilities.
Ensuring accessible designs
If you’re not sure if your website meets accessible design standards, here are a few tips you can take (on top of the key features we already discussed):
- Follow accessibility guidelines. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) provide a set of guidelines and best practices for web accessibility. Following these guidelines can help you ensure that your website is accessible to people with disabilities.
- Use accessible design principles. When designing your website, use accessible design principles such as clear and consistent navigation, easy-to-read fonts, and sufficient color contrast.
- Provide alternative text for images. Providing alternative text for images allows people with visual impairments to understand what the image is showing.
- Use descriptive link text. Use descriptive link text that clearly indicates where the link will take the user. This is important for people using screen readers who may not be able to see the context of the link.
- Test your website for accessibility. Use automated accessibility testing tools and conduct manual testing to identify potential accessibility issues on your website.
- Use a web accessibility vendor. This is the easiest option if you’re not the DIY type of person; or if you just don’t want to use your valuable time and energy on web accessibility. Outsourcing some of your tasks is what we all do, especially when some of these tasks require expertise outside of your own field. A vendor like EqualWeb can provide encompassing solutions for an accessible design website.
How will EqualWeb make the design of my website accessible?
EqualWeb offers a range of web accessibility solutions designed to make websites accessible to people with disabilities. Their solutions include features such as keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, color contrast adjustments, video and audio transcripts, Alt Text for images and other elements, and more.
EqualWeb’s accessibility solutions are designed to be easy to implement, with no coding or technical knowledge required. They provide a plugin that can be installed on your website, which scans your website for accessibility issues and provides automated solutions to fix them.
Its technology is compatible with large or small websites and supports all cross-platforms.
In addition to their technology solutions, EqualWeb also offers accessibility consulting services and training to help you and your team understand the importance of web accessibility and how to maintain an accessible website.
By working with a web accessibility vendor like EqualWeb, you can ensure that your website is accessible to the widest possible audience, including people with disabilities, while some of their solutions include year-round maintenance of accessibility. By joining EqualWeb’s growing clientele you not only help promote digital inclusion and ensure that everyone has equal access to the online world, but you also ensure the compliance of your organization, staving off costly lawsuits or the loss of potential customers with disabilities.
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