The following article is about making your website more accessible for everyone. It will cover the basics of accessibility, what it means, and why it’s so important. It will also go over some steps you can take to make your site more accessible on various platforms, like using accessiBe and other tools.
This is a great resource for anyone working with websites who wants to create an inclusive environment where all users can access their content in the same way.
1. Make sure your website’s text is easy to read.
This begins with color choice. When using color to communicate information on your site, make sure it’s clear and visible enough for everyone. Not everyone sees colors the same way you do—some users may be partially or completely blind. In contrast, others might have difficulty distinguishing between certain colors because of a medical condition like color blindness. Additionally, not every device will display colors the same. To accommodate this, you should use combinations of contrasting colors and ensure the text is at least a certain size so it can be read by users who have trouble making out fine details.
2. Use clear and concise language.
People have different learning styles, and some people might struggle with understanding your site if the language you use is too complicated. This means that it’s especially important to choose clear and concise language when communicating ideas or instructions on a website. The words you use should be easy for everyone to understand, so think about communicating tasks as specifically as possible. You should also keep in mind users who might be proficient with English but for whom your language is not their first or even second language.
3. Use appropriate headings and subheadings to structure content.
When creating website content, you should use relevant headings and subheadings that allow readers to easily scan the page and understand where to find the content they’re looking for. This helps all users, but it’s especially important for people with learning disabilities, who might have difficulty scanning pages and understanding how information is organized.
4. Provide alternate ways to access the content.
In addition to supporting common browsing devices, you should also provide alternative ways for users to access your content. For example, if a viewer can’t see your site because they’re using a screen reader or other assistive technology tool, consider creating an audio version of your content for them to listen to instead. This is commonly called “read-aloud” functionality.
You can also make your site more accessible by working without JavaScript, which is an important feature for users with disabilities. It also makes it easier to use on devices that don’t have JavaScript capabilities or where JavaScript is disabled.
Conclusion
Making your website more accessible is a crucial step in ensuring that all users can access the content on your site. The five tips we’ve provided can be used as a starting point, but there’s always room for improvement, and you should always consider how people with disabilities might interact with your site.
