As the internet continues to play an increasingly central role in our daily lives, websites must be accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities. According to the World Health Organization, around 15% of the world’s population lives with some form of disability, and ensuring that websites are accessible to these individuals is not only a legal requirement in many countries but also the right thing to do. In this article, we will discuss what it means for a website to be accessible and how to go about creating an accessible website. Check this to find an expert for professional web design and development.
What is an accessible website?
An accessible website can be used by people with disabilities, including those with visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairments. The website should be able to be navigated and understood by people using assistive technologies such as screen readers, magnifiers, and speech recognition software.
How to create an accessible website:
So, how do you go about creating an accessible website? Here are some tips:
Use alt text for images:
Alt text (alternative text) is a written description of an image that is displayed when the image cannot be displayed. Alt text is important for people using screen readers, as it allows them to understand the image’s content.
Use headings and lists:
Headings and lists help to break up text and make it easier to read. They also make it easier for screen reader users to navigate the page.
Use color and contrast carefully:
Ensuring sufficient color contrast between text and the background is important for people with visual impairments. A good rule of thumb is to use a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for regular text and 3:1 for large text.
Use descriptive link text:
Links should be descriptive and convey the content of the link. For example, “click here” is not descriptive and does not give the user any information about where the link will take them. Instead, use descriptive link text such as “Learn more about website accessibility.”
Test your website:
It is important to test your website to ensure that it is accessible to people with disabilities. You can use several tools to test your website, including the Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool and the Accessibility Insights for Web.