Integrating Accessibility Features into Your Website: Practical Tips

Introduction

Website accessibility ensures that all users, including those with disabilities, can navigate and interact with your site effectively. This guide provides practical tips for integrating accessibility features. Some elements are considerations of the designer and developer, others are part of an ongoing content strategy and will fall to the content and copywriters to uphold.

Understand Web Accessibility Standards

WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)

Follow WCAG guidelines to ensure your website meets international accessibility standards.

The current release WCAG 2.2 has 13 guidelines, organised under 4 principles: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust:

• Perceivable - users must be able to perceive the information being presented (it can't be invisible to all of their senses).
• Operable - users must be able to operate the interface (the interface cannot require interaction that a user cannot perform).
• Understandable - users must be able to understand the information as well as the operation of the user interface (the content or operation cannot be beyond their understanding).
• Robust - Content must be robust enough that it can be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies.

For each guideline, there are testable success criteria. The success criteria are at three levels: A, AA, and AAA.

Implementing Practical Accessibility Features

Semantic HTML:

1. Use appropriate HTML tags (e.g., <header>, <nav>, <main>, <footer>) to define the structure and improve screen reader navigation.
2. Thinking about it similarly to changing gears in an manual car, the html heading hierarchy is sequential, <h1>, <h2>, <h3>, etc. Headings help users and search engines to understand your site content. Each heading is a signpost for the following content, allowing users to quickly scan the pertinent points to establish the purpose and relevance of the content to their needs. Read more on our Why headings are important blogpost.

Alt Text for Images:

Provide descriptive alt text for all images, ensuring that users with visual impairments can understand the content. A really useful set of guidelines on how to write alt text was created by RNIB as part of their Alt Text Campaign can help you to create a more accessible world for blind and partially sighted people.

Be descriptive

Describe the content and function of the image accurately and succinctly. Focus on conveying the most important information.

Keep it concise

Alt text should be brief, typically no longer than a sentence or two. Avoid including unnecessary details or extraneous information.

Use keywords

Incorporate relevant keywords that describe the subject matter of the image, but avoid keyword stuffing or over-optimisation.

Contextualise

Consider the context of the image within the surrounding content and provide relevant context in the alt text.

Avoid redundancy

If the same information is already conveyed elsewhere on the page, such as in a caption or adjacent text, avoid duplicating it in the alt text.

Use punctuation sparingly

Avoid using periods, commas, or other punctuation marks unless necessary for clarity.

Example of alt text for an image of a cat

• Bad alt text: "Cat"
• Good alt text: "A tabby cat sitting on a windowsill, looking out the window with its tail curled around its body."

By following our guidelines, you can ensure that your alt text provides meaningful information about images while enhancing accessibility and user experience.

Keyboard Navigation:

Ensure all functionalities are accessible via keyboard. Test your site using the Tab key to navigate.

ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications):

Use ARIA roles and attributes to enhance accessibility, especially for dynamic content and complex interactions.

Color Contrast:

Maintain a high contrast between text and background colours. Use tools like the WebAIM Contrast Checker to verify.

Text Resizing:

Allow users to resize text without breaking the layout. Use relative units (em or rem) instead of absolute units (px).

Forms Accessibility:

Label form elements clearly. Ensure form controls have associated <label> elements.

Audio and Video Content:

Provide captions and transcripts for all audio and video content. Use accessible media players.

Responsive Design:

Ensure your site is responsive, providing a good experience on all devices, including screen readers and magnifiers.

Testing and Validation:

Regularly test your site with web accessibility tools like WAVE. Conduct user testing with individuals who have disabilities.

Conclusion

Integrating accessibility features into your website is not only a legal and ethical responsibility but also enhances the user experience for all visitors. Implement these practical tips to make your site more inclusive and accessible.