Web accessibility refers to the design and development of websites, tools, and technologies that people with disabilities can use effectively. This is done by making sure that website content and functionality are seamlessly accessible to all users, regardless of their physical, sensory, or cognitive abilities.
Assistive technologies are devices or software applications that are used to help people with disabilities access digital content, including websites. Some examples of assistive technologies for web accessibility are screen readers for users with visual impairments, magnifiers for users with low vision, and keyboard navigation for users with mobility impairments. Other examples include speech recognition software for users with limited dexterity, and captions and transcripts for users who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Making sure that websites are compatible and work together with these technologies is essential for ensuring web accessibility for all users.
Top tips to ensure basic web accessibility
There are several ways to ensure that your website is more accessible to users with disabilities and is compatible with assistive technologies. Here are some tips:
- Use a clear and easy-to-read font type and size.
- Make sure that all images have alt text descriptions that accurately describe what the image represents.
- Avoid the use of color alone to convey information, as colorblind users may not be able to distinguish between them. Instead, use other visual cues, such as shapes or icons.
- Use headings (eg H1, H2 etc) to structure your content properly and make it easier to skim through (particular for screen-readers).
- Ensure that your website can be navigated using only a keyboard, as some users with disabilities may not be able to use a mouse.
See some more excellent tips and how to implement them, provided by the Berkeley Web Access team.
WCAG
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines - from the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) – detail extensive criteria for accessibility conformance. The guidelines explain both user-centric issues around text, sound and image, as well as technical aspects of mark-up to provide the necessary support for assistive technologies. They also set compliance objectives with 3 levels, from A (bare minimum) to AAA (top-level), along with validation tools to provide automatic evaluation.
Testing tools
There are several testing tools that you can use to check the accessibility of your website according to WCAG criteria.
One of the easier tools to use (for developers and non-developers alike) is the WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool. This is a free tool that checks your website for accessibility issues and provides visual feedback about errors and warnings.
Remember, accessibility is not just about following a set of rules, but it's a way of thinking about how to design a website that is inclusive for everyone.