Designing for Inclusivity: Tips and Best Practices for Creating Accessible Websites
Did you know that over 50 million people in the U.S. have some form of disability? That’s over 15% of the population, according to the ADA. And yet, despite this huge potential audience for websites and digital content, many businesses still don’t prioritize accessibility when creating their online presence.
Creating accessible websites should be a priority for any business with an online presence. Not only is it the right thing to do from a moral standpoint, but it also makes good financial sense: making your website more accessible can increase traffic. Accessible websites benefit everyone – not just those with disabilities – by improving usability and navigation for all users.
So how can you make sure your website is optimized for accessibility? This article will look at several tips and best practices to help you create an inclusive digital experience that appeals to all audiences. Cover photo by Marvin Meyer.
Optimize Color Contrast
Optimizing for color contrast is crucial to making your website accessible to everyone. It involves choosing colors with enough contrast between them to ensure that they can be easily distinguished, even by those with visual impairments.
When optimizing for color contrast, there are a few key things to remember. First, ensure that the foreground text color and the background color have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1. This ensures that text can be easily read, even by those with limited color vision. Additionally, pay attention to the colors you use for links, buttons, and other interactive elements – these should stand out from the rest of the content to make them easily identifiable.
But why is optimizing for color contrast so important? It’s a matter of inclusivity and accessibility. By optimizing for color contrast, you can make sure that everyone, including those with visual impairments, can access and enjoy your website.
According to Tory Gray, CEO & Founder of Gray Dot Company, “Making sure your website is correctly designed for color contrast not only benefits those with vision impairments, but it also has a huge impact on the overall user experience. When people feel included and can easily access content, they’re much more likely to stay and engage.”
Use Appropriate Text Size and Fonts
Let’s face it, we’ve all visited websites or social media platforms where the font is so small it’s practically microscopic, or the chosen font is so curly it’s impossible to decipher the words. Not only is this frustrating and annoying, but it can also make it incredibly difficult for individuals with visual impairments to read and navigate your website. That’s where appropriate text size and fonts come in.
Using appropriate text size and fonts not only enhances the overall aesthetic of your website but also plays a crucial role in making your site more accessible to a broader audience. Generally, you’ll want to use a font size of at least 12pt to ensure user readability. Choose a font that is clean and easy to read, such as Arial, Helvetica, or Verdana. Avoid overly fancy or decorative fonts as they can strain the eyes unnecessarily.
Richard Mace, CEO at Malvern House, says, “It’s so important to make sure your website is accessible to all users. By using appropriate text size and fonts you can ensure that everyone can enjoy the same great experience when visiting your site.”
Taking the time to consider appropriate text sizes and fonts can make a big difference in accessibility for those with visual impairments. For example, low-vision individuals may require larger fonts to read the text properly. Meanwhile, individuals with dyslexia may benefit from using fonts such as OpenDyslexic that offer unique design elements to help ease reading comprehension.
Add Alt Text to Images
One of the easiest ways to make your site more accessible is to incorporate alt text, also referred to as alternative text. Alt text is a brief textual description of the content of an image that can be read by screen readers, allowing visually impaired individuals to familiarize themselves with the information the image conveys.
There are a few fundamental key components to writing effective alt text. First and foremost, it must provide an accurate, concise, and relevant description of the image. For example, if the image is of a red apple, the alt text should state “a red apple.” Additionally, it is imperative that the alt text is not excessively lengthy, as overly complicated descriptions can be challenging for screen readers to decipher.
When crafting alt text, ensure that it is descriptive but not repetitive. For example, if a website includes multiple photographs of apples, do not simply write “a red apple” every time; instead, differentiate the images by their various characteristics, such as “a ripe red apple on a table” or “a basket of green apples on a wooden table.”
For example, according to Eric Mills, Owner of Lightning Card Collection, “alt text should be written in such a way that it accurately reflects the image, but it should also be written in a way that makes sense to someone who can’t see the image. Eliminate unnecessary words and use language that is easily understood.”
Pay Attention to Language and Tone of Voice
Have you ever visited a website and felt discriminated against because of its tone of voice or language? This is why the language and tone of voice used on a website are crucial, especially regarding website accessibility. It plays a significant role in making your website accessible and inclusive to everyone.
Let’s consider a website that caters to people with disabilities. If the language and tone of voice used on the website are inappropriate, it can have a negative impact. For example, say the website uses phrases like “wheelchair-bound” or “crippled.” These words violate the person’s dignity and show a lack of sensitivity toward their struggles. Instead, using terms like “wheelchair user” is more appropriate and person-first language.
Similarly, using complex vocabulary and syntax can also hinder website accessibility. It can make it difficult for people with learning disabilities, low literacy skills, or visual impairments to understand the content. Therefore, using clear and concise language that is easy to read and understand will make it more accessible. If doing this isn’t easy for you, learning a language like Latin can help you.
Conclusion
Overall, website accessibility is essential to consider when developing a website. Simple changes such as using appropriate language and tone of voice, incorporating alt text into images, and selecting proper fonts can make huge differences in the level of access someone has to your site.
By taking these steps, you can ensure that everyone who visits your website will have a positive experience regardless of their abilities or disabilities. You can create an inclusive web space for all visitors with just a few minor adjustments.
