Digital accessibility: tips & best practices

Alt text ensures blind or visually impaired users can understand the purpose of images, enabling equal access to content.

When adding images to your content, describe their purpose rather than just their appearance (e.g. avoid vague descriptions like “Image123.jpg”). For example, instead of stating “A man in front of a building”, use a more descriptive approach like “A person using a wheelchair entering a building”.

For decorative images that do not add meaningful content, use null alt text (alt=””) to avoid cluttering the screen reader experience. Additionally, ensure content creators are trained on how to write effective alt text, helping to provide clear and accurate descriptions for users with visual impairments. Test your alt text by imagining the image isn’t visible – does your description convey its purpose?

Headings guide screen reader users and ensure content is accessible to everyone. Without clear headings, navigating long pages can become confusing or frustrating.

When structuring your content with HTML headings, use proper heading tags to organize and enhance readability. Start with H1 for the main title, followed by H2 for section headings, and H3 for subsections, ensuring that each heading reflects the content it introduces.

It’s important to avoid skipping heading levels, such as jumping from H1 directly to H3, as this can disrupt the logical flow and accessibility of the page. Proper use of heading tags also improves search engine optimization (SEO) and provides a clear structure for both users and assistive technologies.

Users with motor impairments or assistive devices often rely on keyboards to navigate. If elements are not accessible, they may be excluded from using your website or application.

Make sure that focusable elements, such as links and buttons, are operable using the Tab and Enter keys. Additionally, provide a visible focus indicator to clearly show which element is currently selected. It’s important to test the site across different browsers to confirm consistent keyboard navigability and a smooth experience for all users.

Test your website’s usability by tabbing through all interactive elements. Adjust your code to fix any missing or inconsistent focus states.

Captions enable users who are deaf or hard of hearing to access multimedia content. They also benefit users in noisy environments or those who prefer reading along.

Ensure that captions are synchronized with the audio, providing an accurate representation of the spoken words. Additionally, offer a toggle feature allowing users to switch captions on or off and allow users to start media playback manually, giving them control over content when needed. Provide accessible controls to pause, stop, or adjust the volume, ensuring that users can easily interact with the media player.

For content with multiple speakers, include speaker identification to help users distinguish between them. For live streams, use real-time captioning services to ensure accessibility for all audiences. If auto-play is necessary, mute the media by default and offer a clear opt-in option.

Improper use of ARIA roles can create confusion for screen readers, reducing usability instead of improving it.

Use ARIA roles only when native HTML elements cannot achieve the desired functionality, ensuring a simpler and more semantic structure. Avoid redundant or conflicting roles, as they can confuse assistive technologies and users.

Validate your ARIA implementation using accessibility testing tools and screen readers to ensure that the roles are correctly applied and provide the intended functionality for all users.

Semantic HTML enables assistive technologies to interpret and navigate web pages more effectively, improving accessibility for users with disabilities.

For improved structural clarity, use semantic HTML elements such as <header>, <nav>, <main>, and <footer> to define the main sections of your page. Avoid using <div> and <span> for content where more specific semantic elements like <button> or <form> would be more appropriate.

Regularly monitor your HTML structure with digital tools and conduct manual testing to ensure it adheres to semantic and structural standards.

Low contrast and color-based cues can make content difficult to read for users with visual impairments, including those with color blindness. This often leads to missed or frustrating information.

Your color choices must meet WCAG’s minimum contrast ratio requirements. Specifically, normal text should have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1, while large text should meet a 3:1 ratio. Additionally, combine color with text labels, patterns, or icons to convey important information. Use consistent and clear labels, such as “Required” or “Error”.

It’s essential to regularly review your site to ensure that information is not communicated through color alone, as this can be challenging for users with color vision deficiencies.

Clear distinctions between links and buttons ensure users can understand and interact with your site effectively. Misusing these elements can confuse screen reader and keyboard users. Furthermore, descriptive links improve clarity and usability.

Use the appropriate HTML elements for different actions. Employ the <button> element for actions such as submitting forms or triggering modals. For navigation purposes, such as linking to another page, use the <a> element. When writing link text, ensure it clearly conveys the purpose of the link, such as “View our accessibility guidelines” instead of generic phrases like “Click here.”

Test your interactive elements by navigating solely with a keyboard. Confirm that each element performs as expected and is properly labeled. If links open in new tabs, include a note in the link text (e.g., “Download the report [PDF, opens in a new tab]”).

PDFs that lack proper tagging and structure are unreadable by screen readers, excluding users with disabilities. Accessible PDFs enable equal access to important content.

When creating accessible PDFs, use tagging tools in software like Adobe Acrobat to properly structure the document, making it easier to navigate for screen reader users. Add alternative text for images within the document to ensure that visual content is described for those with visual impairments.

Validate your PDFs using screen readers and other accessibility tools to confirm that the content is fully accessible and functional for all users.

An accessible cookie consent dialog empowers users, particularly those with disabilities, to make informed choices about their data with ease and autonomy.

Ensure the dialogue is immediately focused for screen reader users upon appearance, so they are aware of its presence. Label all interactive buttons within the dialogue distinctly and clearly to facilitate easy interaction. Allow full keyboard navigability through all dialogue elements, providing users with full control.

Provide straightforward information on cookies, explaining their purpose and offering options for users to manage their preferences easily. It’s important to regularly review and test your cookie consent dialog’s accessibility to keep it user-friendly and compliant.

Properly announcing the roles, statuses, and requirements of form elements ensures users with disabilities can navigate and interact with your site effectively, reducing frustration and promoting inclusivity.

It is important to announce tab controls clearly, indicating both their status and position, such as “Personal address, tab selected, 1 of 2”. Checkboxes should be clearly labeled and their status announced, for example, “Add gift wrapping and a personal message, checkbox, not checked.” Required fields must be identified with clear instructions, like “FIRST NAME edit, required, blank”.

Error messages should be communicated in a way that is easily perceivable by screen readers, using alert roles to ensure they capture attention, such as “alert City: Please enter a city”. Consider implementing additional visual and auditory cues for users with varying disabilities to ensure that form navigation and error correction are as intuitive as possible.

A fully accessible search feature allows all users, including those with disabilities, to effectively find products or information, enhancing their autonomy and satisfaction.

Announce the opening of the search pop-up clearly, such as “Search window opened, type to search for products.” Automatically focus the search edit field when the pop-up is activated. Clearly announce the search field when focused, including any placeholder text, to guide users. Provide real-time verbal feedback as users type in the search field, improving the user experience.

If search suggestions are generated, announce the number of suggestions and read each suggestion as it is highlighted. Allow users to navigate through suggestions using tab or arrow keys, with clear announcements for each. Clearly announce when no suggestions are found, avoiding confusion. Announce the closure of the search pop-up and ensure the focus returns to a logical element on the page. Enable closing the search pop-up with the Escape key, returning focus to the previous element for accessibility and ease of use.

Users accessing your content on mobile devices or with screen magnifiers need layouts that reflow without breaking usability. Fixed layouts can cause frustration and hinder access.

Use relative units like percentages for widths instead of fixed pixel values, ensuring flexibility across different screen sizes. Test your design on various screen resolutions and orientations to confirm it adapts well.

Use CSS media queries to adjust content display for different devices, ensuring all users have a seamless experience. Additionally, implement media queries to adjust content presentation for different devices, optimizing the user experience regardless of the device or screen size.

An accessible homepage link is a cornerstone of user-friendly navigation, particularly for those using assistive technologies.

Label the homepage link clearly, using text like “Home” or “Return to Homepage,” so users can easily identify it. Position the link in a consistent and expected location, such as the site logo or main menu, to make navigation intuitive. Ensure the link is keyboard-navigable and has a clear focus indicator for screen reader users.

Avoid redundant links with the same label unless they lead to distinct destinations, maintaining clarity and usability. Regularly test the homepage link with various input methods to confirm its accessibility and functionality.

Accessible slideshows provide a seamless experience, allowing users with assistive technologies to engage with the content just as any other user would.

Provide a clear and descriptive label for the slideshow, helping users understand its purpose. Make transition announcements for automatic slide changes accessible to screen readers, ensuring users are informed about updates. Include keyboard-navigable controls to pause and resume the slideshow, allowing users to control the pace.

Automatic transitions should not disrupt navigation or screen reader use and maintain focus stability on slides for users navigating via keyboard. Navigation controls like arrows and indicators must be accessible and appropriately labeled for smooth interaction.

Accessible cart functions allow users with disabilities to smoothly manage their shopping experience. It is essential for users to independently handle their purchases from selection to checkout.

The “Add to Cart” button should be clearly labeled and operable via keyboard. When an item is added, a screen reader should announce a confirmation message, such as “Item added to cart.” The focus should logically transition after actions, moving directly to areas like the cart page or confirmation notifications. If there are issues adding items, errors should be announced clearly, with focus shifting to help users correct them easily.

Accessible navigation to the cart or checkout areas should include well-labeled links or buttons. Quantity selector components must be clearly announced by screen readers, and users should be able to adjust quantities using the keyboard, with clear alerts for maximum items. In confirmation pop-ups, options like “Move to Wishlist,” “Yes, remove,” and “Cancel” should be clearly announced for easy interaction.

Users navigating with a keyboard or touch devices cannot interact with hover-triggered content. Critical information locked behind these actions becomes inaccessible.

Trigger hover content using both hover and focus states, allowing users to interact with the content via keyboard navigation as well. Ensure that the content remains visible long enough for users to read it, providing adequate time for interaction.

Avoid hover-only navigation menus. Provide an alternative for keyboard or touch users to expand these sections. Additionally, design alternatives for any content currently restricted to hover actions, ensuring that all users can access and engage with the content, regardless of input method.

Keyboard users and screen reader users benefit from bypassing navigation menus or repetitive elements to reach main content quickly.

Place skip links at the top of the page, allowing users to easily bypass repetitive content. Ensure these skip links are visible when focused, making them accessible for keyboard and screen reader users.

Test the functionality of skip links to ensure they correctly jump to the main content or specified section.

Understanding screen readers equips designers and developers to create more accessible experiences.

Practice using popular screen readers like NVDA, JAWS, or VoiceOver to familiarize yourself with how content is read aloud. Navigate sites to experience typical user workflows, paying attention to how accessible the site is for screen reader users.

Learn and utilize keyboard shortcuts for efficient testing, ensuring that you can quickly identify potential accessibility issues during your evaluation.

DevTools helps developers identify and fix accessibility issues, ensuring a better user experience.

Use the “Accessibility” pane in your browser’s developer tools to inspect ARIA roles and properties, ensuring they are correctly applied. Check the DOM tree for missing or improperly structured elements that could hinder accessibility.

Simulate screen reader output to validate the usability of your site, confirming that all content is properly conveyed to users with visual impairments.

Websites evolve, and updates can unintentionally introduce accessibility issues. Continuous testing ensures ongoing compliance and usability for all users.

Use a monitoring tool for preliminary accessibility checks to quickly identify potential issues. Follow up with manual testing using screen readers and assistive devices to ensure comprehensive evaluation.

Engange users with disabilities to participate in usability testing and provide authentic feedback on your site’s accessibility. Document and prioritize the issues discovered, focusing on timely remediation to ensure ongoing accessibility and usability for all users.