5 Quick Tips for Excellent Web Accessibility

Post Last Updated: December 23, 2023
An image showcasing a person with visual impairment successfully navigating a website using screen reader software, accompanied by five icons representing key accessibility tips, such as alt text, keyboard navigation, and color contrast

Are you looking to improve the accessibility of your website? Look no further! Here are 5 quick tips that will help you achieve excellent web accessibility.

First, use descriptive and concise alt text for images, so that individuals who cannot see them can still access the content.

Second, make proper use of headings and subheadings to create an outline of your page, making it easier to navigate for non-visual users and search engines.

Third, ensure that your PDFs are accessible by using tagged PDFs with headings and alt text, or consider using HTML instead.

Fourth, implement ARIA landmarks to make your interactive web applications accessible and allow users to jump directly to specific sections of your page.

And finally, use labels for form fields to assist screen reader users in understanding and interacting with the form.

By following these tips, you’ll greatly improve the accessibility of your website!

Key Takeaways

  • Use descriptive and concise alt text for images.
  • Make proper use of headings and subheadings to enhance navigation.
  • Make PDFs accessible by using tagged PDFs with headings and alt text.
  • Implement ARIA landmarks for interactive web applications.

Mind the Colors

 

 

One important tip to improve web accessibility is to carefully consider color choices for users with disabilities. Color blindness and other visual impairments can make it difficult for users to distinguish between different elements on a webpage. To ensure accessibility, it’s crucial to maintain proper contrast of colors. This can be achieved by using tools like the ‘I want to see like the color blind’ Chrome extension to check color contrast.

In addition, it’s important to design forms with proper labeling, making them more accessible to screen reader users. Avoid using tables for page layout purposes, as they can cause confusion for users navigating with the tab and arrow keys.

Contextual Links

When considering web accessibility, it’s important to pay attention to contextual links, which play a crucial role in providing orientation and information for all users, including those with disabilities.

Contextual links are links within the content of a webpage that are relevant to the surrounding text. They help users navigate through a website by providing additional information or related resources.

For screen reader users, descriptive link text is essential to understand the purpose of the link. Instead of using generic phrases like ‘click here,’ it’s recommended to use meaningful and descriptive text that accurately describes the destination of the link. This not only improves accessibility but also enhances user experience and search engine optimization.

Following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), using alt text for images and incorporating ARIA attributes in your content management system can further enhance the accessibility of contextual links.

Alternative Content

Looking to improve web accessibility? How can you ensure that all users can access and consume your content?

One important aspect of web accessibility is providing alternative content. This includes using descriptive alt text for images and videos, as well as providing written transcriptions for audio content. By doing so, you can make your content more inclusive and accessible to users with disabilities, allowing them to understand and engage with your website.

Alternative content is particularly important for users who rely on screen readers, as it enables them to understand the visual elements of your site. It also improves the overall user experience for those who navigate using a keyboard.

Tabindex Navigation

To improve web accessibility, ensure that your website’s tabindex navigation is properly implemented. Tabindex determines the order in which keyboard users can navigate through your website’s content. This feature is particularly important for people with visual impairments who rely on screen readers to navigate the web.

By using tabindex correctly, you can enhance the navigation experience for these users and improve their overall user experience. To ensure proper implementation, refer to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provided by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

These guidelines provide detailed instructions on how to use tabindex effectively. By following these guidelines, you can make sure that your website is accessible and user-friendly for all individuals, regardless of their abilities.

Alt Text

Include descriptive alt text for images on your website.

Alt text, short for alternative text, is a text description that you can add to images on your website. It’s essential for web accessibility, as it provides information about the image to people with disabilities who use screen readers or other assistive technologies.

When creating alt text, make sure it’s concise and descriptive, conveying the purpose or content of the image. Avoid using generic or vague phrases like ‘image’ or ‘picture’. Instead, use specific details that accurately describe the image.

Alt text can be added using HTML’s alt attribute or through tools in platforms like WordPress.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the 4 Principles of Web Accessibility?

The four principles of web accessibility are: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. These principles ensure that all users, including those with disabilities, can access and navigate websites effectively.

How Can I Improve My Web Accessibility?

To improve your web accessibility, focus on design elements, color contrast, keyboard navigation, alternative text, headings structure, ARIA roles, captions and transcripts, focus indicators, error identification, and testing with user feedback.

How Can I Make My Website Easily Accessible?

To make your website easily accessible, focus on inclusive design. Address common barriers like color contrast and keyboard navigation. Use descriptive alt text for images, proper heading structure, and accessible forms. Test with screen readers and incorporate ARIA roles and attributes.

How Do I Improve the Accessibility Score on My Website?

To improve your website’s accessibility score, use accessibility tools, conduct user testing, ensure color contrast, enable keyboard navigation, provide descriptive alt text, structure headings properly, use semantic markup, implement ARIA roles, include captions and transcripts, and optimize for mobile accessibility.

Share this post :
Picture of Dominic Schultz
Dominic Schultz

Dominic Schultz, an entrepreneur and computer geek, started a successful local service business in the Chicago suburbs before moving to Tulsa. He founded Digon Design to create aesthetically pleasing websites and redefine transparency in digital marketing. Passionate about innovation, Dominic aims to elevate Tulsa's digital landscape through his work at Digon Design.