Web accessibility is the practice of making websites usable and accessible for people with disabilities, such as visual impairments, hearing loss, mobility issues, cognitive impairments, and seizures. Web accessibility is not only a moral duty and a legal requirement, but also a business opportunity and a competitive advantage. According to the World Bank, 15% of the global population lives with some form of disability, and they deserve equal access to online content and services. However, many websites fail to meet the web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG), which are the internationally recognized standards for web accessibility. In this blog post, we will explore some of the most common accessibility issues on websites, how they affect users with disabilities, and how to solve them. By following the best practices for web accessibility, you can improve your website’s user experience, reach a wider audience, and avoid potential lawsuits and fines.
Some common accessibility issues are
- Low contrast on text: This makes it hard for people with low vision or color blindness to read the text on the website. The text should have enough contrast with the background color to be legible. A minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 is recommended for normal text and 3:1 for large text
- Missing alt text on images: This prevents screen reader users from understanding the content or function of the images on the website. The images should have descriptive alternative text that conveys the same information as the image. If the image is purely decorative, it should have an empty alt attribute (alt=“”) to be ignored by screen readers
- Missing link text: This makes it difficult for screen reader users to navigate the website using links. The links should have meaningful text that describes the destination or purpose of the link. For example, instead of “click here”, use “read more about accessibility” as the link text
- Ambiguous link text: This confuses screen reader users who rely on the link text to decide whether to follow the link or not. The link text should be clear and consistent throughout the website. For example, avoid using different link texts for the same destination, such as “contact us”, “get in touch”, and “send a message” for the same contact page
- Too many navigation links: This overwhelms screen reader users who have to listen to a long list of links before reaching the main content of the website. The navigation links should be concise and relevant to the current page. It is also helpful to provide a skip link that allows screen reader users to bypass the navigation and go directly to the main content
- Empty form labels: This prevents screen reader users from filling out forms on the website. The form fields should have descriptive labels that indicate what information is required or expected. The labels should be associated with the form fields using the for and id attributes
- Unclear form controls: This frustrates screen reader users who do not know how to interact with the form controls on the website. The form controls should have clear instructions and feedback that guide the user through the form submission process. For example, use proper HTML elements for buttons, checkboxes, radio buttons, and dropdown menus, and provide error messages and confirmation messages when appropriate.
Web accessibility is not only a technical challenge, but also a design and content challenge. It requires a holistic approach that considers the needs and preferences of diverse users.
We hope this blog post will inspire you to make your website more accessible and inclusive for everyone.
Learn more:
- Understanding Accessibility: A guide that explains why digital access is important and how it applies to different roles and content types.
- What is Accessibility?: An article that introduces the concept of accessibility and how it benefits both users and businesses.
- What is WCAG?: A summary of WCAG, which is a set of standards for web accessibility.
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