In this article we take a look at Making The Web Accessible: Ten Tips For An Inclusive User Experience.
In today’s digital world, a well-designed website is not just about aesthetic appeal or clever features. It’s about making sure everyone, regardless of their physical abilities, can access, navigate, and interact with your content easily. Accessible web design is not just a bonus – it’s a necessity.
Here, we explore practical ways you can make your website more user-friendly and inclusive, helping you reach a wider audience and potentially improve your SEO in the process.
Table of Contents
1. Use Clear and Consistent Navigation
The structure of your site should be easy to follow. Users should be able to find what they need with minimal effort. Consistent navigation, including clear menus, breadcrumb trails, and logical page hierarchies, helps users who rely on screen readers or keyboard navigation.
Tip: Use descriptive labels for menu items and buttons instead of vague terms like “Click here.”
2. Ensure Keyboard Accessibility
Many users rely on keyboard navigation instead of a mouse. Ensuring that all interactive elements (like forms, buttons, and menus) can be accessed and used via the keyboard is essential.
Checklist:
- Can users tab through your site?
- Are all links, forms, and popups accessible without a mouse?
3. Add Alternative Text to Images
Alt text allows screen readers to describe what an image is conveying, providing context to visually impaired users. Make sure all meaningful images have appropriate alt text.
Avoid: Writing “image” or “photo” in the alt text. Be descriptive: “Elderly woman smiling in a garden of a care home” is better than “woman.”
4. Use High Contrast Colours and Readable Fonts
Visual impairments vary widely, so your website needs to be legible under various conditions. Text should stand out against the background. Avoid colour combinations that blend together (like light grey on white) and use font sizes that scale well on different devices.
Tools like WebAIM’s contrast checker can help ensure your colour scheme meets WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standards.
5. Provide Captions and Transcripts for Media
Videos should have captions for deaf or hard-of-hearing users. Audio content, like podcasts, should be accompanied by transcripts. This not only improves accessibility but also contributes to better search engine indexing.
Bonus: Captions help all users in sound-off environments (like those travelling on public transport).
6. Create Descriptive Link Text
Rather than saying “Click here” or “Read more,” make your anchor text meaningful.
Descriptive links help users with screen readers understand the context of the link without having to read the surrounding text.
7. Optimise for Screen Readers
Proper use of HTML semantics (like headings, lists, and landmarks) makes it easier for screen readers to interpret the structure of your site.
Use headings in a logical order (“H1” for main titles, “H2” for sub-sections, and so on) and make sure forms have associated labels.
Unexpected sounds or videos can confuse and distract users. Allow users to control playback and always offer pause and stop options.
8. Avoid Auto-Playing Content
Auto-play can also interfere with assistive technologies and cause stress or sensory overload for users with neurological conditions.
9. Build Responsively for All Devices
An accessible site is also a mobile-friendly site. Your layout should adjust to different screen sizes without losing content or functionality.
Many organisations choose to build their accessible platforms using flexible content management systems like WordPress website, which offer a wide range of plugins designed with accessibility in mind.
10. Test Your Website Regularly
Use both automated and manual testing to identify accessibility issues. Tools like Axe, WAVE, or Lighthouse can provide automated insights, but real user testing is also invaluable.
Testing your site with a screen reader or by navigating with just a keyboard can reveal challenges that might not show up in automated tools.
The Business Case for Accessibility
Designing with accessibility in mind is not just the right thing to do ethically – it’s also good for business. An inclusive website reaches a larger audience, performs better on search engines, and often provides a better overall user experience.
If you’re looking for professional support, consider working with Splitpixel – a web design agency near Leeds.
Agencies with experience in accessibility-focused projects, particularly in certain sectors can be vital. As an example, a care home website design agency can help ensure that residents, families, and staff all have a smooth and accessible online experience.
Building an accessible website is not a one-time task; it’s an ongoing commitment to inclusivity. From alt text and captioning to thoughtful navigation and semantic HTML, every design decision counts. By prioritising accessibility, you’re not just complying with standards – you’re empowering users and creating a more equitable web.
Whether you’re designing a new site or improving an existing one, accessibility should be a core focus from the start. The more inclusive your design, the better the experience for everyone.
Need help designing an accessible and user-friendly platform? Talk to a specialist team that understands both form and function.
Join The Logo Community
We hope this article has been helpful. If you would like more personal tips, advice, insights, and access to our community threads and other goodies, join us in our community.
You can comment directly on posts, access our community threads, have a discussion and ask questions with our founder Andrew.
Tired of clients questioning your logo design prices? Our new eBook gives you the exact scripts, objection handlers, and confidence to communicate your value. No more awkward pricing conversations—just more high-paying projects.
Get it Now!
