A lot of people think accessibility in web design is just a matter of including alt tags for images, but it really goes much deeper than that. It’s not enough to make your website work for all users if only the most able-bodied users are able to use it easily. People with disabilities are just like any other person, they want to enjoy the same accessibility that you do. Whether it is visual impairment or another type of disability, accessibility in web design is key for them to be able to use your website and get the information that they need. One way accessibility can be improved on a website is by using the flash programming language.
In this blog post, we’ll explore accessibility theory and how you can adapt your website so that everyone has an equal opportunity to access information on your site!
Introduction to Web Accessibility
In simple terms, web accessibility means that websites, technologies, and tools are designed and developed in a way that people with disabilities can easily use them. More specifically, web accessibility in web design allows people to:
● Perceive, navigate, understand, and interact with the web
● Contribute to the web
As a developer or a web design company, you need to understand that web accessibility encompasses all the disabilities that compromise access to the web. This includes:
● Visual
● Speech
● Physical
● Neurological
● Cognitive
● Auditory
Designing for Web Accessibility
In this section, we will look into some basic considerations to help you get started with making your website more accessible for everyone. These tips are a good starting point for adapting your website for people with disabilities.
#1 Don’t use color alone to convey information
Using color alone to convey information only works for people with normal vision. Use other visual elements, such as symbols or text, instead of colors to make your message accessible and understandable for everyone. For example, you can use an asterisk for indicating required form fields. Moreover, ensure that the color contrast is good enough between text and background for people with low vision. That is, you can use color only to convey the meaning. For example, the required fields are in RED.
#2 Provide sufficient contrast between foreground and background
People with low vision may not be able to read text on a background that has little contrast. For example, if the foreground is black and the background is white, then accessibility will depend on what type of condition they have – people with light sensitivity would not be able to see it at all! To make your website more accessible for these people, you will want to use colors that have sufficient contrast. Fonts also play a vital role when it comes to visibility. Choose a font that is easy to read and large enough for people with low vision.
#3 Provide easily identifiable feedback for form entries
A common accessibility/design issue is the lack of feedback for interactions. For example, if you’re filling out a contact us page and you enter your email address and submit without entering the phone number, the form will not be submitted. For normal people, they will quickly identify that they have to fill in the phone number section as well. However, for people with disabilities, things can be challenging. Therefore, providing feedback for interactions, such as alerting the user when something goes wrong, confirming form submission, or notifying the user of any changes to the page, etc., will make it easy for them to navigate. For example, if a user types a wrong email address, the web page should come with an alert, such as “This Email Address is Invalid.”
#4 Use headings and spacing to group related content
When you have a lot of content on your website, it can be difficult to find what the user is looking for. One way accessibility can be improved on a website is by using headings and spacing to group-related content. Headings are very important for accessibility because they provide an organizational structure to the content. Let’s say you have a web page that has the following headings:
● Why Website Accessibility is Important
● Tips on Designing Site Content with Web accessibility in Mind
● What do Blind People Read?
Each of these three headings is about accessibility. As a result, it becomes easier for the user to find what they need and navigate your site more effectively.
Conclusion
The accessibility of your website is not just a matter of goodwill. It’s about the law and making sure that everyone, including people with disabilities, can access your information easily. When designing for accessibility in web design, you have to remember that accessibility encompasses all types of disability so it will be important to use all the appropriate strategies when conveying meaning to your users. After all, it is all in the design. If your web design is not accessibility-friendly, it will be hard for users to find what they’re looking for.