Building Accessible Websites

Web accessibility ensures that websites are usable by everyone, including people with disabilities. Here's how to make your sites more accessible.

Why Accessibility Matters

• Inclusion - 1 in 4 adults have some form of disability
• Legal requirements - Many countries have accessibility laws
• Better UX - Accessible sites are often easier for everyone
• SEO benefits - Accessible markup helps search engines

Key Principles (WCAG)

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines outline four principles:

Perceivable

Users must be able to perceive the content:

• Provide text alternatives for images
• Ensure sufficient color contrast
• Don't rely solely on color to convey information

Operable

Users must be able to operate the interface:

• Make all functionality keyboard accessible
• Provide skip links for navigation
• Give users enough time to read content

Understandable

Content must be understandable:

• Use clear, simple language
• Make navigation consistent
• Help users avoid and correct mistakes

Robust

Content must work with various technologies:

• Use valid HTML
• Ensure compatibility with assistive technologies
• Test with screen readers

Practical Tips

Color Contrast

Ensure text has a contrast ratio of at least:

• 4.5:1 for normal text
• 3:1 for large text

Focus Indicators

Never remove focus outlines without providing an alternative:

/* Bad */
:focus { outline: none; }

/* Good */
:focus-visible {
  outline: 2px solid var(--color-primary);
  outline-offset: 2px;
}

Semantic HTML

Use the right elements for the job:

<!-- Bad -->
<div class="button" onclick="submit()">Submit</div>

<!-- Good -->
<button type="submit">Submit</button>

ARIA When Needed

Use ARIA attributes to enhance accessibility, but only when native HTML isn't sufficient:

<button aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="menu">
  Menu
</button>

Testing Tools

• WAVE - Browser extension for accessibility evaluation
• axe DevTools - Automated accessibility testing
• Screen readers - VoiceOver (Mac), NVDA (Windows)
• Keyboard - Navigate your site without a mouse

Building accessible websites isn't just good practice—it's essential for creating an inclusive web.