Design web experiences that are accessible to everyone: understand the principles of accessible design.

As a website content author specialising in search engine optimisation, keywords to optimise page conversion and post category tag manager, it is important to understand the principles of accessible design.

This guide will provide you with the necessary information to create websites that are accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities.

Getting Started

Web accessibility standards ensure that people with disabilities are able to access and use websites.

These standards are important because they help to create an inclusive online environment.

This guide is for anyone who creates or manages website content, including developers, designers, and content authors.

How To

1. Use descriptive alt text for images and other non-text content.
2. Provide captions and transcripts for videos and audio content.
3. Use proper heading structure to create a logical hierarchy of content.
4. Ensure that all forms and interactive elements can be accessed and used with a keyboard.
5. Provide sufficient color contrast for text and other visual elements.
6. Use clear and simple language to make content easy to understand.
7. Ensure that content is easy to navigate and understand, even for users with cognitive disabilities.
8. Test your website with assistive technologies, such as screen readers and keyboard-only navigation.

Best Practices

• Use semantic HTML to create a clear and logical structure for your content.
• Provide alternative ways to access content, such as transcripts or text-only versions.
• Ensure that your website is compatible with a wide range of assistive technologies.
• Regularly test your website for accessibility issues and make necessary updates.

Examples

Let’s say you are creating a website for a local restaurant.

To make the website accessible, you would:

Role-Play Conversation

You: Hi, I’m working on the website for your restaurant and I want to make sure it’s accessible to everyone.

Can you tell me a little bit about your menu?

Restaurant Owner: Sure, we have a lot of different dishes, from burgers and sandwiches to pasta and seafood.

You: Great.

I’ll make sure to include alt text for all of the images of your dishes so that people with visual impairments can still understand what they look like.

I’ll also make sure to provide a text-only version of your menu for people who can’t view the PDF version.

Restaurant Owner: That sounds good.

What about the videos we have on the website?

You: I’ll make sure to include captions and transcripts for all of the videos so that people who are deaf or hard of hearing can still understand what’s being said.

I’ll also make sure that the videos can be paused and played with just a keyboard.

Restaurant Owner: Sounds good.

Thanks for making sure our website is accessible to everyone!

By following these principles and best practices, you can ensure that your website is accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities.