How to Make a Website Accessible

Generally speaking, when people talk about digital accessibility, it’s usually in reference to technical accessibility; i.e., adhering to the universal standards of technical accessibility, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1. Following the guidelines will help ensure individuals using assistive technology can easily engage with your digital content.

However, digital accessibility also encompasses usability. Just because a website is technically accessible by no means guarantees a frustration-free and frictionless experience. Below are examples of both technical accessibility guidelines and best practices for usability. Used in tandem, these practices will improve the digital experience for everyone.

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Examples of WCAG 2.1 Directives for Technical Accessibility

  • Provide text alternatives for visual images that communicate relevant information
  • Provide captions or audio descriptions for videos and audio
  • Ensure content is fully accessible using only a keyboard
  • Offer markers or other aids to help users understand where they are during the entire experience and find what they need to
  • Include form input error identification and description in text format
  • Use clean markup languages: elements with start and end tags and are properly nested; maintain unique IDs and attributes
  • Enable reflow such that a user need not scroll in two dimensions after enlarging text

Examples of guidelines for user-friendly websites

  • Use page structures have a clear hierarchy. E.g., use an H1 header to describe the content and H2 headers to break it up
  • Utilize a 3:1 color contrast ratio for text
  • Employ easy to follow navigation such that no matter where a user is on the page they will be able to navigate to a different section, understand where they are on the page and understand how that page relates to the digital content throughout
  • Offer markers or other aids to help users understand where they are during the entire experience and find what they need to
  • Provide clear instructions for form inputs to prevent user errors

While this is not a comprehensive checklist, it’s a good starting place to improve the user experience on your site and reduce your risk.