With the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimating that 16% of the global population live with some form of disability, coupled alongside an ever growing population, the need for websites to be accessible to everyone is more important than ever.
But, what is web accessibility and why should we prioritise it?
What is accessibility in UX design?
Accessibility is a fundamental design principle that ensures everyone, regardless of their ability can access and use what you're designing. This covers everything from books and posters to websites. For websites, being accessible means designing web pages that users can use and navigate easily. This includes users with visual, auditory, motor, cognitive and neurological disabilities.
As Hugo Bernier, Principal Program Manager at Microsoft states "Designing with accessibility makes a difference because it gives everyone the same opportunities."
Accessibility guidelines
To help improve web accessibility, here are 5 best practices and guidelines to follow...
01.Responsive design
With more than 60% of internet traffic originating from mobile devices, it is crucial to have a responsive website. A responsive design is one that guarantees that both content and functionality remain accessible, no matter the device being used by the user. This approach delivers an enhanced user experience.
02.Appropriate colour contrast
Colour contrast refers to the variation in brightness between foreground and background colours. Websites with high contrast help users with sight loss and colour blindness to read text. Consider using white space to separate areas with low contrast and help emphasise key content. Stay clear of problematic colour combinations such as red/green and blue/yellow.
Designers can use online tools such as WebAIM contrast checker to verify if their colour contrast ratios meet WCAG guidelines. WCAG recommends colour contrast if default text to be 4.5:1 and 3:1 for larger text.
03.Include alt-text
Alt tags play a crucial role for users with visual impairments who depend on screen readers or text-to-speech software. These tools assist users by describing images out-loud. In the absence of alt tags, a screen reader will say "image" or, depending on the device, may simply read out the file name instead. This not only results in a poor user experience but also negatively impacts a website's SEO ranking.
Alt tags should be clear as to what the image represents, for example "obergine logo" would be good as it clearly identifies the image, whereas, "red car" is less useful as whilst it does show what the image contains, it does not provide context.
04. Use accessible fonts
Fonts have a big impact on accessibility.When they more legible, users are more likely to interact with the content. For big blocks of text try using a sans serif font like Arial, Helvetica or Poppins, as these are typically regarded to be more readable. For serif fonts like Times New Roman, it is advised to limit these as their ornate and decorative features can hinder readability. Additionally, users with dyslexia find italics particularly difficult to read.
05.Avoid unnecessary animations
Animation is a great tool for capturing users attention and keeping them engaged. However, they are not for everyone. For some users they can be unpleasant and in extreme cases can trigger nausea, dizziness and headaches. For this reason, give users the option to pause, stop or hide animations that last longer than 5 seconds. Additionally, try to avoid using animations that flash more than 3 times per second as these can trigger seizures.
Benefits of web accessibility
01. Legal compliance
In the UK, the Equality Act (2010) and the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Act ensure websites are accessibile to everyone. Failure to comply with these laws can result in penalties and expensive lawsuits that can damage brand reputaations.
02. Enhanced user experience
Accessibile websites are more user-friendly and engaging. This results in a better experience fir users which can lead to a lower bounce and higher engagement rate - both of which are major SEO ranking factors for search engines like Google.
03.Higher SEO ranking
Wile accessibility is not traditionally an SEO ranking factor, it does play a significant role in how search engines like Google rank websites. Accessible websites are built in a way that helps search engine crawlers understand and index content more efficiently.
04.Enhance brand perception
Focusing on website accessibility communicates to your users that you value and respect their diverse needs, irrespective of their abilities. By showcasing empathy and consideration, you can enhance a brand's image and reputation, leading to increased customer base.
Key takeaway
Making a website accessible to all users is crucial for any business. Accessibility not only improves the experience for individuals with disabilities but also benefits a broader audience, resulting in a better overall user experience. By showing consideration, a brand can enhance its image and reputation, while also promoting customer loyalty and boosting its SEO ranking.
