In the first two episodes, we introduced the importance of web accessibility and explored the key guidelines you should follow to make your website accessible. Now, it’s time to dive into the practical tips and tools that can help you implement these accessibility standards and create websites that are inclusive for all users.
Building an accessible website may seem daunting at first, but with the right strategies and tools, you can ensure your site is usable by people with disabilities and compliant with accessibility guidelines.
Practical Tips for Building Accessible Websites
1. Start with Accessibility from the Beginning
Accessibility should not be an afterthought. Make it a priority during the initial stages of your website design and development process. By incorporating accessibility into your workflow from the start, you can avoid making costly changes later on.
Tip: Use accessible templates and design patterns as your base. Many CMS platforms (like WordPress) offer themes with built-in accessibility features.
2. Use Semantic HTML
Semantic HTML means using HTML elements according to their intended purpose. It improves the accessibility of your website, making it easier for screen readers and other assistive technologies to interpret your content.
For example:
- Use
<header>,<footer>,<main>,<article>, and<nav>elements to structure your pages. - Ensure that form controls are properly labeled with
<label>tags. - Use
<button>elements for interactive buttons, not<div>or<span>.
3. Ensure Keyboard Accessibility
It’s crucial that your website is fully navigable by keyboard, especially for users who cannot use a mouse due to physical impairments. Make sure all interactive elements (links, buttons, form fields) can be accessed with the Tab key and can be activated with the Enter or Space key.
Tip: Always provide a visible focus indicator (a border or highlight) for users navigating with the keyboard.
4. Add Alternative Text for Images
Including descriptive alt text for all non-text content, like images, icons, and graphics, helps screen reader users understand what the visual elements represent. Alt text should be concise and descriptive.
For example:
Alt="Smiling woman sitting at a desk with a laptop."- Avoid using vague descriptions like
Alt="Image"or leaving alt text empty unless the image is purely decorative (in which case, usealt="").
5. Ensure Good Color Contrast
As we discussed in the previous episode, color contrast is crucial for readability, especially for users with visual impairments. Make sure there’s a high enough contrast between your text and background to meet accessibility standards.
Tip: Tools like Color Contrast Analyzer (see below) can help you check if your website's color combinations meet WCAG guidelines.
Best Tools for Testing and Improving Web Accessibility
Now that you have some practical tips, let’s look at the best tools you can use to test and improve the accessibility of your website.
1. WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool)
WAVE is one of the most popular and user-friendly web accessibility testing tools. It provides visual feedback about the accessibility of your web content by highlighting potential issues directly on the page.
- Key Features:
- Automatically identifies errors like missing alt text or contrast issues.
- Provides a detailed report with recommendations.
- Offers a browser extension for quick accessibility checks.
Tool Link: WAVE
2. axe Accessibility Checker
axe is a powerful browser extension (available for Chrome and Firefox) that helps developers find accessibility issues on their websites. It integrates directly into your browser’s developer tools, making it easy to test and resolve problems.
- Key Features:
- Offers automated accessibility testing based on WCAG 2.1 guidelines.
- Provides detailed error reports with explanations and possible fixes.
- Supports testing for ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) compatibility.
Tool Link: axe Accessibility Checker
3. Color Contrast Analyzer
As mentioned earlier, ensuring good color contrast is critical for web accessibility. The Color Contrast Analyzer tool helps you check whether the contrast between text and background meets WCAG guidelines.
- Key Features:
- Check the contrast ratio for text and background colors.
- Offers a simple interface for fast checks.
- Works for both foreground and background color combinations.
Tool Link: Color Contrast Analyzer
4. Google Lighthouse
Google Lighthouse is an open-source, automated tool that helps you assess the quality of your web pages, including performance, SEO, and accessibility. It provides a comprehensive audit report with a score and recommendations for improving accessibility.
- Key Features:
- Can be run in Chrome DevTools or as a command-line tool.
- Assesses page accessibility and provides actionable insights.
- Integrates with Google Chrome’s audit tools.
Tool Link: Google Lighthouse
5. NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access)
For testing how accessible your website is for users who rely on screen readers, NVDA is a free, open-source screen reader for Windows. It helps developers simulate the experience of visually impaired users and understand how their website is read aloud by screen readers.
Tool Link: NVDA
Conclusion
Building an accessible website doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By following the practical tips we’ve outlined and using the right tools, you can ensure that your website is not only compliant with accessibility standards but also provides a positive user experience for everyone, regardless of ability.