Creating an Accessible Website That Will Benefit More People Than You Think

 

Are you someone who thinks creating an accessible website is beneficial only for disabled people? If you answered yes, you should reconsider that thought because in reality, an accessible website creates avenues that make it easier for everyone to navigate the website. The user experience of navigating a website can vary based on the situations and environments. For example, an individual may be temporarily disabled, or some may have permanent conditions. And people with no disabilities may use the phone in direct sunlight, on a moving bus, while holding a baby or while multitasking. Considering all the possible situations will allow you to develop a website that is not just incredibly accessible but also help you understand the importance of accessible websites.

Here are a few website accessibility features you can consider. 

Color Combination and Contrast

For websites to be distinctly accessible, it needs to have a high contrast between the text and background color, buttons, links, icons, or any other information present on the page. This feature is essential for people with visual impairment or low vision. It can also be useful for situations when you need to read up on something in bright sunlight. One of the most popular color combinations to create accessible website is dark text on white background. As an additional feature, the website can also let users decide the color contrast according to their choice.

Writing in Plain English

When the content is written in simple and plain English, this ensures the content gets maximum outreach. Many people with learning difficulties struggle with complex sentences, jargon, and acronyms. Figures of speech and metaphors can also confuse many who cannot understand the inferred meaning. That is why using plain English is the way to go when creating an accessible website.

Using Closed Captions 

Many often confuse closed captions with subtitles; they are not the same. Closed captions are much more beneficial as an added website accessibility feature than subtitles as they include relevant sounds (dogs barking at a distance or door knocking) along with subtitles. It helps both disabled and non-disabled users to better understand the video presented on the website. 

Large Links, Controls and Buttons

Users with motor impairments can use this excellent feature to access a website and get an enhanced user experience. It is most useful for mobile and tablet devices where the screen is small to cover a lot of information. 

Conclusion 

Using an accessible website is no longer something that is nice to have; it is a business necessity. Implementing the features mentioned in this post should help you make a smooth transition from a partially accessible website to a highly accessible website. At Access Design Studio, we are the leading experts in offering an accessible website solution according to user requirements.