Web Accessibility: How to Build an Inclusive Website Easily

Web accessibility ensures that everyone, including people with disabilities, can easily use websites. Imagine visiting a site but struggling to read content because the colors are too faint, images lack descriptions, or the site doesn’t work well with screen readers. Accessibility focuses on removing these barriers so all users can navigate and interact with websites equally and effortlessly.

Web accessibility isn’t just a nice-to-have feature anymore. It’s now essential, especially since laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) require many websites to meet specific standards. At Crescentic Digital, we believe making your site usable for everyone is not only the right choice but also a smart business decision.

Let’s dive into what makes a website accessible and how you can make your website friendly for all users.

Understanding What It Means to Be Accessible

Accessibility means designing websites so that people with different disabilities, like visual, hearing, motor, or cognitive impairments, can access, understand, and interact with the content without barriers. This includes users who might rely on screen readers, keyboard navigation, or other assistive technologies.

Accessibility enhances the experience for everyone, including people with temporary disabilities or those using devices in difficult conditions such as bright sunlight, noisy areas, or with limited mobility, ensuring smooth website use for all.

ADA Compliant Website: Why It Matters

An ADA compliant website meets the rules set by the ADA law to ensure everyone can access digital content equally. If your site isn’t accessible, you risk legal trouble and might lose customers who can’t use your website properly.

Beyond the legal side, having an ADA compliant website helps you reach more people, boosts your search engine rankings, and creates a better reputation for your brand. It shows you care about including everyone and making your site easy for all visitors to use. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) from the W3C website are recognized worldwide as the gold standard for making websites truly accessible to everyone.

Alt Text: Giving Images a Voice

One of the easiest yet most important ways to improve accessibility is by adding alt text to images. This is a brief description that screen readers use to tell visually impaired users what the image shows, making your site more inclusive.

For example, instead of leaving a product picture blank, you include alt text like “Red leather wallet with zipper.” This not only helps users understand the image but also supports web accessibility and boosts your website’s SEO by letting search engines know what the image is about.

Semantic HTML: The Building Blocks of Accessibility

Semantic HTML means using the right HTML tags that explain what the content is about, not just how it looks. Tags like<header>, <nav>, and <article> help assistive tools understand your page better than just using generic <div> tags.

Using Semantic HTML creates a clear page structure that makes it easier for users to navigate, especially those relying on screen readers or keyboard-only controls. It’s a simple but powerful way to build a website that works well for everyone. For color contrast checks, try the WebAIM Contrast Checker.

Color Contrast: Making Text Easy to Read

Color contrast is very important for making text easy to read and plays a key role in web accessibility. When there isn’t enough difference between text and background colors, people with visual impairments or color blindness may struggle to see the content. Keeping a good color of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text helps everyone read your site comfortably.

Here’s a simple table showing good and poor color contrast examples:

Using tools like online contrast checkers helps ensure your website’s color scheme supports everyone’s reading ease.

ARIA: Enhancing Accessibility Where HTML Falls Short

Sometimes HTML alone isn’t enough to make a website fully accessible. This is where ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) comes in. It is a set of attributes that provide additional information to assistive technologies, enhancing overall web accessibility for users with disabilities.

For example, ARIA roles can define whether a section is a button, a dialog, or a menu, making complex interfaces easier to use for people with disabilities.

Proper use of ARIA attributes enhances interactivity and user experience on dynamic websites without changing the visible design.

Additional Tips for Building an Accessible Website

• Keyboard Navigation:

  Make sure users can easily move through your site using only a keyboard, like the tab or arrow keys. Avoid places where they might get stuck to create an accessible website.

• Clear Headings:

  Organize your content with clear, logical headings like <h1>, <h2>, and so on. This helps users, especially those with disabilities, understand your page better.

• Forms:

  Always label form fields clearly so users know what to enter. Provide helpful error messages if something goes wrong to improve your site’s accessibility as part of an accessible website.

• Responsive Design:

  Ensure your website looks and works well on all devices and screen sizes, giving everyone a smooth experience no matter how they access your site.

Why Choose Crescentic Digital for Your Website?

At Crescentic Digital, we focus on building websites that not only look great but also follow web accessibility standards. We use tools like HTML, alt text, color, and accessible rich internet applications attributes to make sure your site works well for everyone. For expert support, visit our custom web development services.

If you want a site that’s an ADA compliant website, we’ve got you covered. Our team ensures your website meets all accessibility requirements, helping you reach more people. Interested? Check out our services page or contact us anytime to get started.