How to Create Accessible Websites

Making your website accessible to people with disabilities is important. Inaccessible websites deny equal access to individuals with disabilities. Different methods help individuals who have a variety of disabilities, such as disabilities relating to sight, hearing, and cognition. Accessible websites also help people without disabilities, such as individuals with a slow Internet connection.

This piece helps you obey laws. Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandates that state and local governments and businesses have accessible websites. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act mandates that government websites follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.

How to Make Websites Accessible

Websites can be made accessible in terms of general format, text, audio, images/videos, and links.

General format:

• Have straightforward menus and user-friendly scrolling.
• Use contrasting colors. The contrast ratio must be at least 4.5 to 1 unless there is large text, incidental text, or text that is part of logo or the name of a brand.
• Include white space near headings and text.
• Use lists with bullets or numbers.
• Avoid using tables.
• Create forms that are easy to complete (i.e., write clear instructions).
• Allow website users to search the site via a search box.
• Tag the following in PDF documents: headings, images, links, lists, reading order, and tables.

Text:

• Use simple fonts, such as Calibri, Times New Roman, Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, and Verdana.
• Avoid lengthy sections of bold, italic, or caps text.
• Use left-aligned text alignment. Right-aligned, centered, or justified text may be difficult to read.
• Use font sizes between 12 to 14 point, and/or allow website to users adjust font size.
• Write at a low enough grade level that many people understand — some guides suggest fifth or sixth grade level. Check the grade level of your site’s text online.
• Create different versions of text, making your website open to people of varying cognitive levels. Versions may include standard, plain language, and easy read. As plain language and easy read can be challenging to write, you might employ an expert for those versions.
• Use headings, which allows everyone to scan content.
• Do not include vague words, such as “click here” or “learn more.”
• Use active voice, not passive voice. A sentence in active voice is, “Professor Brown teaches history.” A version in passive voice is “History is taught by Professor Brown.”

Audio:

• Enable text-to-speech on your website. You can find products that will do this for free.
• Provide a visual notification about any sounds that play automatically.
• Do not use any automatic sounds that are loud. Such noise could be difficult for people with sensory issues.

Images/video:

• Use alt text to provide written descriptions of all images.
• Include captions in videos. Ensure that they are accurate. Software-generated captions may include mistakes.

Links:

• Include a “Skip to Main Content” link on the top of each webpage.
• Have links include text that explains what will occur if links are clicked.

For inspiration, read articles that discuss and show examples of accessible websites.

Testing Accessibility of Websites

On a regular basis, check your website’s accessibility by using:

• An online website accessibility checker.
• Focus groups whose members would benefit by accessible websites. (Be sure to thank — and compensate — focus group members.)

Final Thoughts

Websites must be accessible to people with disabilities. Inaccessible websites exclude people and violate laws.

Miriam Edelman, MPA, MSSW, is a Washington, D.C.,-based policy professional. Her experience includes policy work for Congress. Miriam’s undergraduate degree is from Barnard College, Columbia University, with majors in political science and urban studies. She has a master’s in public administration from Cornell University, where she was inducted into the national honorary society for public administration. She has a master’s of science in social work (focusing on policy) from Columbia University. She is a commissioner of the DC Commission on Persons with Disabilities. Miriam aims to continue her career in public service. She is especially interested in democracy, civic education, District of Columbia autonomy, diversity, health policy, women’s issues, and disabilities.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay