What is an Accessible Web Design?

web design

Looking for a certain piece of information on a website is anything but pleasant if you’re unable to use the website properly. Not being able to access parts of the website can happen due to various reasons, but each of these reasons leads to the same conclusion: This is not an accessible website.

 

These annoying experiences where you’re unable to successfully navigate a website have probably happened to all of us. That’s why it’s so vital for all the businesses and individuals with their websites to ensure their website is easily accessible for everyone who wants to use it. Otherwise, not only your website loses value, but you as a business or individual lose the value your target audience needs from you.

 

Accessible Design

Simply put, if you run a website, there are two things you should avoid at all costs: bad UX and inaccessibility. When talking about accessibility in web design, you need to think about all of your users who might have a limitation or disability. For instance, if you’re using small-sized fonts which is difficult to read, imagine how a visually impaired person would receive information written in this font.

 

Making sure you’re using design elements that are user-friendly is the foundation for creating accessible designs. Accessibility is the evaluation of how easily people are using your website. Accessible design is focused on providing people that have limitations and disabilities with the same quality information other users are receiving. Today’s designers are striving to create accessible websites which are easy to navigate and to understand.

 

The Requirements of an Accessible Design

Not only will the accessible design help you communicate your vital information with your entire target audience, but it will also save potential complications in the future from lawsuits and unsatisfied customers.

 

So, what would be the accessibility requirements for websites? If you’re thinking of creating an inclusive website, here is what you’ll need to keep in mind.

 

The World Wide Web Consortium developed a set of accessibility standards to help website owners to create online places where everyone could find the information they need. The document they created is called Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, or shortly WCAG and it’s breaking down accessibility into four principles.

 

  1. Perceivable: Your website content has to provide various options of information consumption e.g. closed captions for a video.
  2. Operable: The website needs to function without confusion and the use of mouse/complex interactions.
  3. Understandable: Your users need to understand how the user interface functions and where to find each piece of information on your website.
  4. Robust: Different assistive devices such as screen readers need to be able to understand the information on your website.

 

Designing Accessible Websites

Instead of designing websites and later focusing on their accessibility, you should design with accessibility in mind. There are many users who due to various reasons will not be able to receive the information in the way you intended them to. That’s why it’s vital that you have an inclusive website that communicates all it needs to but also established a valuable relationship with your audience!

Author: JanusGP