In the UK, the rights of those with disabilities are protected by the Equality Act 2010. This instructs organisations to make every reasonable effort to ensure their services are accessible to all persons. Therefore, business owners should create and maintain websites that can be easily navigated by individuals with disabilities and additional needs.
According to UK disability statistics in August 2023, 24% of the population reported having a disability. So, in addition to underachieving in terms of inclusivity, those who aren’t making their products or services accessible online could also be missing out on customers.
Most business owners are dedicated to inclusivity and reaching as large an audience as possible. Yet, it can be difficult to know whether your website is accessible, especially when many of us don’t really understand what accessibility means, who this includes and what should be considered.
So, let me try to break down what making your website accessible really means and how businesses can responsibly review website and mobile app accessibility.
What Does The Term ‘Accessibility’ Include?
Accessibility should include people with physical disabilities such as limited movement and dexterity. However, physical disability also includes sight and hearing impairments and these may be key considerations in how your website can be displayed and the features you might, or might not, include.
Neurodiversity is also a factor in accessibility. With 1 in 7 people in the UK now thought to be neurodivergent - meaning that they may process things differently than others - the way we communicate online is highly important. How information is presented can have an effect on whether or not it can be understood and processed, especially by those with sensory challenges.
Let’s look at various aspects of website design, navigation and features through the lens of multiple disabilities to see what measures might be taken to make a website more accessible...
Making Your Website Accessible For Those With Visual Impairments
To make your website accessible for those with vision impairments, you’ll need to ensure pages are compatible with screen readers.
Providing ‘Alt Tag descriptions’ is a means of describing your image for those who may not be able to see it. This is also a useful tool for when images fail to load.
You should also consider those who are not visually impaired enough to need technology assistance but may have compromised vision or who find it difficult to focus on certain text layouts.
Things to avoid on your website might include:
Pale text on light backgrounds
Dark text on dark backgrounds
Overlaying text over images
Overly decorative fonts
Very small text (but also overly large text)
Large paragraphs - break these down into bullet points (like this) where possible
Enabling text resizing (without affecting the site layout), implementing ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications), providing alt tags and using high contrast between text and backgrounds will make your website information clearer for all users, but especially for those with visual impairments.
Making Your Website Accessible For Those With Hearing Impairments
When checking your website accessibility for those with hearing impairments, turn your attention to your audio media. This might include podcasts, webinars, videos and other audible information. Such features and media can make your website more interesting and dynamic. They can also assist those with visual impairments or other disabilities. However, to be inclusive of those with hearing impairments, you may need to provide the following -
Subtitles for videos
Transcripts for audio content
Visual indicators for audio alerts
Motor Impairments And Website Accessibility
There are a vast number of motor impairments that can affect a user’s ability to navigate a website. Many of those with physical limitations may struggle to use a mouse or touchpad tool. Therefore, users should also have the ability to navigate the site via the keyboard.
Website managers may also wish to avoid the stress of time-sensitive actions for their users, such as countdown clocks in the online checkout process. The size of clickable areas might also be considered and the user journey must not be unnecessarily lengthy or complex.
Cognitive and Neurodivergent Accessibility
Like it or not, most of us are spending an increasing amount of time online, whether through enjoyment or necessity. Therefore, it should be a priority for businesses to make their online services easily accessible and, where possible, reduce any potential stress involved in online interactions.
Cognitive impairments and neurodiversity cover a huge spectrum but to meet their needs we must simplify processes and be mindful of sensory stimulation. In web design, we seek to create striking, unique and dynamic visuals. Impactful design can set brands apart and increase engagement, however, we must ensure that we don’t do this at the expense of our neurodivergent community.
To ensure this, we should focus on the following:
Navigation - The user journey should be as clear and concise as possible. Buttons, menus and navigation symbols should be easy to find and follow. Limit options only to what is necessary.
Readability - Overly complex language or instructions are a barrier for many so keep content simple. Tools like Grammarly and Yoast can help you assess your written copy for readability.
Sensory Sensitivity - Flashing images, automated sound, brightness, colours and motion can be distracting and/or stressful for those with cognitive impairments, ADHA, autism, etc. Consider making these features accessible through choice, rather than automating them. You may also limit pop-ups and restrict interactive features and moving images.
Customisation - Allowing users to alter their preferences and adjust the appearance of the site (e.g., font size, and colour schemes) can improve user experience.
Do Website Design Platforms Make Accessible Websites?
Website design and hosting platforms, such as Shopify, Wix and Squarespace, can help businesses shape professional-looking websites that don’t require the architect to write code. Using various templates and pre-coded features, non-technical users can construct a website and then make it visually unique by adapting the many design aspects. This approach is not only cost-saving but can also make for a more responsive, reliable website that can be managed by a non-technical person. But, are these websites accessible?
In general, yes. Templates are designed with best practices in mind and restrictions on editing may exist to ensure that website design does not affect the ability of any users to access information, whether from a desktop or mobile device. However, layout and design choices could still render the site inaccessible for some. For example, making text difficult to read or failing to provide alternative text. Other applications may also be included that may affect access.
Generally, templates on these platforms aim to make websites accessible and will seek to guide creators towards creating accessible and responsive websites. However, website managers should be checking that the website is still accessible after all features have been added and template amendments have been made.
Other Considerations For Website Accessibility
Website designers should follow Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1). This lays out best practice for those in the public sector but is equally applicable to private organisations.
Regular audits of your website are also advisable as technology changes and updates on some devices and systems, including those out of your control, may affect the appearance or usability of a website.
Ideally, website creators would utilise a wide range of users to test a website before launch, including those with disabilities or special needs. However, this is not always realistic, especially for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises). Therefore, website managers should consider a diverse range of users when testing the website for accessibility and use guides, such as this, to ensure various aspects of the site are assessed.
When testing a website for accessibility, you may wish to -
Use automated tools such as WAVE, Lighthouse or Axe
Test with screen readers
Try to navigate the website using the keyboard only
Check colour contracts and visibility
Identifying weaknesses in a website is an important step but it is just the first step. Addressing these issues and taking action to optimise accessibility is the next stage. Technology can go a long way towards making websites and mobile applications more accessible so don’t be afraid to embrace these tools and reach out to disabled communities for feedback on how you can better meet their needs.
Commitment to inclusivity is ongoing and it will be necessary to continue reviewing and retesting the website, perhaps once or twice a year (depending on how often it is updated/edited), to ensure your website is still accessible for all.
To check your website is legally compliant, see my Checklist For Launching A Website.
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