Web accessibility is essential for creating an inclusive digital environment where all users, regardless of ability, can interact seamlessly. Beyond being an ethical and legal responsibility, accessibility ensures that digital experiences are designed with everyone in mind. It enhances usability, promotes inclusivity, and demonstrates corporate responsibility.
By following accessibility fundamentals —such as using semantic HTML and providing alternative text for images—developers create content that is more easily understood by search engines, ultimately increasing visibility in search results.
This document outlines practical development requirements for integrating accessibility into web design and development, ensuring a better experience for all users while also enhancing discoverability online.
What’s Accessibility?
Web accessibility refers to designing and developing websites that are usable by as many people as possible, including those with disabilities. This practice not only benefits users with disabilities but also enhances the experience for mobile users and those with slow network connections.
Why is it Important?
- Improves SEO: Proper use of semantic HTML improves accessibility by making content clearer for assistive technologies. As a byproduct, it also helps search engines better interpret the page, increasing the likelihood of it appearing in relevant search results.
- Ethical and Moral Responsibility: Caring about accessibility demonstrates good business ethics and social responsibility.
- Better User Experience for All: Mobile users and people with limited connectivity also benefit from accessibility improvements.
- Legal Compliance: Many countries have laws enforcing accessibility standards.
Key Areas of Feasibility
Ensuring web accessibility requires a combination of best practices in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, multimedia, and assistive technologies. By focusing on these key areas, developers can build more inclusive and user-friendly experiences.
HTML
- Ensure proper semantic HTML usage (e.g., <nav>, <header>, <section>, <article>).
- Avoid non-semantic elements such as <div> and <span> unless necessary.
- Structure content hierarchically to facilitate navigation by screen readers.
CSS & JavaScript
- Ensure that CSS and JS do not negatively impact accessibility.
- Avoid content that requires hover interactions for key functionality.
- Use ARIA attributes only when semantic HTML elements are insufficient.
Multimedia
- Provide alternative text (alt attributes) for images.
- Include transcripts and captions for audio and video content.
- Ensure that multimedia elements do not autoplay or include disruptive animations.
WAI-ARIA
- Implement ARIA roles, states, and properties where needed.
- Use ARIA to enhance existing elements rather than replacing semantic HTML.
- Avoid using ARIA when native elements provide the same functionality.
Device-Related Accessibility
- Implement responsive design principles for all screen sizes.
- Ensure proper touch target sizes and spacing.
- Support keyboard navigation and screen readers.
The Affordances & Inclusion Principles
- Affordances: Elements should clearly convey their intended interaction (e.g., buttons, handles, navigation menus).
- Inclusion: Digital experiences should respect and honor diverse talents, backgrounds, and needs.
Web Accessibility Principles (POUR)
The four core principles of web accessibility, known as POUR, serve as the foundation for creating inclusive digital experiences.
Perceivable
Users must be able to perceive the content in different ways, regardless of their abilities.
- Provide text alternatives for non-text content.
- Ensure that users can perceive content through multiple senses (e.g., visual and auditory alternatives).
- Maintain a high contrast ratio between foreground and background.
Operable
All users should be able to interact with UI components and navigate the website seamlessly.
- Ensure all interactive elements are accessible via keyboard.
- Provide sufficient time for users to interact with content.
- Avoid flashing content that may cause seizures.
- Implement clear and logical navigation.
Understandable
The website’s content and navigation should be clear, intuitive, and predictable.
- Use simple and readable language.
- Maintain consistency in navigation and UI elements.
- Provide error identification and assistance in form fields.
Robust
Web content should be compatible with different technologies, including assistive tools.
- Ensure compatibility with assistive technologies such as screen readers.
- Use clean and valid HTML to improve cross-browser compatibility.
What is the DOM?
The Document Object Model (DOM) is a structured representation of a webpage that allows developers to manipulate content dynamically. Understanding its components and interactions is crucial for accessibility.
The Accessibility Tree
- An additional DOM tree is created for accessibility purposes.
- Non-semantic attributes are removed, ensuring screen readers and assistive technologies can interpret the content properly.
- Accessible objects are generated for each DOM element that needs to be exposed to assistive technologies.
Semantic HTML
Imagine walking into a store where none of the aisles are labeled. You’d have to wander around aimlessly, searching for the products you need. Now, compare that to a well-organized store with clear aisle signs—finding what you’re looking for becomes much easier.
Semantic HTML works the same way. It provides clear labels and structure to a webpage, making it easier for both assistive technologies (like screen readers) and search engines to understand the content. This improves accessibility for users with disabilities while also helping search engines interpret the page more effectively, increasing its chances of appearing in relevant search results.
By using elements like <header>, <nav>, <main>, <article>, <section>, <aside>, <footer>, developers create web pages that are more intuitive, structured, and user-friendly.
Key Semantic Elements & Their Uses
<header> – Represents the introductory content of a page or section. Typically contains navigation links, logos, or headings.
Example:
<nav> – Defines the primary navigation section of a page. Helps both users and search engines identify key links.
Example:
<main> – Contains the primary content of a document. Each page should have only one <main> tag.
Example:
<article> – Represents a standalone piece of content that can be independently distributed (e.g., blog posts, news articles).
Example:
<section> – Groups related content within a document. Often used for structuring content within <main>.
Example:
<aside> – Represents supplementary content, such as sidebars, related links, or advertisements.
Example:
<footer> – Defines the footer of a section or entire page, typically containing contact details, copyright information, or links.
Example:
- Replaces Non-Semantic Elements: <div> and <span> with appropriate semantic alternatives.
- Improves Readability: Code is easier to understand for developers and screen readers.
WAI-ARIA
What is WAI-ARIA?
WAI-ARIA (Web Accessibility Initiative – Accessible Rich Internet Applications) is used to enhance accessibility when standard HTML elements do not provide sufficient meaning.
ARIA Attributes
- Role: Defines the function of a component (e.g., checkbox, combobox).
- State: Indicates current conditions (checked, unchecked, expanded).
- Value: Specifies the value of a component.
Accessibility Review Checklist
- Start with keyboard navigation tests.
- Use screen readers to check compatibility.
- Ensure interactive elements have clear roles and states.
- Verify proper heading structure and semantic HTML use.
- Provide descriptive text alternatives for non-text content.
Building accessible websites is not just about meeting legal requirements—it is about fostering inclusivity and enhancing user experience for everyone. By following best practices, leveraging semantic HTML, and conducting thorough accessibility testing, developers can create digital experiences that are truly inclusive. Embracing accessibility benefits businesses, search engine visibility, and, most importantly, the users who rely on these improvements to navigate the digital world with ease.
For further guidance, explore these resources:
