Web Accessibility: What Is It and How Can You Improve?

Did you know that website accessibility is a thing? It's true! And, it's something that you should be taking into consideration when building or updating your website. In this blog post, we'll discuss what website accessibility is, some examples of how it can be improved, and what you need to think about when making your website more accessible.

What is website accessibility?

Web accessibility refers to the inclusive practice of removing barriers that prevent interaction with, or access to websites, by people with disabilities. When a website is correctly designed, developed and edited, all users have equal access to information and functionality.

There are many ways you can improve the accessibility of your website. Some of the most common include:

• Providing text alternatives for non-text content (e.g. images)
• Creating accessible hyperlinks
• Using appropriate heading tags
• Optimising website contrast ratios

Improving your website accessibility

When looking to improve the accessibility of your website, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First and foremost, you need to be aware of the different types of disabilities that could affect someone's ability to interact with your website. These include, but are not limited to:

• Visual impairments
• Hearing impairments
• Motor/mobility impairments
• Cognitive impairments

You also need to consider what assistive technologies people with disabilities are using. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Screen readers
• Voice recognition software
• Braille displays

Finally, you need to think about how you can make your website accessible to as many people as possible. This includes considering things like language and providing alternative versions of your website for those who may not be able to access the main website.

By taking the time to improve the accessibility of your website, you're not only making it more inclusive for those with disabilities, but you're also making it more user-friendly for everyone.

In summary

Web accessibility is a thing and website owners should be taking it into consideration. By making a website accessible, it is more inclusive for those with disabilities and user-friendly for everyone. Web accessibility can be improved in many ways, such as by providing text alternatives for non-text content, creating accessible hyperlinks, using appropriate heading tags, and optimising website contrast ratios. When making your website more accessible, you need to be aware of different types of disabilities, assistive technologies people with disabilities use, and how you can make your website accessible to as many people as possible. By taking the time to improve the accessibility of your website, you're making it a better experience for everyone.

Want to improve your website accessibility but not sure where to start? Why not reach out to our team to start the conversation. We can help you by auditing your current website and providing detailed recommendations for areas of improvement. Our development team can even help you make any changes to your website that you or your team may not be able to do yourselves.