5 simple ways to make your website more accessible

#1 Make sure your website has a reasonable contrast ratio between the text and the background
When designing a website, the primary goal is to create a visually appealing layout that captivates visitors and leaves a lasting impression. However, an important aspect that can be easily overlooked is the contrast ratio between the text and the background. This ratio refers to the difference in brightness between the two elements. It plays a crucial role in ensuring that the content is easily readable by everyone, including those with visual impairments. Without proper contrast, the text may appear blurry or washed out, ultimately causing frustration for the user. This issue commonly occurs when the text overlaps a background image or color. While it may look good on a computer screen, it might be hard to read on a smartphone. So, while choosing a trendy color scheme is essential, always prioritize readability by ensuring a good contrast ratio for a better user experience.

#2 Use headings correctly and make them meaningful. They can be beneficial for screen readers and any visitors trying to understand the context of your web page
A heading on a web page resembles a book's chapter title or newspaper headline. It's a short phrase or sentence that describes the content underneath it. Heading elements, ranging from H1 to H6, are used to structure the content in an organized and nested manner. The H1 heading usually represents the main title or focus of the page, while subsequent headings (H2 to H6) represent sub-sections or related topics. These headings are vital for both readability and accessibility, providing cues to the reader about the content and enabling screen reader technologies to navigate the page effectively.

Effective use of headings is essential to ensure that your content is accessible and easily navigable for all users. By making your headings meaningful and relevant to the content they precede, you can help users quickly find the information they need. Additionally, following the proper heading hierarchy gives your page a logical flow that enhances readability.

So, a web page heading isn't merely a font style or size but a tool for enhancing the user experience and accessibility.

#3 Add descriptive alt-texts for all images, so users who are unable to see them can still understand their purpose
From social media to websites, images are everywhere. However, these images can be quite challenging to comprehend for those with visual impairments. This is where descriptive alt-texts come in. Alt-text, short for alternative text, is an attribute applied to images within a webpage's HTML code. This attribute allows you to provide a textual description of the image, which screen readers can read aloud. By incorporating them, images start to become more accessible to everyone. But make sure they are as descriptive of the image as possible so anyone can understand its purpose. Also, avoid at all cost to embed text within your images. As you understand now, it will deter accessibility. When those images are scaled down for mobile screens, the text may become illegible.

#4 Include captions and transcripts to videos to enhance accessibility for all viewers
Adding captioning and video descriptions greatly enhances the overall accessibility of your website for both visually and hearing-impaired users, as well as the general audience.

Transcription is a written text of an audio or a video; it can be helpful for people who cannot access audio content for various reasons. It can be really helpful for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or just like reading at their own speed. Transcriptions are often used for podcasts, conferences, interviews, etc.

Captions play a crucial role in videos by providing written text of spoken or audio content. They serve to assist viewers who may not hear the audio, especially those who are deaf or hard of hearing. By synchronizing with the audio, captions help individuals comprehend the audiovisual material, including non-verbal cues like sound effects or speaker identification.

Interestingly, these features are also beneficial to the broader audience. Captions can prove helpful to viewers in a sound-sensitive environment or those who have trouble comprehending the language because it is not their first language. Transcription, on the other hand, can enhance the SEO of your website by listing the text from your video or audio file. By including these accessibility features, you're not only complying with best practices of web accessibility but also providing a more inclusive user experience that benefits all visitors.


#5 Use descriptive links and clear language when writing content - avoid using industry jargon or complex concepts that might not be understood by everyone
Have you ever tried to read an article or webpage and felt like you needed a dictionary just to understand it? That's why clear language and descriptive links are important components of effective content writing. It doesn't matter how knowledgeable or experienced you are in your field - if your audience can't understand what you're saying, then your message is lost. Avoid using industry jargon or complex concepts that might be confusing or exclude certain readers. Instead, aim for clarity and simplicity to communicate your ideas effectively to everyone who reads your content.

This means creating easy-to-understand calls to action and avoiding links that don't have a clear meaning, like "click here". Instead, use words or phrases that clearly describe the link's purpose. For example, if you have a button that links to a page on how to install a printer, use "learn how to install a printer" instead of "click here". Doing this not only helps readers understand what they can expect when clicking the link but also increases your website's accessibility by making it easier for screen readers to navigate. Using descriptive links and clear language will ensure your content is accessible to all and help you get your message across more effectively.

Conclusion: Web Accessibility is easier to achieve than you think
Always remember that web accessibility benefits everyone, you included. It empowers everyone to have equal access to information and functionality, regardless of ability or circumstance. People with any form of disability, those who are not tech-savvy, those from different countries, or those who don't have the latest technology should be able to access what you offer. Showing that your website cares about its users tends to get noticed. By implementing these five practices, you can significantly enhance the accessibility of your website. These simple yet effective adjustments can make a world of difference for users with varying abilities and contribute to a more inclusive and universal internet. Remember, the internet is for everyone, and web accessibility ensures it remains that way.