Crafting Equitable Web Experiences 🏗
Tags: a11y, webdev, html, beginners
Published: 2023-12-12 17:14:29

I find myself writing some variation of this post every year, but the topic continues to to be one that is worth revisiting both for myself, and for folks that I mentor. The prevalence of “Learn Web Development Quick” bootcamps and online courses emphasizes the importance of this topic as well. Let’s dive into some of the core responsibilities we as web developers have when building for an equitable web.

## Prioritizing Accessibility From The Start ⭐️

Accessibility needs to remain a first class citizen in any design process. As a designer, this entails comprehending [WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)](https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/) standards and ensuring compliance within these guidelines. Additionally, a clear understanding of contrast ratios and a standardization around acceptable thresholds is also key. Understanding these key concepts as a designer will ensure your designs are both exceptionally designed, and properly accessible for your users.

From a development perspective, I’ve noticed a clear glossing over of HTML semantics and principals in bootcamp and online curriculum. It’s our responsibility to develop a high level understanding of [ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications)](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Accessibility/ARIA/Roles) roles, states, and properties. Properly marked up ARIA attributes enrich the semantics of components for assistive technologies and ensure that what we build is meaningful for users that access the web in a myriad of ways.

##Semantic Markup and its Nuances 📝

As is customary when I write, I’ll go ahead and expose my ancient knowledge of this industry 🧙‍♂️. I remember the dawn of HTML5 and the excitement around the exposure of new semantic elements to the language. These elements would prove invaluable to helping us write semantic, predictable markup that would make it easier for browsers and assistive technology to traverse the DOM.

Now, semantic HTML elements introduced with HTML5 serve as the bedrock of an accessible web. Exploring these elements, such as `<nav>`, `<main>`, and `<article>`, in detail elucidates their contextual significance in structuring content. Understanding the relation between landmark roles and how they aid in navigation for screen reader users is instrumental in fostering a seamless browsing experience.

##Animating for Accessibility…and Sanity 🤪

In the days of yore we had no qualms with pushing animations to their upper limit. Animate LITERALLY EVERYTHING. Make this section parallax, that content needs to slide down and fade in, have each letter in the title animate in independently. None of that made any sense for the Orthodontic website we were building in 2008.

The principal persists today. Thoughtful animation in component design is a delicate balancing act. Diving into the nuances of CSS transitions and keyframes unveils the potential for subtle, purpose-driven animations that will propel your site to an Awwwards worthy build. However, dissecting the impact of excessive animation on performance and accessibility underscores the need for restraint and extremely measured use. Always ask yourself why you’re animating something, before blindly executing the animation.

##Building Interactive Components 🔨

Creating components that are both interactive and accessible requires meticulous consideration. Exploring focus management strategies within components ensures keyboard navigability, while handling dynamic content updates reinforces the need for ARIA live regions. Integrating keyboard event handlers for non-interactive elements, like <div> or <span>, empowers users navigating through assistive devices.

In the intricate tapestry of web development, weaving together accessible and interactive components necessitates a fusion of technical prowess and empathetic design. Prioritizing WCAG standards, semantic markup nuances, prudent animation practices, and meticulous component design, forge the pathway toward a web that transcends barriers and celebrates inclusivity.