How to Include Accessibility in Your Website
Tags: webdev, ux, beginners
Published: 2020-07-22 17:15:55

Accessibility features are elements of a website that support people with disabilities’ independent use of a site. There are many websites that do not incorporate these features for individuals with disabilities or with limited technical abilities. This decreases the range of audiences that the content is available to, which is harmful for a website and its visitors alike. In this blog, you will find resources to increase accessibility, and widen your knowledge to help you create a more inclusive and accessible online environment for all.

When thinking about accessibility, you want to include features that make the website simple enough for internet users of all levels to be able to navigate it, through any type of technological device.

I will be introducing A11y, a project that has several tutorials on how to keep websites accessible. From quick tips to how-tos, these ideas ensure that those with compromised tech abilities will have an awesome experience on your website. A11y also has a checklist of features that you should include in your website.

Here are two tips to keep in mind when you are building your website:

#### 1) ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) is not enough.

ARIA provides developers with features for web apps to include accessibility; however, support for ARIA is limited to certain operating systems, browser versions, updated systems, etc. This becomes a problem for those who do not have access to the newest technologies. The list of browsers and versions that support ARIA isn’t comprehensive, so it seems that someone with a slightly older device won’t have access to sites supporting ARIA. 

#### 2) Accessibility impacts many different disabilities.

There are 4 big categories of disabilities that we should all be aware of: visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive, each which impair the online experience differently.

Visual disabilities include all visual impairments. To support this group, you want the typography to be legible and colors of the design to not blend into each other. Colors are particularly important for those who have trouble seeing color. Learn about browser built-in accessibility features.
Auditory disabilities have to do with hearing disabilities. If you have videos displayed on your website, make sure there is some caption, transcript, or subtitles that follow the video so hearing impaired individuals can also understand.
Motor disabilities include movement-constrained individuals. To help them navigate a site, use creative solutions for those who have trouble typing on a keyboard or holding a mouse. Technology like voice recognition and control might be helpful for motor impaired individuals.
Cognitive disabilities have to do with how the brain processes information. Try to have content that is written in easy to understand wording. Avoid using heavy terminology and provide definitions and links to help explain deeper concepts. Learn how to include valid and accessible links! 

Developers should utilize UX (user experience) research to improve on these features. Try to observe other websites that have accessibility features and interact with them, learn and get inspired to implement them in ways that support your website. Speak with internet users with disabilities and/or difficulty using the internet about what they need to best interact with websites, and take in suggestions and feedback. You can implement feedback using HTML, CSS, JS, the MERN stack, and even try to build on top of ARIA features. 

So, why is accessibility important? It’s good practice to include features for individuals with limited capabilities, because you never know who is accessing your website. Incomplete accessibility features are not enough — different accessibility issues can stack up with each other to create more obstacles for people who are less technologically inclined, so it’s important to consider all categories. Next time you work on an online product, make sure to think about not only your target audience, but anyone who uses the internet, no matter their skill level, that may be interested in your website.