Let’s get real: when you think about designing a website, accessibility might not be the first thing on your mind. But here’s the thing — 15% of the world’s population lives with some form of disability, according to the World Health Organization. That’s a huge audience you could be missing out on if your website isn’t accessible.
Web accessibility is no longer just a “nice to have.” It’s essential. Not only does it improve the user experience for everyone, but it also boosts your SEO performance and opens doors to new customers.
So, whether you’re a seasoned web developer or just starting to build your brand online, this guide will give you practical, actionable tips to make your website more accessible.
What is Website Accessibility?
Web accessibility is more than just screen readers and captions. It’s about creating a website that anyone can use, regardless of their abilities. Think of it as building a digital space where everyone feels welcome, whether they:
1. Use assistive technology like screen readers or voice commands
2. Have temporary limitations like a broken arm
3. Navigate websites in different languages
It’s about anticipating a wide variety of needs and building a website that adapts to them.
Key Web Accessibility Features That Make a Difference
1. Alt Text: The Silent Hero of Web Accessibility
We all know that images speak louder than words, but what happens when someone can’t see them? Enter alt text — a brief, descriptive text that tells users (and search engines) what an image is about.
But writing good alt text isn’t as simple as saying “Image of a cat.” It needs to provide useful context without overloading the description. Take this image for instance:
- Instead of: “Picture of a pizza.”
- Try: “A freshly baked pepperoni pizza with melted cheese and a crispy crust.”
SEO Tip: Including keywords naturally in your alt text can improve your site’s visibility in search results. But avoid keyword stuffing!
Pro Tip: If an image is purely decorative (like a background graphic), skip the alt text or mark it as decorative in your code. This prevents screen readers from announcing irrelevant details.
2. Keyboard Navigation: Accessibility Beyond the Mouse
Imagine your mouse suddenly stops working. How would you navigate a website? For some users, keyboard navigation isn’t a backup plan — it’s their primary way of interacting with the web.
1. To make your website keyboard-friendly:
2. Ensure that all interactive elements (links, buttons, forms) are accessible via the Tab key.
3. Use visible focus indicators to show which element is currently selected.
Common Mistake: Hiding the focus outline (the border that appears when you tab through a site) for aesthetic reasons.
Fix: Customize the focus indicator to match your brand’s look and feel without removing it.
3. Color Contrast: Make Your Content Pop
Not everyone sees colors the same way. Poor contrast between text and background makes it hard for users with visual impairments to read your content.
Use tools like Contrast Checker to ensure your website meets the recommended contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for larger text.
Example of Good Contrast: Dark text on a light background (e.g., black text on white)
Example of Poor Contrast: Light gray text on a white background.
4. Captions and Transcripts: Make Your Media Accessible
As per a study conducted by Verizon, 69% of people watch videos on mute? Whether it’s to avoid disturbing others or simply because they prefer reading, captions and transcripts benefit everyone.
Captions aren’t just for videos. You can also use transcripts for podcasts, webinars, and audio content. This makes your media content more searchable and accessible to users with hearing impairments.
Example:
Captions: Display spoken dialogue on screen.
Transcripts: Provide a written version of the entire audio content, including sound effects and background noises.
5. Semantic HTML: Make Your Code Work Smarter, Not Harder
Semantic HTML is like organizing your wardrobe — it makes everything easier to find. Using the correct HTML tags helps assistive technologies understand your content.
For example:
- Use <h1> for the main heading, <h2> for subheadings, and so on.
- Use <nav> for navigation menus, <article> for articles, and <button> for buttons.
Bad Practice: Using <div> tags for everything.
Good Practice: Using semantic tags to provide structure.
6. Responsive Design: Accessibility Across Devices
Accessibility doesn’t stop at desktops. Your website needs to be responsive and mobile-friendly.
A responsive design ensures your site works well on:
Desktops
Tablets
Mobile phones
Screen readers
Pro Tip:
Use larger clickable areas on mobile to accommodate users with motor impairments.
Avoid small fonts that require users to zoom in.
Accessibility Isn’t Just a Feature — It’s a Necessity.
Ensure your website meets accessibility standards while improving your SEO and user experience.
Why Accessibility is a Game-Changer for SEO
Accessibility and SEO go hand in hand. Google’s algorithms prioritize user experience, and accessible websites offer a better experience for all users. Here’s how accessibility impacts SEO:
| Accessibility Feature | SEO Benefit |
| Alt Text | Helps images rank in search results |
| Keyboard Navigation | Improves usability, leading to lower bounce rates |
| Captions and Transcripts | Makes multimedia content searchable |
| Semantic HTML | Helps search engines understand page structure |
By making your website accessible, you’re not just doing the right thing — you’re boosting your visibility online.
Common Web Accessibility Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)
Even well-meaning developers can make mistakes. Here are a few common pitfalls:
1. Missing Alt Text – Add Descriptive text for all images
2. No keyboard Navigation – Test your website using only keyboard
3. Poor Color Contrast – Use Contrast Checker to adjust Colors
4. Auto-playing videos – Provide controls to pause or stop the video
Tools to Test Your Website’s Accessibility
Testing your website’s accessibility doesn’t require a massive budget. Here are some free tools you can use:
- WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool) — Checks for WCAG compliance.
- Axe Accessibility Checker — A browser extension for accessibility audits.
- Lighthouse — Google’s built-in tool for performance and accessibility checks.
- NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) — A free screen reader for Windows.
Why Us?
At ActiveLoc, we believe that language and culture should never be barriers to digital success. We provide translation, localization, and digital accessibility services to help businesses connect with their audiences across languages, cultures, and abilities.
From website localization to ensuring web accessibility compliance, we make your content globally relevant and inclusive for all users. Our team of experts combines linguistic precision with technical expertise to deliver quality solutions that help businesses expand into new markets while maintaining their brand voice. We help businesses:
1. Implement multilingual alt text for global audiences.
2. Create transcripts and captions for video and audio content.
3. Design culturally adapted websites with localized content that meet accessibility standards.
With ActiveLoc, you’re not just making your content multilingual — you’re making it globally understood, culturally appropriate, and accessible to everyone.
So, when your words need to be spot-on, we’re the experts you can trust.
FAQs
What is accessibility in a website?
Website accessibility ensures that everyone, including people with disabilities, can navigate, interact with, and understand a website. It involves designing websites to be inclusive of users with varying needs, such as those with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments.
What are the 3 website accessibility standards?
The three key website accessibility standards are:
- A (Level A) – The minimum level of accessibility.
- AA (Level AA) – The recommended standard for most websites to meet legal and usability requirements.
- AAA (Level AAA) – The highest and most comprehensive level of accessibility, covering a broader range of needs.
What does ARIA stand for in HTML?
ARIA stands for Accessible Rich Internet Applications. It is a set of attributes that enhance the accessibility of web content, especially dynamic content and interactive elements, by providing additional context to screen readers.
What is a fully accessible website?
A fully accessible website is one that can be used by anyone, regardless of their abilities. It includes features like keyboard navigation, alt text for images, proper color contrast, captions for multimedia content, and semantic HTML to ensure that users with disabilities can interact with the website without barriers.
What do alt tags do?
Alt tags (or alt text) provide a text description of an image, making it accessible to users who cannot see the image. Screen readers read the alt text aloud to visually impaired users, helping them understand the content and context of the image.
Are alt tags good for SEO?
Yes, alt tags are beneficial for SEO. They help search engines understand what your images are about, which can improve your website’s visibility in image search results. Alt text also enhances the overall user experience, which can positively impact your SEO rankings.
Do buttons need alt text?
No, buttons don’t need alt text. Instead, buttons should have clear and descriptive labels using the aria-label or title attribute. For example, a button labeled “Submit” is better than a button with just an icon.
Is alt text hidden?
Yes, alt text is hidden from regular users and is only visible to screen readers and search engines. It is not displayed on the website unless the image fails to load, in which case the alt text will appear in place of the image.
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