Website accessibility difficulties might cause users to feel disturbed, lonely, and perplexed. By making your website accessible to all users, you can ensure that everyone, regardless of ability, has a great user experience. Breaking down some of the primary accessibility difficulties that websites encounter is one of the best methods to figure out how to design a truly inclusive website. You can also get ideas from the top accessible website examples.
This article will lead you through the most typical website accessibility concerns to look into. We’ll also explain why this is important and present examples of common accessibility mistakes. Then you may do a website accessibility check and adjust it as needed.
- Why is website accessibility so important?
- What exactly are accessibility issues? [+Example]
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Why is Website Accessibility Essential?
So, what are the most common accessibility challenges that users face? We appreciate your inquiry. We’ve compiled a list of 10 typical website accessibility issues that users encounter so that you may address them as soon as possible on your organization’s website. And, if you’re searching for a checklist to guarantee your site adheres to accessibility best practices, we’ve got you covered there, too.
There isn’t enough color contrast
Insufficient color contrast can make it difficult for users with colorblindness or low vision to understand and digest the content on your site. Regardless of the lighting or device type used to visit your website, all users should be able to read the material. Here’s an example of how you might address this accessibility issue while still providing visitors with contrast options that are appropriate for their needs. You can switch between contrast settings on the HubSpot website to find one that meets your needs.
Another thing to keep in mind when incorporating accessible design into your website: if visitors can’t find and quickly access it, it’s useless. As a result, make certain that users can readily locate the color contrast toggle on your site’s homepage. Instead, you risk isolating and frustrating users, potentially leading to a higher bounce rate. The same can be said for your accessibility statement if it can’t be found.
Here’s an example of how you might address this accessibility issue while still providing visitors with contrast options that are appropriate for their needs. You can switch between contrast settings on the HubSpot website to find one that meets your needs.
Another thing to keep in mind when incorporating accessible design into your website: if visitors can’t find and quickly access it, it’s useless. As a result, make certain that users can readily locate the color contrast toggle on your site’s homepage. Instead, you risk isolating and frustrating users, potentially leading to a higher bounce rate. The same can be said for your accessibility statement if it can’t be found.
Links that are not descriptive
Non-descriptive hyperlinks can be extremely damaging to people who utilize assistive technology such as screen readers. By making sure your hyperlinks are descriptive rather than imprecise phrases like “Click here,” you may give readers crucial context about where they’ll land by following the link. It will also make it easier for visitors who use assistive technology to find a certain link.
Consider the preceding URL. We’re going to tell you how to get a free color contrast checker. What if we made “Click here” a hyperlink? Those who need assistive technology would have a far more difficult time determining what we are linking to.
Ineffective alt text
If your site currently has unhelpful alt text, it’s time to fix it. When you upload an image, you can include copy that will appear if the image fails to load or if a visitor uses a screen reader to access your site. That’s what alt text is. It also improves your site’s search engine optimization (SEO). Yet, keep in mind that the aim of alt text is to make your site more accessible to users who use assistive technology.
To address alt-text accessibility difficulties, make sure your prose is detailed and provides a written representation of what the graphic depicts. For additional detail on best practices, see our entire guide to picture alt text, but to summarise, keep yours short.
Inappropriate usage of headers
Including headers in your blog posts and on website pages, similar to Alt text, is important for accessibility but also boosts your site’s SEO. The lack of context is the reason why headers are crucial, and their absence causes accessibility concerns.
These provide site visitors with an idea of the page’s structure. Users using assistive technology to view your site may quickly explore it and comprehend the order and cadence.
Consider how perplexing this page would be without the organization offered by headings.
Inadequate keyboard accessibility
Keyboard-accessible navigation is a priority for visitors who cannot explore a site using a trackpad or mouse. As a result, you must guarantee that your site operates well with keyboard navigation.
Custom controls may be required when developing your site. It is also your responsibility to guarantee that consumers can easily navigate between materials and controls. Menus and forms are particularly problematic for keyboard accessibility, so pay close attention to them.
Tables are formatted without regard for accessibility
Tables might cause additional accessibility concerns if they are not properly structured. It is not difficult to create an accessible table, and it reflects your commitment to providing an inclusive digital experience.
To produce an accessible table, provide a summary of the information in the form of a caption or alt-text. Also, make sure you have a header row designated and keep it simple. In other words, don’t nest a table within a table.
Menus and navigation that have not been designed with accessibility in mind.
First and foremost, your menu should be accessible to individuals, whether they use a screen reader, keyboard, or other means. To guarantee that your menu ticks all of the accessibility boxes, utilize recognizable patterns so visitors know what they’re looking for and label the menu appropriately.
If you provide a fly-out menu, there may be difficult for folks who need assistive technologies to access the menu. To enable touchscreen accessibility, ensure that the submenu does not dissipate when users withdraw the mouse from the area.
For example, on our website, you can traverse the submenu by using the arrow keys on your keyboard.
Conclusion
By addressing accessibility concerns, you can ensure that all visitors to your site have a great experience that will entice them to return. Examining these examples of website accessibility concerns will help you understand what excellent — or bad — design looks like in practice.
