Making a website accessible to everyone, regardless of ability, is not only the right thing to do, but it can also be good for business. According to a study by the National Federation of the Blind, 71 percent of people with disabilities said they would spend more money on businesses with an accessible website or use a service such as accessiBe. In addition, making your website accessible can help you avoid lawsuits.
So how do you make your website more user-friendly for people with disabilities? Here are a few tips:
Use Plain But Clear Language
The language on your website should be easy to understand. Avoid jargon and technical terms, as this can be difficult for people with disabilities to understand. Instead, use clear and concise language. This will make your website more user-friendly for everyone.
Make Sure Your Website Is Compatible With Screen Readers
Screen readers are software programs that allow people who are blind or have low vision to access the information on your website. To make sure your website is compatible with screen readers, you’ll need to use proper code and format your content in an accessible way.
Include Alt Text With Images
Alt-text is a description of an image that screen readers can read. When adding images to your website, be sure to include alt text so that people with disabilities can understand what the image is.
Provide Transcripts for Videos
If you have videos on your website, be sure to provide transcripts. This way, people who are have severe hearing loss or hard of hearing can still access the information in your videos. Another benefit of transcripts is that search engines can use them to index your website, which can help you improve your search engine ranking.
Use Accessible Forms
If you have any forms on your website, such as a contact form or registration form, make them accessible. This means adding labels to all form fields and providing instructions on properly filling out the form. This also includes making sure your form can be submitted using a keyboard, as some people with disabilities cannot use a mouse.
Mistakes to Avoid When Making Your Website Accessible
Now that you know some tips for making your website more user-friendly for people with disabilities let’s look at some mistakes to avoid.
Don’t Use Images of Text
While this may seem like a quick and easy way to add text to your website, it’s not accessible. This is because screen readers can’t read images of text. So, if your website contains images of text, people with disabilities will not be able to access the information.
Don’t Use Color as the Only Way to Communicate Information
For example, don’t use color to indicate required fields on a form. This is because some people with color blindness will not be able to see the difference. Instead, use other indicators, such as an asterisk (*).
Don’t Use Flash
Flash is not accessible to screen readers and can cause problems for people with low vision. If you must use Flash, also provide an alternative way to access the information, such as a text version.
Conclusion
You can make your website more user-friendly for people with disabilities by following these tips. This will help you avoid lawsuits, but it can also be good for business. So, take the time to make your website accessible, and you’ll be sure to see the benefits.
