Web accessibility means ensuring that websites, tools, and technologies are designed and developed so that people with disabilities can use them. More than 1 billion people worldwide have disabilities, and creating accessible websites isn't just the right thing to do—it's also good for business, SEO, and often required by law. This comprehensive guide will teach you how to make your websites accessible to everyone.
Why Website Accessibility Matters
Accessibility is crucial for several compelling reasons:
- Inclusivity - Everyone deserves equal access to information and functionality on the web
- Legal Compliance - Many countries have laws requiring web accessibility (ADA, Section 508, European Accessibility Act)
- Broader Audience - Accessible websites reach more users, including people with disabilities
- Better SEO - Many accessibility practices improve search engine optimization
- Improved Usability - Accessible websites work better for everyone, not just people with disabilities
- Future-Proofing - As populations age, accessibility becomes increasingly important
Important: Accessibility benefits everyone. Captions help people in noisy environments, good color contrast helps people in bright sunlight, and keyboard navigation helps power users who prefer keyboard shortcuts.
Understanding WCAG Guidelines
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are internationally recognized standards for web accessibility. WCAG 2.1 is organized around four principles known as POUR:
1. Perceivable
Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive. This means providing text alternatives for images, captions for videos, and ensuring content can be presented in different ways without losing meaning.
2. Operable
User interface components and navigation must be operable. Users should be able to navigate using keyboard alone, have enough time to read and use content, and avoid content that could cause seizures or physical reactions.
3. Understandable
Information and operation of the user interface must be understandable. Make text readable and understandable, make web pages appear and operate in predictable ways, and help users avoid and correct mistakes.
4. Robust
Content must be robust enough to be interpreted by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies. Use clean, valid HTML and ensure compatibility with current and future assistive technologies.
WCAG Conformance Levels
WCAG defines three levels of conformance:
- Level A - Minimum level of accessibility (essential for some users)
- Level AA - Addresses major barriers (recommended target for most websites)
- Level AAA - Highest level of accessibility (may not be achievable for all content)
Most organizations aim for WCAG 2.1 Level AA conformance, which covers the most common and impactful accessibility requirements.
Essential Accessibility Practices
1. Semantic HTML
Use proper HTML elements for their intended purpose. Headings should use h1-h6 tags, lists should use ul/ol/li tags, and buttons should be button elements, not divs with click handlers. Semantic HTML provides meaning and structure that assistive technologies can understand.
2. Alt Text for Images
Every image must have alternative text that describes its content or function. Use the alt attribute on img tags. For decorative images, use empty alt="" to hide them from screen readers. Good alt text is concise, descriptive, and conveys the same information as the image.
3. Keyboard Navigation
Ensure all interactive elements can be accessed and activated using keyboard alone. Users should be able to tab through all interactive elements in a logical order. Provide visible focus indicators so users know which element has focus. Avoid keyboard traps where users get stuck.
4. Color Contrast
Text and interactive elements must have sufficient color contrast against their background. WCAG AA requires a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text (18pt+). Never use color alone to convey information—combine color with icons, text, or patterns.
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Start Building Free →5. Form Accessibility
Forms must be fully accessible to all users. Label every form field using label elements properly associated with inputs. Provide clear error messages and instructions. Use aria-describedby to associate error messages with fields. Group related fields using fieldset and legend elements.
6. Heading Structure
Use headings (h1-h6) to create a logical document outline. Don't skip heading levels (don't jump from h1 to h3). Each page should have one h1 that describes the main content. Headings help screen reader users navigate and understand page structure.
7. Link Text
Link text should be descriptive and make sense out of context. Avoid generic phrases like "click here" or "read more." Instead use descriptive text like "Download the accessibility report" or "Learn more about WCAG guidelines." Screen reader users often navigate by links alone.
8. Video and Audio Accessibility
Provide captions for all video content (not just auto-generated captions—manual review is essential). Offer transcripts for audio-only content. Provide audio descriptions for video content where visual information is important but not conveyed through dialog.
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ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications)
ARIA attributes provide additional information to assistive technologies when HTML alone isn't sufficient. However, use ARIA sparingly—the first rule of ARIA is "don't use ARIA" if there's a native HTML alternative.
Common ARIA Attributes
- aria-label - Provides an accessible name for elements
- aria-labelledby - References another element as the label
- aria-describedby - References descriptive text for elements
- aria-hidden - Hides decorative elements from screen readers
- aria-live - Announces dynamic content changes
- aria-expanded - Indicates if collapsible content is expanded
Testing Website Accessibility
Regular testing is essential to maintain accessibility. Use multiple testing methods:
Automated Testing Tools
- WAVE - Browser extension that visualizes accessibility issues
- axe DevTools - Chrome extension for comprehensive accessibility testing
- Lighthouse - Built into Chrome DevTools, includes accessibility audits
- Pa11y - Command-line tool for automated testing
Manual Testing
Automated tools catch only about 30% of accessibility issues. Manual testing is crucial:
- Navigate your entire site using keyboard only (no mouse)
- Test with actual screen readers (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver)
- Verify color contrast using contrast checker tools
- Test form submissions and error handling
- Check that dynamic content changes are announced
- Zoom text to 200% and verify layout doesn't break
User Testing
The best way to ensure accessibility is testing with real users who have disabilities. If possible, include people with various disabilities in your user testing process.
Common Accessibility Mistakes
- Missing alt text - Images without alternative text are invisible to screen readers
- Poor color contrast - Low contrast text is difficult or impossible to read
- Keyboard traps - Modal dialogs or widgets that trap keyboard focus
- Auto-playing media - Videos or audio that play automatically can disorient users
- Time limits - Timed content without option to extend or disable time limits
- Unlabeled form fields - Forms without proper labels confuse screen reader users
- Icon-only buttons - Buttons without text or ARIA labels lack meaning
- Skipping heading levels - Disrupts document outline and navigation
Mobile Accessibility
Mobile accessibility requires additional considerations:
- Ensure touch targets are at least 44x44 pixels
- Support screen reader gestures (VoiceOver, TalkBack)
- Test orientation changes (portrait and landscape)
- Ensure pinch-to-zoom is not disabled
- Avoid horizontal scrolling
- Test with mobile screen readers and voice control
Accessibility in BuildNar
When you create websites with BuildNar, accessibility features are built into the exported code. Our platform generates semantic HTML, includes proper heading structure, creates keyboard-accessible components, and follows WCAG best practices by default. This means your websites start with a solid accessibility foundation without requiring specialized knowledge.
Creating an Accessibility Statement
Every website should include an accessibility statement that:
- Describes your commitment to accessibility
- Lists known accessibility issues (if any)
- Provides contact information for accessibility feedback
- States your target WCAG conformance level
- Includes date of last accessibility evaluation
Conclusion
Website accessibility is not optional—it's a fundamental requirement for modern web development. By following WCAG guidelines, using semantic HTML, ensuring keyboard navigation, maintaining color contrast, and testing regularly, you create websites that work for everyone. Accessibility improves usability for all users, enhances SEO, ensures legal compliance, and demonstrates social responsibility.
Remember that accessibility is an ongoing commitment, not a one-time checklist. As you add features and content, continue testing and improving accessibility. The web is for everyone, and accessible design makes the web better for all users.
Ready to build accessible websites? Start with BuildNar and create websites that are inclusive, usable, and accessible to everyone from day one.