Thanks to Covid-19, Website Accessibility Has Never Been More Important
- Vision: Contrast sensitivity can be reduced, color perception can be difficult, and focus can be hard, making web pages particularly difficult to read when text is not crisp, clear and large. Someone with cataracts, macular degeneration or any other impairment causing low vision may not be able to fully engage and interact with a website if it isn’t created to support zooming or provide options to enlarge text.
- Motor control and dexterity: Using a mouse can be difficult, painful or even simply impossible for some users. Clicking that mouse or pressing that button, especially on small call-to-action buttons, can be similarly challenging. If you have developed severe tremors that have made it impossible to use a mouse to navigate, a website will only be usable if measures have been taken to support visual focus and keyboard navigation.
- Cognitive function: The modern web is dynamic, interactive and ever-changing. For example, fast moving carousels that rapidly transition from one block of information to the next can be too overwhelming for those requiring more time to read and process information. Controls are needed to pause highly interactive features and functions.
- Hearing: As we get older, our hearing gets weaker. It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that, for seniors, multimedia content such as videos, podcasts, and other formats can present barriers if captioning and transcripts aren’t provided.
Readability
- Use relative font-sizes and ensure text containers resize.
- Use legible fonts. When in doubt, use sans serif fonts such as Arial, Open Sans, Helvetica or similar.
- Consider color blindness and consistently use a high level of contrast between text foreground colors and background color. Ensure a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1.
- Make sure links are clearly marked. Using color, alone, is insufficient, whereas underlining helps identify links.
- Avoid overuse of symbols, acronyms, and iconography. Use text instead.
Function
- Create enough space between clickable elements such as buttons and links.
- Test your site as a keyboard user; make sure focusable elements receive focus and that focus is clearly identified; provide skip navigation links to enable greater keyboard navigation efficiency.
- Make sure link or button purpose is properly conveyed. Users shouldn’t have to guess where they will be taken to next.
- Provide controls to pause auto-rotating carousels or animated content. Users may need more time to read, understand, and interact.
- Make sure forms are properly labelled; avoid using placeholder text that disappears on focus.
- Ensure proper error handling and make sure any alert notifications and modal interfaces are keyboard accessible.
Organization
- Make sure navigation is consistent, easy to follow, and predictable across the site.
- Take the time to integrate breadcrumbs, so users can better track their location within the context of your navigation hierarchy.
- Avoid distracting content, excessive amounts of information and use plain-spoken language.
Multimedia
- Older viewers may experience a decline in both auditory and visual perception. Be sure to make your videos accessible with captions.
- Provide transcripts for audio-only content.
Sean Bradley
Sean Bradley is AudioEye’s Co-founder, President, and Chief Strategy Officer. Throughout his career, Sean has been recognized as an innovative leader in technology. In addition to AudioEye, Inc., Sean has co-founded multiple technology companies. Sean has a track record of bringing to market timely digital platforms and products, which have been relied upon by some of the largest and most influential businesses in the world.
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