steps-to-accessibility
Providing accessibility

  • Providing accessibility to the website is a process that includes integration of features and various technological measures which help people with disabilities browse the website and enjoy its content. For example, a description will allow vision-impaired users to use the software for reading include voice and video link for media players such as YouTube.

    So what do we need to make website accessible? In the next article we'll outline the different needs, stages of labor and web accessibility related technologies.

    The first step - defining the need.
    If you've made a decision to create a new site, make sure it will be built in advance as an accessible one.
    If you are planning to make the existing site accessible, contact a professional to perform it for you.
     
    What makes website accessible?
    List of requirements for accessible site is made to ensure that every person with disabilities could benefit from the accessibility. The full list can be found in the law of equal rights for people with disabilities.

    Principles of Accessibility

    Perceivable - Available through sight, hearing, or touch.
    Operable - Compatible with keyboard or mouse.
    Understandable - User-friendly, easy to comprehend.
    Robust - Works across browsers, assistive technologies, mobile devices, old devices/browsers, etc. Follows standards.

    The main requirements are:

    Voice narration: option for reading texts using software that processes the voice narration (there is no need to record the content, but only to allow third-party software to use it).

    Provide appropriate alternative text - every non-text element needs a text alternative (alt text) that provides an equivalent to the image content.

    Content is well structured and clearly written - use the simplest language appropriate for your content, organize your content using true headings (e.g., <h1>) and lists.

    Help users navigate to relevant content - provide a link that allows the user to skip over navigation to the main content in the page.

    Possibility of browsing the website using the arrow and tab key and the option to use the keys for various operations such as confirmation by pressing ENTER.

    Ensure users can complete and submit all forms - put form labels adjacent to or near their controls, so the labels are associated visually.

    Caption and/or provide transcripts for media - Videos and live audio must have captions and a transcript. A transcript is sufficient for archived audio.

    Ensure that the page is readable and usable when fonts are enlarged 150-200%.

    Using clear colors and contrast to facilitate browsing for the visually impaired.


    It is important to ensure that the site meets all accessibility standarts. The tests should be carried out by a professional developer and include examination of WCAG 2.0 test with a screen reader. In addition, the accessibility of the site must be supported by uploading new content that is accessible by standarts.