Accessibility = Good Design

The internet is such a big part of our lives, imagine for a moment NOT being able to access it. How, for example, would you surf the web if you were suddenly blinded, lost the use of your hands or suffered an injury that impaired your cognitive ability?

This is daily life for a lot of people.

Fortunately there are technologies such as screenreaders that allow people with disabilities to access content on the web.

Still, that’s only part of the solution.

A screenreader works well if the web page is designed well. If the text is clear and structured logically then the screenreader will speak aloud the words and the listener will be able to understand the intent of the page.

Sadly, though, websites are often a mess: a jumble of images, menus, buttons, animated gifs, forms, pop-ups, sound effects and poorly written text.

How is a screenreader to zero in on what’s important with all this going on?

It can’t.

While sighted users can usually sort through the clutter, visually impaired users are often frustrated.

Try it yourself sometime: download a screenreader, don a blindfold and visit one of your favourite websites.

Why is this an important issue?

First, from the human rights perspective, making websites more accessible is simply the right thing to do. And from a business perspective it can boost profit.

How?

Simply put, accessible design is good design, period.

Good writing, easy navigation, clean layout, a judicious use of colour and images – these are essential components of accessibility. And they benefit ALL users, which can only help your business.

What can you do?

Accessible design is an evolving field that can be very technical and complicated, but fortunately there are a few simple things you can do:

Remove clutter

Does your website home page look like a grocery store flyer gone wild? Omit needless words and images and aim for a simple, clean layout.

Get all hierarchical

Think “reverse pyramid.” Put your most important content at the top, arrange the rest in descending priority.

Think in chunks

We don’t read online; we scan. Break up long blocks of text. Write short. Use headings, bullets and numbered lists. 

Make sure your pictures tell a story

If you need to use a photo, video, chart or illustration make sure to use captions, “alt text,” and/or sub-titles to describe what’s going on. Otherwise your visually-impaired users will “see” nothing, literally.

Think when you link

When you insert a link, avoid saying “click here.” Not only does it have no meaning (where is “here?”), it’s also impossible to click if you’re pressing your thumb on a phone or if, say, you are using a form of assistive technology to navigate and you don’t have a mouse.

Instead, use active verbs such as download, get, learn, search, submit, enter or visit.

Or tell the reader where the link goes. Visit our events calendar, for example. View our price list. Enter our photo contest. Check out our membership packages.

After all that work, how do you know if your site is accessible?

There are web-based tools you can use such as AChecker or Wave as well as professional service providers who can help you.

You should also review the Ontario government requirements at ontario.ca/accessibility.

But why not ask someone with a disability? Sit with them and witness their experience as they visit your site.

What better testing is there than direct from the customer?

Tony Maxwell
Advisor, Communications
Town of Caledon

This column was contributed to the Caledon Citizen as part of a regular series from the Town of Caledon Economic Development Office.