Tips about accessibility

Tips about accessibility
18 January 2022     2808

Tips about accessibility


We have already offered you one blog about web accessibility, where we have underlined the importance of this aspect for online business.

As we have explained there: The more accessible your website is the less issues it is going to have with regards to situational or personal factors, which cause users to leave the site.

Additionally, you will be offering your users the type of services which are barely available in Georgia. This will allow you to showcase innovativeness and originality, but first of all - your moral qualities.

Also we will add that: The Bureau of Internet Accessibility has announced WCAG release date which is gonna be sometime this year.


ვებ ხელმისაწვდომობის ლოგოები, აიქონები სხვადასხვა ფერებში


These brand new tools will help us build a better site, while allowing users more options.

When it comes to tips, Candace Bozek from Morweb gives you specific precepts concerning this specific topic.



1. Use contrasting colors and easy to read fonts

Building an accessible site begins with design. Colors with high contrast will help people read the text more easily. Especially if they have vision-related diabilities.

Black and white create the most stark contrast between them, but we should note that you should avoid ever using a black background for white text; it is incredibly unpleasant to look at.

You are also better off avoiding hand-written fonts for the same reasons. In general you should avoid using fonts that are too unique.

Which, naturally, does not mean that you can not get original with your font use. Just have to be practical and considerate, too.


2. Using headers

Implementing headers often and well will allow your users to skip to the parts they are actually interested in.


იგივე აიქონები ნაკლებად მინიმალისტურ სტილში


Header tags should always be in chronological order (e.g h1, h2, h3, etc). The text should be structured with this in mind. To add to that, make sure not to overuse one of the headings too much. It will negatively affect SEO.

Using headers are usually quite good for SEO. If search engines can make out what your content is aimed at then your ranking is positively affected. Google, for example, will identify the content relativity according to your header use.


3. Alt-texts

An alternative text, or alt-text, is a phrase or a word which connects to the website HTML code in order to describe the contents of the picture. An alt-text is useful when it comes to visual impairments.

Morweb, as well as MyGO & Server1, all have their own CMS which lets you add alt-texts without any further complications.

Remember that the alt-text is specifically for those who are unable to see your image. So the more descriptive you are the better. Websites which do not have alt-text are missing out on a significant portion of the audience.

Alt-texts are also a way to improve your SEO, as well as make your visitors feel like you are taking your job seriously.


4. Video captions

According to WCAG 2.1 guidelines you should provide alternative ways to consume media files which are time related. As videos do not have alt-text it becomes vital that you create the captions for them somehow.

There are a few online resources available to help you with this task if you do not have much time on your hands or the resources to hire someone.


5. Footers and links

Including footers will allow for a more seamless navigation and will facilitate for a more investigative approach with regards to your website.


ვებ ხელმისაწვდომობის პოპულარული ლოგო, რომელზეც პატარა ადამიანია ასახული


But this does not mean that you have to include all your information there. You could zero in on the more vital aspects of your company.

For the visually impaired, the traditional mode of navigation is quite tedious so this will help you provide them a better service.


6. Accessibility widgets

One of the major factors when it comes to accessibility is the use of widgets, which allow visitors to

  • Increase/decrease the font
  • Change the font to non-serif type
  • Highlight the links
  • Change the website to grayscale


These setting will allow visitors to customize their user experience as they see fit.


The conclusion

Web accessibility is here to stay. It is not a mere trend. Accessibility should be the cornerstone of any business and its operation. Functionally - you are going to have to accommodate sooner or later. Better to take the lead yourself.


Ika

Ika