Ensuring websites are accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities, is essential for providing an inclusive online experience. Unfortunately, many websites inadvertently create barriers that prevent people with disabilities from fully accessing content and services.
The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) requires websites to maintain accessibility for people with hearing, vision, and other disabilities who may not be able to fully access or engage with the content as-is. Accessible websites should have the following characteristics. If you aren’t sure if your website is ADA-compliant, contact us for an ADA SEO audit.
Here, we’ll explore some of the most common accessibility issues found on websites and provide practical solutions for fixing them.
1. Lack Of Alternative Text For Images
Issue: Images without alternative text (alt text) prevent users who are blind or visually impaired from understanding the content of images displayed on the website.
Solution: Always provide descriptive alt text for every image on your website. Alt text should convey the purpose and content of the image concisely and accurately. For decorative images that do not convey important information, use empty alt attributes (alt=””) to indicate they are purely decorative.
2. Insufficient Color Contrast
Issue: Low color contrast between text and background makes it difficult for users with low vision or color blindness to read content.
Solution: Ensure that text has a color contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 against its background for normal text and 3:1 for large text (18pt or 14pt bold). Use tools such as the WebAIM Color Contrast Checker to verify color contrast ratios and make necessary adjustments.
3. Inaccessible Forms
Issue: Forms that are not properly labeled, organized, or navigable pose challenges for users who rely on screen readers or keyboard navigation.
Solution: Ensure each form field is properly labeled using <label> elements or aria-label attributes. Group related form elements using <fieldset> and <legend> elements to provide context. Ensure forms are navigable using only a keyboard (tab key) and validate input fields to provide meaningful error messages.
4. Lack Of Keyboard Accessibility
Issue: Websites that require a mouse for navigation or interaction exclude users who rely on keyboard navigation due to motor disabilities.
Solution: Ensure all interactive elements, including menus, links, buttons, and form fields, can be accessed and operated using only a keyboard. Use semantic HTML elements (<button>, <a>, <input>) and ensure they are focusable and have visible focus states (e.g., using CSS :focus styles).
5. Inaccessible Multimedia Content
Issue: Videos and audio content without captions, transcripts, or audio descriptions exclude users who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Solution: Provide captions or subtitles for all video content to ensure accessibility for users who are deaf or hard of hearing. Include transcripts for audio-only content and provide audio descriptions or alternative formats for visual content that conveys important information.
By addressing these common accessibility issues on your website, you can significantly improve usability and ensure that all users, regardless of their abilities, can access and interact with your content effectively. Investing in accessibility benefits not only users with disabilities but also contributes to a more user-friendly and socially responsible online presence. For an ADA website audit and personalized solutions for ADA-compliance, contact Web Compliance Solutions today.
