Digital accessibility means designing websites and applications that everyone can use, including people with visual, hearing, motor or cognitive disabilities. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), published by the W3C, are the international reference; version 2.2 was published in 2023.
Beyond the obligations that apply in particular to public bodies, an accessible website is easier for everyone to use: on mobile, in bright sunlight, on a slow connection or for an older person. Here are eight checks to carry out first.
1. Sufficient contrast
Body text must have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 with its background to meet level AA. Light grey text on a white background, which is very common, often fails this test. Free tools let you check every colour in your brand palette.
2. Full keyboard navigation
Unplug your mouse and browse your website with the Tab key. Every link, button and field must be reachable, in a logical order, with a clearly visible focus indicator. Drop-down menus and modal windows are the most common traps.
3. Meaningful text alternatives
Every image that carries information should come with alternative text describing its meaning, not its appearance. Purely decorative images, on the other hand, should be ignored by screen readers.
4. A consistent heading structure
Screen reader users often navigate from heading to heading. A page should have a single main heading followed by hierarchical subheadings, without skipping levels.
5. Clear forms
Every field needs a visible label that is programmatically associated with it. Error messages should state exactly what the problem is and how to fix it, without relying on the colour red alone.
6. Adaptable content
Content must remain readable when zoomed to 200% and adapt to a narrow screen without horizontal scrolling. A well-designed responsive layout largely meets this requirement.
7. Captioned media
Videos should offer captions and audio content a transcript. This also helps people browsing your website in a public place, with the sound off.
8. A declared language and plain language
The language of each page must be declared in the code so that screen readers use the right pronunciation. Short sentences and simple vocabulary then benefit every visitor.
Good to know
Automated checking tools detect only some of the problems. Nothing replaces manual testing with a keyboard and a screen reader, ideally complemented by users with disabilities.
Accessibility costs far less when it is considered from the design stage than when it is fixed after launch. That is why we build it into every step of our web projects, from mock-ups to acceptance testing.