We’ve all been there, on a website that just seems not to work at all as we expect it to. Maybe the text is too small, the colors are fighting with each other, or the navigability is impossible to figure out. Now, imagine trying to use that same website if you have a visual impairment or another disability. That would most likely be frustrating. That’s where web accessibility comes in. But here’s the good news: Integrating accessibility into your existing design workflow need not be a humongous overhaul. With these few thoughtful adjustments, you will create a space where more and more people can use your digital product and enjoy it.
Understanding the Basics of Web Accessibility
But before going deep into the processes on how to make your workflow more accessible, let’s have some basics. Web accessibility is the process of making sure everyone, regardless of their abilities, can use your website. That boils down to getting rid of barriers put in place between people and content, which may lead to their exclusion on the basis of some disability they may have. Sounds important, right? That is because it is. Not only is web accessibility considered an initiative that creates a better user experience, but it is now becoming a legislated requirement in many countries.
At the root of accessible good news lies the POUR principle: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust. These are the foundation stones of accessible design. In other words, your content needs to be perceivable (either seen or heard by users), operable (navigable and interactive), understandable (making sense), and robust (interoperable).
Assessing Your Current Design Workflow
Alright, what are you doing right now to start incorporating accessibility into the design process? First, take a little look at where you are right now. Do an accessibility audit with the current workflow. This may sound very technical, but actually, it’s just the acknowledgment of the gaps where accessibility might be improved. Are you thinking about accessibility right from the beginning, or is it an afterthought?
Well, user feedback will come really in handy here, especially when given by those who are differently abled. This will tell you how exactly things are working out and what needs to be improved. After all, they will be the ones who will use your site.
Integrating Accessibility into the Design Phase
Now that you’ve assessed where you are, now is the time to start baking accessibility right in from the design phase. Huge plus? You can do this without wholly rewriting your process. You can, first of all, begin designing for accessibility from the very ground up. Choose color schemes with adequate contrast in order for people to be able to read text, and pick fonts that are clean and readable.
Plus, there are many invaluable tools in their own right. With color contrast checkers and screen reader testing tools, for instance, with which one may help ensure that designs are accessible before even starting to code. In creating wireframes and prototypes, think about how all people with different abilities are going to experience your designs. This attention to detail early on will save you time, full of headaches, later.
Ensuring Accessibility in the Development Phase
Now, let’s talk about development. Creating an accessible website is one thing, but it also has to be developed to work that way. Begin with the basics—writing clean, semantic HTML. This will help screen readers interpret your content more accurately and provide some inherent accessibility on your site from the very start.
ARIA roles can be really powerful here, too. They are supposed to make complex interactive elements like menus and forms accessible. By implementing them right, you’ll provide an enhanced user experience for everyone using assistive technologies.
Remember, testing is very important too. Regularly test your site for accessibility—use website accessibility testing tools. You will thus be able to identify possible pitfalls very early and hence assure that your site will remain accessible over time.
Training Your Team on Accessibility Best Practices
But the thing is, accessibility is not one person’s job, nor even a team’s job; it is everyone during design and development. And that’s where training comes in: give your team the learning they need to be able to implement accessibility in their work, whatever their discipline: designers, developers, or content creators.
Make an accessibility checklist, a central go-to resource for the team. All considerations throughout your workflow should be within this checklist, and making sure that fostering this culture from the very beginning will make it a very natural consideration throughout the process, rather than thinking about it last.
Using Accessibility Tools and Resources
Don’t ever feel like you need to go it alone; there are plenty of tools and resources to help you along the way. Accessibility tools like WAVE, Axe, and Lighthouse can help in not only knocking out potential problems but also letting a lead time work on them. Online communities and resources will provide guidance and support in the process of working up your site’s accessibility.
It’s also good to be in touch with the latest accessibility guidelines, including the new updates to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. You, therefore, need to be at the best position to build an all-inclusive accessible website.
Overcoming Common Accessibility Challenges
Of course, this doesn’t come without its challenges: limited resources, technical hurdles, continuous maintenance—all the reasons that make accessibility integration feel daunting. Don’t worry, there are ways through these problems.
Begin with high-impact items when resources are limited. For example, enhanced contrast ratios or the allowance for keyboard navigation will bring about great benefits. Most technical challenges can be addressed by breaking them into smaller, more manageable pieces. Remember that accessibility is not a one-off exercise. Active development and testing are essential to maintain an accessible website.
