Web accessibility is a set of best practices to help you ensure that all aspects of your website, from content to design to navigation, are easily understandable and usable by people with disabilities.
If you’re looking for assistance, companies like accessiBe, which offers a hub of web accessibility products and services, can help you improve your accessibility. But in general, there are several common barriers that are hurting the accessibility of your website:
- Poorly coded websites
- Lack of website usability
- Poor color contrast
- Missing alternative text
- Unclear language and jargon
- Poor keyboard navigation
- Missing form labels
Identifying and Overcoming Common Web Accessibility Barriers
As you work on your web accessibility, you should be mindful of the following issues, which commonly occur in non-accessible websites. These barriers occur when writers, developers, and designers don’t prioritize accessible features.
1. Poorly coded websites
Causes: Websites that aren’t built properly, leading to difficult navigation, or confusing or incomplete on-page content for those with screen readers.
Steps to take: Set up all pages with proper HTML structures (H1, H2, H3, etc.) and CSS styles, so all content elements display correctly.
2. Lack of website usability
Causes: Websites that are difficult or time-consuming to use, either because of complicated navigation, language, directions, or design.
Steps to take: Focus on the needs of your users and make their experience as logical and intuitive as possible.
3. Poor color contrast
Causes: Designs that use improper contrast ratios or color combinations for text, menus, and interfaces, which may be incomprehensible to users with color blindness or other visual conditions.
Steps to take: Make sure that all color usage follows WCAG 2.1 standards, so your site displays clearly at all resolutions and formats (desktop, mobile, tablet).
4. Missing alternative text
Causes: Pictures, videos, or audio assets are not viewable by users with visual disabilities who use screen readers.
Steps to take: Include alt-image text, transcriptions, and captions for all rich media. You should also include alt-text for hyperlinks to aid with navigation.
5. Unclear language and jargon
Causes: Overly complicated, dense language that’s full of jargon or colloquial terms, which is confusing for users with or without a screen reader.
Steps to take: Write all on-page copy using simple and direct language, with clear directions and prompts. Be mindful of proper reading levels, depending on your audience’s needs.
6. Poor keyboard navigation
Causes: Navigation that is mouse-only navigation or features poor keyboard options can be difficult for users with movement or visual disabilities.
Steps to take: Include strong keyboard navigation for your entire site, so users have more than one way to move around.
7. Missing form labels
Causes: Forms, checkboxes, or other interactive elements that lack input labels describing their contents for users with screen readers.
Steps to take: Include input labels for all form elements so screen readers can accurately convey what users are supposed to do at every step.
These web accessibility barriers are common problems, even for experienced website professionals. By continuing to focus on user needs and following WCAG 2.1 web standards, you can create consistently accessible experiences for all of your users.
