The Role of Accessibility in Modern Web Design

What is the role of accessibility in modern web design? 

When it comes to the accessibility of a public structure, the image of a wheelchair ramp before an entrance might be the first thing that comes to mind.

Setting similar features in a website’s design is the reason why the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) made Web Accessibility as a standard among websites.

To better appreciate the role of accessibility, it’s best to have a good grasp first of what it is.

Accessibility In Modern Web Design 101 

Inclusivity has become more like a fad among business organizations for profitability and brand reputation than an ideology or a moral responsibility. 

But when it comes to web design, inclusivity–technically referred to as accessibility–is a necessity for a website’s long-term survival and success. 

1. So what is accessibility?

According to W3C Founder Tim Berners-Lee, the universality of the Web makes it powerful. Universality entails encompassing everyone and any one. 

Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web, stressed that accessibility is an essential aspect of a website.

For websites to be universal, it must be accessible to anyone from anywhere at any time regardless of their physical condition.

2. What is the goal of accessibility?

Accessibility has one main goal, that is to enable persons with disabilities (PWDs) to surf the Web like any regular Netizen does.

Website owners, developers, and designers must then incorporate the necessary features and functionalities in a website to make this happen.

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)–currently ver 3.1–was thus developed by W3C as an international standard to help website owners, web developers, and web designers fulfill their responsibility.

3. What does the current Web Content Accessibility Guidelines say?

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines is currently on the third version of its working draft (WCAG 3.0; May 28, 2024). 

It provides a diversified range of recommendations on how to make a website truly accessible to the following people who experience:

• blindness,
• low vision,
• vision impairments,
• deafness,
• hearing loss,
• limited movement,
• dexterity,
• speech disabilities,
• sensory disorders,
• cognitive disabilities,
• learning disabilities,
• motor disabilities,
• or a combination of any of the above-mentioned conditions.

The guidelines assess if the multi-faceted content of a website meets the specifications for accessibility based on desired outcomes set by W3C.

The specifications particularly deal with each type of content ranging from animation to forms and layout. In particular, it has a section each for:

• Animation and Movement,
• Forms, Inputs, and Errors,
• Processes and Task, Completion,
• Image and Media Alternatives,
• Interactive Components,
• Input/Operation,
• Layout,
• Consistency Across Views,
• Policy and Protection,
• Text and Wording,
• Help and Feedback,
• User Control,
• Conformance,
• User-Generated Content,
• Privacy Considerations, and
• Security Considerations.

The W3C recommends that website owners, web designers, and web developers constantly check the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines for updates so that it could be implemented accordingly in their website. 

4. What are the four principles behind the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines?

As per Pink Dog Digital, the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines could be summarized into four principles represented by the acronym POUR. This stands for perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.

• Perceivable 

Web Content needs to be easily seen and read by all visitors regardless of the limitations of their senses. The visitors must easily become aware or conscious of a website’s typography, creative elements, and overall message once it has loaded.

To make this possible, the Web Accessibility Guide requires, among others:

• Proper contrast for colors and audio quality should be made. While images, videos, and forms must be assigned with corresponding alternative text.
• Options for adjusting text size or type and for modifying contrast should be provided.   

• Operable

Web content can be explored accordingly regardless of the tool used to navigate it. 

By tool, this pertains to a mouse, a sensory or touch pad, a keyboard, and other assistive technologies used by Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) to navigate websites and computer applications with.

This also pertains to website content functioning properly in any device. Appropriate considerations for compatibility issues and additional software downloads must be foreseen beforehand to avoid frustrations in accessing content.

Content should also not take too much time to be downloaded on the screen.

• Understandable

Communication is efficient if the message is conveyed clearly by the sender and deciphered conveniently by the recipient. This is what a website is expected to do as a means or tool of communication. 

Thus, the website’s content must have a neat and orderly layout wherein appropriate headings are used for ease understanding content and its flow. 

Implementing a visual hierarchy in the layout and using a minimalist approach in the design is then much recommended.

The language of the copywriting must be simple, clear, and concise. In the event that technical words are used, the appropriate definition should be provided within the content or within easy reach such as an online glossary.

• Robust

A website and its content should be flexible and compatible with the diverse assistive technologies available in the market today.

This means that PWDs can access website content without any hassle if they use screen readers, tools for screen magnification, and tools for voice recognition.

It is also compatible with any Operating System and internet browser.

These principles are also how the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guide is divided into parts or topics.

Now that the basics of accessibility is discussed, time to go through its important roles in web design.

Accessibility In Modern Web Design: 5 Important Roles

The primary role of accessibility in modern web design is to design content that caters to a wider audience. It serves as a means to create a better consumer journey for higher conversions.

In addition, it improves features and functionality for better user engagement. It also enhances content for search engine optimization. 

That is on top of developing a high-performing website that meets international and legal standards.

1. Cater to a wider audience

Accessibility in modern web design enables more people–including those with disabilities–to use a website with equal footing. This means that a wider audience is granted access to the website whenever accessibility practices are integrated in the design of its content. 

2. Create a better consumer journey 

Accessibility in modern web design serves as a means to create a better consumer journey for higher conversions. This is the result of streamlining the website navigation to be as clear and logical as possible.

So much so that navigation becomes intuitive by:

• Implementing breadcrumbs that effectively help visitors find what they need and know where they are in the website,
• Shortening the checkout process to as little steps as possible,
• Adding descriptive labels in forms,
• Setting session timeout to a moderate length in consideration of assistive technologies used by PWDs,
• Providing cues for direction when exploring content through visual hierarchy and call-to-action buttons, and
• Using clear instructions and visible linkages within the text, among others.

3. Achieve better user engagement

Accessibility in modern web design improves features and functionality for better user engagement. 

Website features that actually work even through the use of assistive technologies means lesser visitor frustration. 

While website functionalities that remain consistent–such as fast loading streaming content–regardless of device or browser translates to lesser visitor pain points.

The result is more people staying longer in the website to explore its content and engage with it.

4. Enhance search engine optimization

Accessibility in modern web design enhances content for search engine optimization. Websites with streamlined and intuitive navigation are user-friendly, which is one factor that leads to search engine visibility. 

The same goes for websites with fast loading times and have high user engagement.

Incorporating accessibility standards in a website’s design not only opens a company to cater to a wider audience but also opens the website to higher visibility online.

5. Meet international and legal standards

Accessibility in modern web design, of course, is meant to help companies meet international and legal standards.

It acts like an umbrella that protects a website’s owner from legal complications while keeping visitors happy in browsing its international-standards-compliant content.

In A Nutshell: Accessibility In Modern Web Design

Accessibility is a necessity in modern web design. It enables equal opportunity in using a website to all people despite sensory disabilities or limitations. Accessibility has many roles in web design, that overall, leads to high quality user experience and business growth.

FAQs

1. What is accessibility in terms of web design?

Accessibility in web design is incorporating practices and standards in the manner, features, and functions of a website’s content that enables its easy and convenient use by any visitor.

2. Why is accessibility in web design really important?

Accessibility in web design is important because not only does it increase a website’s performance and visibility online but also leads to growth opportunities for the website’s owner.

3. What are examples of accessibility in web design?

Examples of accessibility in web design is the accessibility menu that enables visitors to adjust contrast and font size of a website. Another example is compatibility of website content with Braille, screen readers, and other assistive technology. Adding alternative text to images, videos, and audio in a website.