According to a study by WebIM, Website accessibility issues often occur in the top 1 million pages on the internet. When people come online, their experiences with your web pages are different.
We have the abled and specially-abled (those with physical disabilities) who interact with your websites. It is not uncommon to have website accessibility issues. However, they can be fixed.
If you let these issues linger for too long on your website, you face losing customers and website visitors. It could also be one of the reasons why Google won’t index your site.
This article will give details on what website accessibility issues you might be facing and how they can be fixed.
What is a Website Accessibility Issue?
WHO tells us that 15% of the world’s population lives with some form of disability, and most of them go online. It is quite crucial that you consider these people when building your website.
Website accessibility issues create barriers that have a notable impact on the end user. They can leave your visitors and customers feeling unwanted.
Why is Website Accessibility Important?
There are quite a number of reasons why website accessibility is essential. You need to have a website that anyone, whether abled or specially-abled, can access. It is necessary to give equal access to all those who visit your website.
It shows that your brand cares about everyone and wants the absolute best for them. Also, if you have these issues, people can file a lawsuit against you, and you do not necessarily like that.
Most Common Website Accessibility Issues
There are quite a number of website accessibility issues, but we have listed and explained the most common ones you can find.
1. Color Contrast Issue
For your users, including those with visual impairments, a poor contrast ratio will make it difficult to read the information on your page. The difference between two colors’ perceived “luminance” or brightness is measured by contrast.
If you have poor color contrast on your webpage, it could pose a problem for those who struggle with color blindness.
To make sure that the background colors, text, and interactive components on your website have the proper color contrast ratio, you can also use a color contrast checker.
2. Improper Alt Text For Images
It’s time to fix any unhelpful alt text that is currently present on your website. When you upload an image, you can add text that will show up if the picture doesn’t load or if a visitor uses a screen reader to access your website.
Alt text is necessary for screen reader users who are blind or visually impaired to comprehend visual material. The only way to explain the function of non-decorative images to them is through image alt text.
Make sure your prose is detailed and gives a written explanation of what the graphic depicts in order to address website accessibility issues with alt text.
3. Improper Heading Placements
H1-H6 guides how your content is formatted. It is essential that you always include them in your writing. You would want to separate paragraphs from headings so that your audience can read your articles with clarity.
One of the web accessibility issues is when headings are used in bold text instead of the proper heading structure. Users may become irritated by this, which could harm your SEO.
Proper heading placements provide your website users with an idea of the layout of the page. When this happens, people who access your site using assistive technology can effortlessly explore it and comprehend its sequence and cadence.
4. Bad Linking In text
Making links accessible is crucial because they make up a significant portion of the modern internet. A link must make sense and inform the user of its context; hence, it is not particularly helpful to include “check details” for product specifics in an uninformative link with wording like “read more,” “click here,” or “check details.”
Your word links like “learn more” or “click here” can be erased, and something like “learn more” can be further expanded to a short phrase that talks about what you intend them to learn about.
This is why you would also need a good content writer that can help you out with this issue.
Additionally, make sure that no links have ambiguous link language and that they all work without a mouse when using a keyboard.
5. Incorporating Inaccessible Documents
We recognize that there are situations when you must embed a PDF on your website. However, have you paused to confirm that the PDF is accessible? If not, now is the perfect opportunity to give your PDFs a much-needed makeover.
All of your website’s components should be accessible, not just those that are visible on the page.
In order to achieve this, utilize simple text rather than a picture of content, offer users an accessible way to navigate the PDF, and insert PDF tags.
Accessibility for people with disabilities must be provided for PDFs and other documents that are regarded as digital products. A checker for accessibility is included in several of these programs to assist users.
How To Correct Website Accessibility Errors On Your Website
Correcting website accessibility issues entails locating and resolving problems that can make it difficult for users with disabilities to effectively access and use your website. Here are some broad actions you may do to make your website more accessible:
1. Recognize Accessibility Standards
Become familiar with standards for web accessibility, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These recommendations offer a foundation for producing web content that is accessible. It will guide you in fixing your website accessibility issues.
2. Conduct An Accessibility Audit
Using both automated tools and manual testing, conduct an accessibility audit of your website. This will assist you in locating accessibility issues and problem spots. There are numerous internet resources that can help with the auditing process.
3. Address Coding and Structural Problems
Any underlying coding or structural problems that hinder accessibility should be fixed. For instance, make sure headings are used correctly, semantic markup is used, photos have alt attributes and form elements are labeled appropriately.
Also, add evocative alt text to photos to give screen readers, which are used by people with vision impairments, valuable explanations.
4. Keyboard Accessibility
.Make sure your website is keyboard accessible by testing its usability with just a keyboard. A mouse should not be required to access or use any interactive elements, such as links, buttons, and forms.
Summary
You can make sure that all visitors to your website have a great experience and a desire to return by addressing accessibility issues.
Just make sure that you follow all we have informed you about. If you ever need help, please feel free to reach out to us.
