Making your website accessible for people with disabilities can seem daunting at first, but there are many tips and strategies that you can use to get started. This blog post will discuss some of the most important things to keep in mind when designing an inclusive website for everyone. We will also provide some helpful resources, like accessiBe, that you can use to learn more about creating an inclusive website.
When it comes to making websites inclusive for the disabled, there are a few key things to keep in mind:
Use the right terminology
It is important to use the right terminology when talking about disabilities. Be sure to avoid using offensive or outdated terms, such as “handicapped” or “special needs.” These terms are not only offensive, but they can also be misleading. Instead, use terms like “disability” or “accessible.”
Provide alternative text descriptions
Another important thing to remember is that not all disabilities are visible. For example, someone who is deaf or hard of hearing may not be able to see captions on a video. To ensure that everyone can access your content, provide alternative text descriptions of images, videos, and audio files.
Include captions on videos
As we mentioned before, not all disabilities are visible. This means that some people may not be able to hear the audio on a video. To make sure that everyone can enjoy your video content, be sure to include captions.
Avoid using pop-ups
Pop-ups can be disruptive and difficult to use, especially for people with disabilities. If you must use them, be sure to give users the option to disable them.
Ways to check a site’s inclusiveness
There are a few different ways to test whether or not a website is inclusive of the disabled. One way is to use a screen reader, a software program that reads text aloud. This can be helpful for people who are blind or have low vision.
Another way to check a site’s inclusiveness is to use a keyboard-only test. This test can be helpful for people who have motor disabilities or are unable to use a mouse.
Finally, you can also use a color-blindness simulator to see how your website looks to someone with color blindness.
Tools you can use to make your site more inclusive
There are a few different tools that you can use to make your website more inclusive for the disabled. One tool is accessiBe, a software program that automatically makes websites accessible for people with disabilities.
Another tool you can use is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These guidelines provide a set of standards for making websites accessible.
Other FAQs
Q: What is the difference between inclusive and accessible websites?
A: An accessible website can be used by people with disabilities. An inclusive website has been designed specifically for people with disabilities.
Q: How do I make my website accessible for people with disabilities?
A: There are a few different ways to make your website accessible for people with disabilities. One way is to use a software program like accessiBe. Another way is to follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
Conclusion
Making your website inclusive of the disabled is important, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. There are a few simple things that you can do to get started, like using the right terminology and providing alternative text descriptions. You can also use tools like accessiBe and the WCAG to make your site more accessible.
