If you have a website, you need to know a little bit about web design. From accessibility to design principles to user interfaces and user experience, having some knowledge and background about design can help you keep your website looking great. So, every Friday we’re going to talk about a web design topic to help you out!
Why Website Accessibility Matters
Website accessibility isn’t something nice to have with your website. It’s absolutely a requirement these days. If people who use the keyboard or screen reader or something similar can’t use your website, then you have a bad website. So let’s talk accessibility. Because everyone — everyone — should be able to access your website.
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Website Accessibility: Alternative Text
One of the most prevalent, but easiest accessibility fix is the use of alternative text for your images on the website. This HTML attribute helps screen readers describe the image to the viewer if they need it, and is a key part of website accessibility. So let’s learn about how you can add alternative text to your images.
Watch This Video about Website Accessibility: Alternative Text
Website Accessibility: Headings
Another one of the most prevalent, but easiest accessibility fix is using the correct heading structure. Screen readers and other accessibility technologies use the heading structure to help their users find their way around the page. And using incorrect headings hinders them. So let’s learn about how you can make sure your heading structure is correct. Because everyone — everyone — should be able to access your website.
Watch This Video about Website Accessibility: Headings
Website Accessibility: Color Contrast
Another fix you can make to your website is using the correct color contrast. This is something that’s geared more to web designers and developers that control the colors on the website more. But if you run a website, there’s a lesson in here for you. You should always make sure your text is readable. So let’s learn about how you can make sure your color contrast is correct.
Watch This Video about Website Accessibility: Color Contrast
Web Accessibility: Skip Links
Another fix you can make to your website is using skip links. This is a small section that is usually hidden on the screen, but is available when it’s tabbed on to or to screen readers. And it allows people who use the keyboard, screen readers and other assistive technology to skip having to move through the header and navigation each time they visit a page. So let’s learn about how you can add skip links to your website.
Watch This Video about Web Accessibility: Skip Links
Staying within your website's design
If there’s one thing that annoys me as a web developer, it’s seeing website owners, editors and authors who think they are web designers and create pages that, well, let’s just say they don’t look good. Don’t do that. Your website is designed the way it is for a reason. So use it as intended. And leave the designing to the professionals. Your users will thank you.
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