Why is it important to have a universally designed website?
Universal design ensures that everyone, regardless of disability, has the opportunity to use your website. In other words, universal design is important to contribute to an equal society where everyone can have access to different services.
A universally designed website is not only more accessible for those with disabilities - the basic principles of universal design make the website more user-friendly for all visitors!
Read more about what universal design is.
Who does accessibility apply to?
Whether you have a website, application, physical service or ICT solution, accessibility applies to you. In today's digital world, it's crucial that businesses emphasize accessibility to avoid excluding individuals. In addition, it is essential to ensure that everyone has access to important services and information.
Checklist for an accessible website
- How accessible is your website today?
Perform a test and get an overview of how your website is performing. This allows you to easily change elements that your website scores poorly on. - Are headings and sub-headings used in the text?
All pages should have the correct heading level, not just a bold font. This gives the content on the website a structured hierarchy. - Does the text have explanatory link texts?
Give the links on the website a meaningful name so that the user understands where they end up. Try to avoid links such as "click here", "read more" and "here", they are not clear enough. Double-check that the links take the user to the right place, and feel free to use a different color for the link. - Is your content understandable and easy to read?
Write in clear language so that everyone understands. Use full stops often, explanatory headings and one topic per paragraph. - Do you use lists in your content?
Use bulleted lists in your content to list things, which makes it easier for the user to read the text quickly. - Does the website have good contrasts?
Good content is of little use if it is not possible to read it. Use colors to highlight the contrast between text and background color. This gives the reader a good overview of the content and what is important. - Is there alternative text on images and illustrations?
Add text to images and illustrations, which describes well what you see. This helps a person who is blind to visualize it. Prioritize images that add value to the text and help the user to take action. - Are there video clips on the website?
Make sure that videos and audio tracks that are posted are subtitled. Subtitles are necessary for people who can't hear, but they are also useful as more and more people want to watch videos without sound. - Does the website have clear navigation?
Make sure you have an intuitive menu structure so that it is easy for users to find what they are looking for.
Do you want help with accessibility?
A universally designed website is very important and something everyone should have! Using the nine points in the checklist, you can ensure that your website is. We are happy to help you with your website and design, read more about our services here.