When it comes to website design it’s important that you take into consideration everybody who may be using it. For example, aspects of your website that would normally work perfectly fine for fully-sighted people may be very difficult to navigate for those with sight loss or other disabilities. In the United Kingdom, as of 2020, there are currently over 2 million people living with some degree of sight loss. That being said, so much of the world operates online which is why it’s crucial that their needs are taken into account. Here are some different ways to make sure that your website is easily accessible for those with visual impairments.
One of the first things you can do to make your website more accessible is to ensure that users can easily adjust the text size according to their preference. When choosing a font for your website, make sure it is one that can easily accommodate different text sizes while still being legible. Additionally, the layout of your website should not change when users enlarge different areas of text. You may also consider offering a text-only version to allow users to manipulate the text at ease.
When deciding on the colour scheme for your website, it’s a good idea to use colours that contrast, especially in areas with large volumes of text. Even for those with perfect sight, certain colours are difficult to read. For example, having blue text on a purple background will be a nightmare for whoever is trying to read it.
If you want to have a look at other impacts colour has on website design and branding, take a look here.
Not only is the look of your website important when it comes to accessibility, so is the functionality. For example, allow users to navigate the website using arrow keys and other keyboard shortcuts. This also helps make the website easier to use for people using bigger screen sizes. It’s a great idea to have an understanding of the different keyboard shortcuts that may be used. This gives you the opportunity to optimise any aspects of the web design to better suit those functions.
A lot of people with sight loss and other visual impairments often rely upon screen reading technology to help them use their devices. These text-to-speech engines essentially translate the words on their devices into spoken language. They also have the capability to be translated into braille, so that when the words on the screen change, the correct braille is displayed. When designing your website, it is crucial that you include screen reader compatibility.
If your website doesn’t already have a mobile version, we highly recommend you doing so. Mobile compatibility increases the functionality and overall user experience when people are visiting your website on their phones. Additionally, allow users to access the mobile version from their desktops if they wish. Elements are often simplified and generally easier to navigate, which allows those with visual impairments to browse your website in the medium that suits them best.
Overall, when designing a website there are a lot of things to take into consideration, especially when it comes to accessibility. Hopefully, this article provided you with some insights to help make sure that all of your web design projects allow all users easy access to information. If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call. We’d be happy to help.