When you’re kicking off a new web project, it’s easy to focus on exciting features and visual design. But here’s something that often gets pushed aside until it’s almost too late: accessibility. The truth? Accessibility isn’t just a box to check off at the end of development; it’s a fundamental part of creating an inclusive, user-friendly experience from day one. To truly succeed, you need to start accessibility early.
Think about it: no one wants to realize their new website or app needs major tweaks just to be usable for everyone. Starting accessibility early not only benefits people with disabilities but boosts usability for all your users, saves you money, and keeps you in line with standards like Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). And who doesn’t want to avoid headaches later on?
Let’s break down why embedding accessibility into your project from the very beginning is worth every bit of effort—and how to make it happen smoothly.
Why Start Accessibility Planning from the Beginning?
Making accessibility a priority from day one can feel like a big commitment, but here’s what you gain by choosing to start accessibility early:
Avoid Costly Retrofits
Fixing accessibility issues at the end of a project can mean reworking significant parts of your site—an expensive and time-consuming ordeal. Imagine designing your site, launching it, and then realizing it doesn’t meet accessibility standards. Adding features like keyboard navigation or fixing color contrast at that point can mean redoing large chunks of your design. Planning for these details early on keeps everything smoother (and kinder on your budget).
Enhance User Experience for All
When you start accessibility early, you set the stage for a user experience that is friendly and inclusive for everyone. Accessibility isn’t just for those with disabilities—it’s for everyone. Features like clear navigation, easy-to-read text, and well-labeled elements make browsing better for all users. Designing with accessibility in mind from the start ensures these benefits are baked in, rather than added later.
Stay Compliant and Avoid Legal Issues
Starting with WCAG standards and other accessibility guidelines from the get-go helps you avoid legal hiccups. These guidelines form the backbone of inclusive web design and ensure you’re in line with regulations like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Following these rules early on makes compliance one less thing to worry about.
How to Integrate Accessibility into Each Stage of Development
Accessibility can be woven into every phase of your project with just a bit of planning. Here are some actionable steps for developers and designers:
Design with Accessibility in Mind
From the beginning, designers play a critical role in accessibility by setting the structure and visual flow of a project. Here are a few accessibility best practices to incorporate during the design phase:
Color Contrast and Readability
Make sure your text is easy to read against its background. According to WCAG guidelines, regular text should have at least a 4.5:1 contrast ratio, while larger text should have a 3:1 contrast ratio. Testing tools like WebAIM’s Color Contrast Checker make this quick and easy to verify.
Intuitive Layout and Navigation
A clear, intuitive layout ensures all users can navigate your site. Place navigation elements consistently, keep forms simple, and use ample white space to make content easier to digest. These are just a few examples of how to start accessibility early in your design strategy.
Descriptive Text for Buttons and Links
Buttons and links should have descriptive text that tells the user exactly what will happen when they click. Instead of a vague “click here,” label it with “Learn More About Accessibility,” for example. Clear labels improve navigation for users and assistive technologies alike.
Use the Right HTML Tags
Developers can make a huge impact when they start accessibility early by using semantic HTML. Semantic HTML tags—like <header>, <main>, <nav>, and <footer>—convey the structure of your webpage to screen readers and other assistive devices, helping users navigate more effectively.
Proper HTML Markup
Use headings (<h1>, <h2>, etc.) in a logical order, and never skip heading levels. This creates a clear hierarchy for users relying on screen readers and assists everyone in navigating your content.
Descriptive Alt Text for Images
Screen readers rely on alternative text (alt text) to describe images to visually impaired users. Ensure every image with meaningful content has a description that conveys what’s in the image or its purpose. If the image is purely decorative, use an empty alt attribute (e.g., alt=" ") to signal to screen readers that it can be ignored.
ARIA Attributes
Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) roles and attributes provide additional context where HTML alone may fall short. For example, you can use aria-label to describe the function of a button or aria-live to notify screen readers of real-time changes, like alerts.
Test for Accessibility as You Go
Testing for accessibility throughout development lets you catch issues early before they become a headache to fix. Here’s how to implement regular accessibility checks:
Automated Accessibility Tools
Automated testing tools like Lighthouse and WAVE can detect many common accessibility issues, such as missing alt text or incorrect heading levels. However, keep in mind that while these tools are valuable, they’re not a complete solution.
Manual Testing and Keyboard Navigation
Not all accessibility features can be evaluated by automated tools, so manual testing is essential. Many users with disabilities rely on keyboards instead of a mouse, so test your site using keyboard navigation alone. Make sure users can access all interactive elements (like links, forms, and buttons) and follow a logical tab order.
Screen Reader Testing
Use screen readers like NVDA (for Windows) or VoiceOver (for Mac) to simulate how users with visual impairments experience your site. This will help you catch any missing descriptions, confusing elements, or awkward navigation.
Get Feedback from Users with Disabilities
Involving people with disabilities in testing phases offers invaluable insights. Real users bring unique perspectives that automated tools or simulated testing just can’t replicate.
Plan for Inclusive Testing
Recruit a diverse group of testers who use different assistive technologies, including screen readers, magnification software, and voice control. Their feedback can reveal practical challenges and usability issues you might not anticipate.
Iterate Based on Feedback
Make adjustments based on real-world experience and retest if needed. Accessibility is an ongoing process, and user feedback will help you understand where improvements are necessary.
Regularly Check Your Site
Keeping your site accessible isn’t a one-and-done task—it’s an ongoing process. Regular audits help ensure that your site or app stays up to date with accessibility standards as you make changes or add new features. These check-ups can catch any issues that might have been overlooked during development, or that pop up over time. But audits alone don’t cover everything; that’s where regular monitoring comes in.
Services like a11y.Radar makes a big difference by providing continuous monitoring to help keep your website accessible. With automated checks and detailed reports, a11y.Radar alerts you to potential issues early on so you can fix them before they turn into bigger problems. Plus, it helps you stay aligned with current WCAG guidelines, which are always evolving.
Combining regular audits with a monitoring service like a11y.Radar keeps your site running smoothly and ensures a user-friendly experience for everyone.
Building a Culture of Accessibility
Making accessibility a foundational part of your development culture is key to sustaining these practices long term. Here are some ideas to foster an accessibility-first mindset in your team:
Educate and Train Your Team
Provide training on accessibility guidelines and tools for all team members, from designers and developers to project managers and content creators. Workshops, webinars, and resources on WCAG standards and inclusive design can help create a shared understanding of accessibility’s importance.
Keep Accessibility Resources Available
Ensure your team has access to accessibility checklists, WCAG guidelines, and tool recommendations. Having these resources easily accessible means team members can refer to them at any stage of development.
Regularly Review and Share Accessibility Wins
Celebrate small successes, such as completing accessibility testing on a new feature or receiving positive feedback from an accessibility audit. Recognizing and sharing progress reinforces the importance of this work and motivates your team to continue prioritizing accessibility.
Helpful Tools for Accessibility
There are a variety of helpful tools for accessibility checks and improvements. Here are a few top options:
- WebAIM’s Color Contrast Checker: Verifies that contrast meets WCAG standards for readability.
- Lighthouse and WAVE: An open-source accessibility tool that runs quick checks on your web pages for WCAG compliance.
- Screen Readers: Test with NVDA (Windows), VoiceOver (Mac), and TalkBack (Android) to experience your site from the perspective of visually impaired users.
- ARIA Authoring Practices Guide: This guide provides information on implementing ARIA roles and attributes to enhance assistive technology compatibility.
Ready to Make Accessibility Part of Your Game Plan?
So, there you have it—starting accessibility early isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a win-win for everyone involved. By weaving accessibility into your project from day one, you’re not only sidestepping costly revisions but also crafting a better experience for all your users. Plus, you’re keeping things legally sound, which is always a good move.
But we get it—navigating the world of WCAG guidelines and accessibility best practices can feel a bit like decoding a secret language. If you’re ready to start accessibility early in your web development process without complicating your project, let’s talk. Schedule an ADA briefing with us at 216digital, and we’ll guide you through your journey in plain English (no tech jargon). Let’s work together to make the digital world a more inclusive place—one accessible website at a time.
