Introduction to Website Accessibility & Audits
In today’s digital world, ensuring your website is accessible to everyone is not just about compliance—it’s about creating an inclusive and welcoming experience for alal visitors. Website accessibility is crucial for people with disabilities who may rely on assistive technologies such as screen readers or other devices to navigate online content.
This parent page provides a comprehensive introduction to the various aspects of website accessibility audits, covering key concepts and metrics that you should consider to make your website fully accessible. Each section below links to detailed pages, which delve into the specific topics that will help you understand the full scope of web accessibility and how to improve your site’s usability for all users.
Key Areas of Website Accessibility Audits
- What is a Website Accessibility Audit?
Understand the process and importance of conducting a thorough accessibility audit. We’ll explain the steps involved and how the results can help guide improvements to make your website more inclusive. - Priority 4 Website Accessibility Errors for Screen Readers
Learn how common accessibility errors can affect users with visual impairments who rely on screen readers. We also cover the importance of basic functions like keyboard navigation and how these can be improved. - Automated Website Accessibility Testing
Automated tools can quickly identify some accessibility issues on your website. Here, we explain what automated tests can (and cannot) do, and why manual testing is crucial to uncovering deeper accessibility issues. - Website Coding Errors That Affect Search Engines
Accessibility issues often overlap with SEO problems. Learn how poor coding practices can affect search engine rankings and hinder accessibility, and what simple changes can improve both. - W3C Coding Errors
The W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) sets global standards for web development. We’ll explore the connection between coding errors and accessibility, and how following W3C guidelines can improve the user experience for everyone. - Browser Compatibility
Your website must perform well across various browsers and devices. This section highlights how browser compatibility issues can impact accessibility, and why testing across all browsers is essential for reaching all users. - Usability and Navigation Issues
Accessibility isn't just about meeting technical standards; it’s about creating a website that’s easy to use. This section covers how to improve usability and navigation, ensuring all users have a positive and seamless experience on your site.
Why Website Accessibility Matters
Website accessibility isn’t just a nice-to-have feature—it’s a critical part of your website’s design and functionality. Making your website accessible is not only about providing equal access for those with disabilities but also about improving the overall user experience for everyone. Whether it's enhancing navigation for those with mobility issues, ensuring your site works well with assistive technologies, or improving SEO, there are clear business and ethical benefits to an accessible website.
Ready to Get Started?
If you're concerned about your website’s accessibility or need help with a full audit, we’re here to guide you through the process.
Book a free 15-minute consultation today to discuss your website’s accessibility needs and how we can help make your site more inclusive for all.
What is a Website Accessibility Audit?
The phrase “Website Accessibility Audit” can sound daunting whereas it is actually one of the most positive, inclusive actions you can take as a business or organisation.
It tells the world that you are serious about ensuring that the needs of all the visitors to your website, as far as possible, are met and that you truly wish to get alongside and support them.
WCAG
Introduction to WCAG and Accessibility Standards At Access by Design, we help businesses create websites that not only meet basic accessibility requirements but also go beyond to offer an inclusive, user-friendly experience for all. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are an essential framework for... read more »
Automated Website Accessibility Testing
What are Metrics and what are they used for?
There are 7 main areas that a website can be automatically tested for. They are extremely useful because they can give an indication of the build quality of a website and set the expectations of both Google and an individual who may be undertaking a website accessibility audit
Priority 4
If you a sighted visitor to this website, I would ask you to closer your eyes for a minute. How are you going to navigate through this website? A mouse is of no use because you cannot see what to select. What are you going to do?
This is the problem that many people have to face every day. They have to rely on assistive technologies such as screen readers. A screen reader is software that attempts to "read" the contents of a website through the audio output of your computer, using a computer-generated voice.
Search Engines
If a website is not friendly to search engines, it will have poorer rankings and less people will be able to find it, including those with accessibility needs, so it is therefore very much an accessibility issue!
Search engines are, in effect, blind and they have to rely on the automated processes to assess the build quality (or otherwise) of a website. If their criteria are not met, it is to everyone's disadvantage
W3C Coding Errors
Coding Standards are, in effect, Building Regs for website. These lay out the coding standards that, if adhered to, would lead to websites displaying correctly on more devices, screen sizes and browsers and with fewer errors
This metric is one of many used by Google in determining the build quality of a website and is a significant ranking factor. Everything is relative with Google, the larger the number of errors, the more significantly its position in search engines' listings will be affected
Usability and Navigation Issues
The US Government is considerably more advanced than the UK Government when it comes to website accessibility. It has put together a comprehensive set of guidelines that, whilst not perfect, are extremely thorough and offer detailed guidance on creating the best possible website experience for everyone, regardless of ability or disability
As a business or organisation, your website exists to inform your visitors what you do and how you may be of service to them. The easier you make it for anyone to find out what they want, the more likely they will stay on your website, have a positive experience and feel welcome
Browser Compatibility
If you only check your website in Chrome, you are running the risk that visitors on other browsers may not be able to use your website fully, or, in the worst cases, not at all
Browser-compatibility is also a website accessibility issue as you cannot predict which browser a visitor with accessibility needs might be using