The Importance of Accessibility In Web Design

Accessibility is often discussed in terms of physical accessibility--wheelchair ramps, accessible hotel rooms, and reserved parking spaces. However, accessibility matters in web design too. Some visitors to your website may be visually impaired, sensitive to certain types of displays, have severe hearing loss. Accommodating these visitors is just as important as your SEO strategy. Let’s discuss the importance of accessibility in web design.First off, making accessibility accommodations is not simply a courtesy, but a standard. Many search engines now take accessibility when determining rankings. Though, this should not be the main motivation for making a site everyone can use. Many of the accommodations are easy to make and implement. Some require little to no extra effort on the part of your team. Some of the simplest things you can do to make your website more accessible include:

• Add alt text and tags
• Add subtitles and/or transcripts for all videos
• Allow users to make text bigger if necessary
• Let the user change the display to suit their needs
• Avoid flashing gifs, videos, or imagery

To learn more about accessibility in web design, call us at 206-787-0784. You can also reach out online via chat or contact form.