Accessibility
2026-06-10A Practical Guide to Web Accessibility
Why Accessibility Matters
Over 1 billion people worldwide live with disabilities. Accessible websites reach this massive audience, improve SEO rankings, and ensure legal compliance in many jurisdictions.
Quick Wins
These changes deliver immediate accessibility improvements:
Add `lang` attribute— `<html lang="en">` helps screen readers identify the language.
Alt text on images— Every `<img>` needs descriptive `alt` text.
Form labels— Associate every `<input>` with a `<label>` using `for` attribute.
Color contrast— Minimum 4.5:1 ratio for normal text, 3:1 for large text.
Keyboard navigation— All interactive elements reachable via Tab key.
Testing Approach
Automated Tools— Run axe-core or Lighthouse scans for 30%+ of issues.
Manual Review— Keyboard-only navigation test reveals focus order problems.
User Testing— Include people with disabilities in testing for real-world validation.
Screen Reader Testing— Navigate with NVDA or VoiceOver to verify semantic structure.