By: Ogabi Oladele
When people hear or talk about web development, they usually think about websites that look great, load as fast as possible, and are packed with features. However, that is not all there is to it. There is one important side that often gets overlooked: accessibility.
Web accessibility means making sure everyone can use your website, including people with disabilities. This includes people who are blind or have low vision, those who are deaf or hard of hearing, or those who have difficulty using a mouse or keyboard.
For example, someone who is blind might use a screen reader, which is a tool that reads out what is on the screen. A person with limited hand movements might use only a keyboard to move around the website, or a user with dyslexia may benefit from clear fonts and a simple layout. If a website is not built with these users in mind, they can be completely locked out of the experience. This is why accessibility is very important; it helps to make sure no one is left behind.
Why Accessibility Should Be a Priority?
The following are a few major reasons why web accessibility should be a priority:
1. It is the right thing to do. The internet should be open and usable for everyone, including people with disabilities.
2. It is the law in many places. Countries like the U.S., the U.K., and members of the EU require websites to meet certain accessibility standards.
3. It improves the user experience for everyone. Features like larger buttons, good color contrast, and clear navigation benefit everyone, not just those with disabilities.
4. It helps with search engines. Websites that are accessible are often easier for Google to understand and rank. This can help to improve visibility online.
What Is ARIA and How Does It Come Into the Picture?
ARIA stands for Accessible Rich Internet Applications. It is a system that helps developers explain the functions of certain parts of a website, especially when those parts are interactive or dynamic. Think of ARIA as a tool that gives extra “instructions” to screen readers and other assistive technologies.
Let’s say there is a button on a website that opens a pop-up message. As the person using the website, if you are using a screen reader, that button might just say “click me” with no other context. However, with ARIA, the developer can add a hidden label that will tell you exactly what the button does, such as “ open help window.” This way, you will know what to expect before clicking the button.
ARIA can also let web users know:
● When something on the page has changed
● The part of the website that the user is currently on
● The elements that they can interact with, such as tabs or menus.
How ARIA Makes Websites More Inclusive
Even though you cannot see ARIA when you look at a webpage, it plays a significant role behind the scenes in helping assistive technologies understand what is happening on the screen. The following are a few examples of how ARIA can help improve accessibility in the real world:
● Navigating a Website: ARIA can label different sections of a website, like the main menu or search bar so that screen readers can easily guide the user to them.
● Tabs and Sliders: On websites that use tabs or sliding content, like photo carousels, ARIA can help users know which tab is selected or which slide is being shown.
● Live Updates: Some websites update automatically, like when a message appears in a chat. ARIA can alert, assistive tools when something new happens so that the user would not be left in the dark.
Best Practices for Using ARIA (Even If You Are Not a Developer)
If you are not a developer, you might be wondering, “What can I do about ARIA?”
The good news is that awareness is a great first step. If you are involved in a website project, maybe you are a designer, content writer, business owner, or manager, you can make sure your team is thinking about accessibility early in the process. The following are some best practices to keep in mind:
● Use simple and clear language on your site. This will help everyone, including people with learning differences.
● Test your website with real people, including those who use assistive technology.
● Talk to your web developer about including accessibility and ARIA support from the beginning, not as an afterthought.
How To Know If a Website Is Accessible
There are several available tools that can scan a website and point out areas that need improvement. These tools can highlight problems like poor color contrast, missing descriptions for images, or parts of the site that are not properly labeled for screen readers. Even better, some organizations invite people with disabilities to test their websites. This helps to uncover real usability issues that software alone might miss.
The Future of Accessibility and ARIA
As websites and apps become more advanced, accessibility will only become more important. The way we interact with digital content is always changing; just think of smart speakers, touchscreen devices, and virtual assistants. Making sure these technologies are usable for everyone, from the start, is vital.
Developers and designers are starting to build accessibility into their tools and templates. This means that in the future, we will see more websites that are accessible by default, without needing as much manual adjustment. However, ARIA will still play an important role. It will continue to help assistive technology understand interactive elements. It will also make sure every user, no matter how they access the web, gets a full and equal experience
Web accessibility benefits all of us. Whether it is someone recovering from an injury, a person in a noisy environment, or someone using an old phone with a small screen, we all run into moments where we need a little extra help from the technology around us.
While ARIA may be invisible, its impact is huge. It helps websites speak a language that all users, and all devices, can understand. By building with accessibility in mind and using tools like ARIA, web developers make the internet a more welcoming place for everyone.
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