10 ADA compliant Web Design Tips
July 27, 2024
Through the years I’ve designed websites for companies of all sizes and in various industries, and I’ve had the privilege of working in collaboration with ADA compliance specialist to ensure that each site is both visually appealing and accessible to everyone, including people disabilities.
This guide is based on what I’ve learned and aims to help fellow designers incorporate accessibility into their work.
Understanding ADA Compliance
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that web content be accessible to people with disabilities. This can be achieved by implementing the following:
Your site must be:
01. Perceivable:
Use high contrast between text and background colors to aid readability. Avoid color combinations that are difficult for color-blind users to distinguish.
BLACK/white, Orange/BLUE, Blue/RED
Ensure all non-text content, such as images and icons, has descriptive
alttext.Design with captions and transcripts for video and audio content. Place these elements where they are easy to access and read.
Use relative units like rem or percentages for text size to allow users to adjust text size without breaking the layout.
02. Operable
Design your site so that all functionalities are accessible via keyboard. Test tabbing through interactive elements to ensure smooth navigation.
Ensure that links and interactive elements have visible focus indicators to help keyboard users track their position on the page.
If your design includes time-sensitive content, provide ways to adjust or extend time limits.
Include breadcrumbs, clear headings, and landmarks to help users navigate your site efficiently.
03. Understandable
Maintain a consistent layout throughout your site. Users should not have to relearn navigation on each page.
Provide clear, concise instructions for forms and interactive elements. Use placeholder text and labels effectively.
Design intuitive and helpful error messages. Use clear language and, if possible, suggest ways to correct the error.
04. Robust
Stick to HTML5 and CSS3 standards to ensure compatibility with various devices and assistive technologies.
Use semantic HTML tags to structure your content. This helps screen readers and other assistive technologies understand the page structure.
Always remember to:
01. Conduct an Accessibility Audit
Utilize tools like Lighthouse to evaluate your design for accessibility issues.
Focus on areas highlighted and make necessary adjustments.
02. Implement ARIA Roles and Landmarks
Use ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) roles to define the purpose of elements on the page. This helps assistive technologies understand and interact with your content.
Landmarks such as role="banner", role="navigation", and role="main" are crucial for defining regions of your site.
03. Make a Responsive and Adaptive Design
Ensure your design is responsive and works well on various devices and screen sizes. Accessibility is about providing a seamless experience for all users, regardless of how they access your site.
4. Test with Real Users
Conduct usability testing with users who have disabilities. This provides valuable insights into how they interact with your design and highlights areas for improvement.
5. Stay Educated
Keep up with the latest accessibility standards and best practices. The field is always evolving, and staying informed is key to maintaining compliance.
https://www.disability.state.mn.us/technical-assistance/digital-accessibility/
As designers, we have a responsibility to create inclusive and accessible web experiences. By integrating these ADA compliance principles into your design process, you ensure that your websites are usable by everyone, fostering a more inclusive digital world.
