Website Accessibility and Usability
A useful website helps visitors find information, understand it, and take the next step. Accessibility removes barriers for people with disabilities, while good usability makes everyday tasks clearer. Both should guide website planning, design, content, and maintenance.
Make Navigation Predictable
Use familiar menu labels such as “Services,” “About,” and “Contact.” Keep their order and position consistent across pages so visitors can build confidence as they browse.
Organize each page with descriptive headings that follow a logical hierarchy. Use actual heading elements rather than simply enlarging text: this helps screen reader users move between sections. The W3C guide to page structure explains how clear structure supports navigation.
Write and Design for Readability
Keep sentences direct, explain unfamiliar terms, and divide longer content into manageable sections. Link text should describe its destination—for example, “Read our maintenance guide” gives more context than “Click here.”
Choose readable type, comfortable spacing, and sufficient contrast between text and backgrounds. Avoid using colour alone to communicate errors or required fields. Give informative images meaningful text alternatives and provide captions for video content.
Support Keyboard Access
Visitors must be able to use menus, links, buttons, and forms without a mouse. Test key journeys using Tab and Shift+Tab, then activate controls with the appropriate keys.
Check that:
- A visible focus indicator shows which control is selected.
- Focus moves through the page in a meaningful order.
- Menus and overlays allow users to leave without becoming trapped.
- A skip link lets visitors bypass repeated navigation.
The W3C accessibility checks provide practical starting points for reviewing keyboard access and other common barriers.
Build Layouts Around Visitor Tasks
Group related information, leave space between sections, and make the main action easy to identify. On smaller screens and at increased zoom, content should remain readable and controls usable.
Forms need visible labels, clear instructions, and error messages that explain how to correct a problem. These principles are covered in W3C’s accessible design guidance.
Review as Your Website Changes
After updating content, templates, or plugins, repeat essential journeys such as finding a service and submitting an enquiry. Combine automated checks with manual testing and feedback from people with disabilities. Basic checks can reveal problems, but a comprehensive accessibility review requires broader assessment.