Redesigning your website is exciting—it's a chance to refresh your brand, improve performance, and offer visitors a better experience. But in the process, many businesses overlook website accessibility, which can unintentionally exclude users with disabilities. Ensuring accessibility during a website redesign isn't just about compliance—it's about creating a more inclusive experience for everyone.If you are considering a redesign, ensuring accessibility should be a top priority. Optimizing your website for accessibility not only improves user experience but can also enhance SEO and expand your audience. For expert help, explore Website Redesign & Revamp Services UAE to get a professional and accessible website upgrade.
Why Website Accessibility Matters
Website accessibility ensures everyone, including people with disabilities, can use your site effectively. It involves designing your site so users with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments can navigate and interact with it without barriers.Ignoring accessibility can lead to missed opportunities:- Legal issues: Many countries have strict web accessibility laws (like the ADA in the U.S. and WCAG guidelines globally).
- SEO benefits: Accessible websites often rank better in search engines.
- Larger audience reach: Over 1 billion people worldwide live with some form of disability.
- Better user experience for all: Accessibility improvements often make navigation easier for everyone, not just those with disabilities.
Key Accessibility Factors to Consider During a Website Redesign
To ensure your website is truly accessible, focus on these fundamental areas during the redesign process:1. Use an Inclusive and Accessible Design
Start by choosing a website design that considers accessibility from the beginning. Some important design choices include:- High contrast colors to improve readability for visually impaired users.
- Resizable fonts and a layout that adapts to different screen sizes.
- Clear, easy-to-read typography with proper spacing.
- Avoiding flashy, fast-moving elements that may trigger seizures.
2. Implement Proper Heading Structures
Headings aren’t just for aesthetics—they play a crucial role in website accessibility by helping users (including those with screen readers) navigate content easily.- Use H1 for the main title, followed by H2 for sections, and H3 for subsections.
- Avoid skipping heading levels (e.g., jumping from H2 to H4).
- Be descriptive in headings, so they provide meaningful context.
3. Ensure Keyboard Navigation Works Smoothly
Some users rely solely on a keyboard to navigate websites. Your redesigned website should support navigation without a mouse:- Users should be able to access menus, links, and interactive elements using the Tab key.
- Make sure the focus indicator (such as a highlight box) is visible when navigating via keyboard.
- Test keyboard functionality using only Tab, Enter, and arrow keys.
4. Add Alternative Text (Alt Text) for Images
Screen readers rely on alt text to describe images to visually impaired users. Every image that conveys important information should have a relevant description.- Keep alt text descriptions concise but informative.
- Decorative images that don’t add value to the content should have empty alt attributes (alt="").
- Avoid repeating "image of" or "picture of"—screen readers already indicate it's an image.
5. Provide Closed Captions and Transcripts
For multimedia content, such as videos and podcasts, ensure you provide alternatives for users with hearing impairments:- Use closed captions for video content.
- Provide a text transcript for audio content.
- Ensure auto-generated captions are accurate (manual editing may be required).
6. Optimize Forms for Accessibility
Forms are crucial aspects of many websites, from contact forms to checkout pages. Make them accessible by:- Using clear labels for every form field (avoiding placeholder text as the only label).
- Ensuring proper focus styling so users can see where they are when navigating via keyboard.
- Providing helpful error messages that explain what went wrong and how to fix it (e.g., "Enter a valid email format").
7. Make Sure Links Are Clear and Descriptive
Links should clearly indicate their destination or purpose. Avoid vague terms like "click here" or "read more". Instead, use meaningful descriptions, such as:- ✅ "Download the SEO Guide for Small Businesses"
- 🚫 "Click here to learn more"
8. Test Your Website with Accessibility Tools
Testing ensures your redesigned website meets accessibility standards. Some great tools include:- WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool) – Tests for color contrast, alt text, heading structures, and more.
- Google Lighthouse – Provides accessibility scoring and improvement suggestions.
- NVDA or JAWS – Screen readers that help evaluate navigation experience.
- Keyboard testing – Navigate your site using only a keyboard to identify issues.
