Design for keyboard accessibility
Various ways to access content
Use clear and concise language
Focus on the user's needs
Design for accessibility
About the author
Summary
Allow users to navigate through the website using only the keyboard, without requiring a mouse.
Why it's important: Some users with disabilities may not be able to use a mouse, so ensuring keyboard accessibility is crucial. In addition, keyboard accessibility also benefits users who prefer using keyboard shortcuts or who have slow internet connections.
How to implement it: Make sure all interactive elements (links, buttons, form fields, etc.) can be accessed using the keyboard alone. Test the website's keyboard accessibility using a keyboard-only navigation tool.
By implementing these key ideas, designers can create more accessible and user-friendly websites that benefit all users.
Provide both text and audio descriptions of a video to accommodate users with different abilities.
Why it's important: Users with disabilities may need alternative ways to access content, such as text or audio descriptions. Providing multiple ways to access content ensures that all users can access and understand the information.
How to implement it: Provide text alternatives for non-text content such as images and videos. Use descriptive text for links and avoid using phrases like "click here". Provide transcripts or captions for audio and video content.
Using simple, straightforward language in labels and instructions to make them easier to understand.
Why it's important: Clear and concise language helps all users understand how to use the website, especially users with cognitive disabilities or limited English proficiency.
How to implement it: Use plain language whenever possible, avoiding jargon and technical terms. Keep labels and instructions short and to the point.
Design a website with a clear and consistent layout and navigation to make it easy for users to find what they are looking for.
Why it's important: Users with disabilities have diverse needs, so focusing on their needs rather than the specific technology they use ensures that the website is accessible to everyone.
How to implement it: Conduct user research to understand the needs of users with disabilities. Use this information to inform the design of the website and ensure that it meets their needs.
Providing captions for videos not only benefits users who are deaf or hard of hearing, but also users who are in a noisy environment or who want to watch the video without sound.
Why it's important: Designing for accessibility benefits all users, not just those with disabilities. It makes the website more usable for everyone and creates a better user experience.
How to implement it: Consider accessibility as part of the overall design process, rather than as a separate task. Involve people with disabilities in the design process and use their feedback to improve the accessibility of the website.
Focus on the user's needs
Focus on the user's needs
Design for accessibility
Use clear and concise language
This book is for web designers, developers, and anyone involved in creating digital experiences who wants to learn how to design more inclusive and accessible websites and applications.
Who is it for?
Design for accessibility
A Web for Everyone is a practical guide to designing websites and applications that are accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. The book provides an overview of web accessibility principles, guidelines, and best practices, as well as practical tips and techniques for designing accessible user experiences. The authors emphasize the importance of user research and testing for accessibility, and provide guidance for incorporating accessibility into the design process. The book also includes case studies and examples of successful accessible design implementations, as well as a discussion of the legal and ethical considerations related to web accessibility.
Sarah Horton is a consultant specializing in strategic planning for websites and web applications, as well as accessibility and usability reviews. With over 30 years of experience in interaction design, she has worked with a variety of organizations, including Yale, Dartmouth, and Harvard.
Sarah is currently the Director of Accessible User Experience and Design with The Paciello Group, a leading accessibility consultancy. She is also the co-author of several books, including Web Style Guide (now in its third edition and translated into multiple languages), Web Teaching Guide, and Access by Design. Her third book combines the principles of universal design, accessibility, and usability to provide guidelines for designing websites that are universally usable. Sarah is widely regarded as an expert in her field and is a frequent speaker at industry events.
Whitney Quesenbery is a user researcher, user experience practitioner, and usability expert with a passion for clear communication. With a background in lighting design for the theater, she brings a unique perspective to her work in software, usability, and interface design. Whitney has worked with a variety of organizations, including The Open University and the National Cancer Institute, and has held leadership roles in industry organizations such as the Usability Professionals' Association (UPA) and the Society for Technical Communication (STC) Usability and User Experience Community. She has also served on two U.S. government advisory committees, working to improve the accessibility and usability of voting systems for U.S. elections.
Whitney is a frequent author and presenter in industry events and is a contributor to UXmatters.com. She has authored several publications, including chapters in The Personas Lifecycle and Content and Complexity, and is widely recognized as a leading expert in her field.
Use clear and concise language
Design for keyboard accessibility
Various ways to access content
Design for keyboard accessibility
Various ways to access content
Sarah Horton and Whitney Quesenbery
A Web for Everyone
Designing Accessible User Experiences
Product design, Accessibility