Start with accessibility

What is web accessibility?

Web accessibility means that websites, tools, and technologies are designed and developed so that people with disabilities can use them.

— W3C: Introduction to Web Accessibility

The Web is for everyone, not just those who see, hear and move well. Building your website for inclusion, rather than exclusion, increases access for people of all abilities; as well as for all types of browsers and search engines.

By adopting accessibility best practices you can ensure your website can be used by a large group of different people. Don’t create solely for “perfect” people. More about this in They’re not my visitors.

What does a11y mean?

Accessibility is often abbreviated as a11y; “a” is the first character of the word, and “y” the last, with 11 characters in between. This is called a numeronym - like “i18n” for “internationalization”. So when you post on social media about accessibility, use the hashtags #a11y or #wpa11y.

Consider your business

The website you create is not for you, or even your client. It’s for the users. Increasing accessibility instantly gains you a larger potential user base. Read about the business case in Accessibility for your business.

Consider your development process

For developers web accessibility means a way of thinking often called progressive enhancement:

• Let the HTML tell the content.
• Let the CSS present the content.
• Let the JavaScript interact with the content.

This division helps you create websites that are easier to maintain and update, and is considered to be a (c)lean approach to web development. Standards and best practice explains how to code with semantics and accessibility in mind.

In Summary

A11y includes everyone when creating and maintaining websites. Think of it as your ally in optimizing your website’s user-experience. Accessibility helps make your website work better for more people, while still meeting your business or organizational goals.