Websites are really easy for you and me to use. But for the millions of disabled users out there the really easy websites can become a nightmare because most websites are not disabled-user friendly. There are some simple points that every developer and designer should keep in mind and incorporate in their websites so that even our disabled friends can have a smooth browsing experience.

  1. Use “alt” tags
    To help visually impaired users to understand images better always add an alternate text to your images. Screen readers will read the text aloud aiding disabled users.
  2. Create subtitles and transcripts
    If your website tends to have many videos, it is wise to add subtitles to the video. Providing a transcript of the video below it will also help.
  3. Put periods “.” in abbreviations A screen reader will not recognize abbreviations written without the periods in between each letter. This will lead to the abbreviation being read as a word and will convey wrong information to the user. For example, when referring to Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (abbreviated as MTNL), write it as M.T.N.L.
  4. Describe your links
    Whenever you embed links in your text use text other than “click here” to describe the link. For example, “For more information, visit the Mumbai University website” is a better option than “For more information, click here.” Also, display your links in a different color than normal text so that colorblind users can immediately recognize a link without having to hover over the text with the cursors.
  5. Utilize Color Wisely
    Just using colors on the site is not enough. Use the colors wisely so that all users can view the site without any strain. Do not place very bright colors too close to each other. Do not place blue and green beside each other (for colorblind users). Keep all text readable. Black text on a white background is considered the most readable combination.
  6. Keep Sufficient Clickable Area
    Clicking small items on the screen is tedious. For users with mobility issues, keep the clickable area large.
  7. Keep your copy simple
    If there is a lot of text on your site, break it into small paragraphs. Keep the language simple and straightforward. Preferably, use active voice.
  8. Include an accessibility guide
    Include a section on your website that outlines the ways your site is accessible. Or you can include some tips and tricks that the users can implement on their own computers.
  9. Know your audience
    Before implementing disability friendly options on your site, you could try and actually understand how such users access websites. It is difficult to implement disability options for all disabilities but some all encompassing options could be implemented.