Web Accessibility Checklist: Building Inclusive Websites

Web accessibility ensures that websites and web applications are usable by people with disabilities. Beyond being a legal requirement in many jurisdictions, accessibility is a fundamental aspect of good web design that benefits all users.

Why Accessibility Matters

• Inclusivity: Approximately 15% of the global population lives with some form of disability
• Legal compliance: Many countries have laws requiring accessible websites
• Better UX for everyone: Accessible sites are generally more usable for all users
• SEO benefits: Many accessibility practices improve search engine rankings

Essential Accessibility Checklist

1. Semantic HTML

Using proper HTML elements communicates content structure to assistive technologies.

Key Practices:

• Use heading tags (<h1> through <h6>) in proper hierarchical order
• Implement <nav>, <main>, <section>, <article>, and other semantic elements
• Use <button> for clickable controls and <a> for navigation
• Apply <table> for tabular data with proper headers

<!-- Poor semantics -->
<div class="heading">Page Title</div>
<div class="navigation">
  <div class="nav-item" onclick="navigate()">Home</div>
</div>

<!-- Good semantics -->
<h1>Page Title</h1>
<nav>
  <ul>
    <li><a href="/">Home</a></li>
  </ul>
</nav>

2. Keyboard Navigation

All functionality should be accessible using only a keyboard.

Key Practices:

• Ensure all interactive elements are focusable
• Maintain a logical tab order
• Provide visible focus indicators
• Implement keyboard shortcuts for complex interfaces
• Avoid keyboard traps

3. Alternative Text for Images

Images should have text alternatives that describe their content and function.

Key Practices:

• Add alt attributes to all <img> elements
• Make alt text descriptive but concise
• Use empty alt (alt="") for decorative images
• Provide alternatives for complex images like charts

<!-- Informative image -->
<img src="chart.png" alt="Bar chart showing sales increasing 25% in Q4 2023">

<!-- Decorative image -->
<img src="decorative-line.png" alt="">

4. Color and Contrast

Text should be readable and elements distinguishable without relying solely on color.

Key Practices:

• Maintain a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text
• Use a minimum contrast ratio of 3:1 for large text
• Don't rely on color alone to convey information
• Test your site in grayscale

Use our Color Contrast Checker to ensure your text meets accessibility standards.

5. Form Accessibility

Forms should be usable by everyone, including screen reader users.

Key Practices:

• Associate labels with form controls using for and id
• Group related form elements with <fieldset> and <legend>
• Provide clear error messages and validation
• Use aria-required and aria-describedby for additional context

<div>
  <label for="email">Email Address</label>
  <input 
    type="email" 
    id="email" 
    aria-required="true" 
    aria-describedby="email-hint"
  >
  <p id="email-hint">We'll never share your email with anyone else.</p>
</div>

6. ARIA When Necessary

ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes enhance accessibility when HTML alone isn't sufficient.

Key Practices:

• Use native HTML elements whenever possible
• Apply ARIA roles, states, and properties appropriately
• Test ARIA implementations with screen readers
• Keep ARIA attributes updated with JavaScript

<div role="alert" aria-live="assertive">
  Your form has been submitted successfully.
</div>

7. Responsive Design

Websites should be usable across devices and at different zoom levels.

Key Practices:

• Design for mobile-first
• Support 200% zoom without loss of content or functionality
• Use relative units (em, rem) instead of fixed pixels
• Test at various viewport sizes

8. Multimedia Accessibility

Video and audio content should be accessible to users with hearing or visual impairments.

Key Practices:

• Provide captions for videos
• Include audio descriptions for important visual content
• Offer transcripts for audio content
• Ensure media players are keyboard accessible

9. Document Structure

Well-structured documents improve navigation for screen reader users.

Key Practices:

• Use clear, descriptive page titles
• Implement proper heading hierarchy
• Add landmarks and ARIA regions
• Provide "skip to content" links

<body>
  <a href="#main-content" class="skip-link">Skip to main content</a>
  <header>...</header>
  <nav>...</nav>
  <main id="main-content">
    <h1>Page Title</h1>
    ...
  </main>
  <footer>...</footer>
</body>

10. Testing and Validation

Regular testing is essential to ensure accessibility.

Key Practices:

• Use automated testing tools like Lighthouse or axe
• Perform keyboard-only navigation tests
• Test with screen readers (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver)
• Involve users with disabilities in testing

Tools for Accessibility Testing

Our HTML Validator can help identify structural issues that might affect accessibility.

Conclusion

Web accessibility is not a one-time task but an ongoing commitment. By following this checklist, you can create more inclusive websites that work for everyone, regardless of ability.

Remember that accessibility benefits all users, not just those with disabilities. Implementing these practices improves usability, SEO, and overall user experience.

Ready to check your HTML for accessibility issues? Try our HTML Validator to identify potential problems.