Accessibility of a website

Web accessibility is a fundamental aspect of website design because it ensures that everyone, regardless of ability or limitation, can access the content and functionality of the site. Designing an accessible website means breaking down barriers and providing an inclusive experience for all users, including people with visual, hearing, motor or cognitive disabilities.

With RevasOS Website Builder and CMS, many accessibility best practices can be applied in a simple and intuitive way. This guide explores the key principles for making a website accessible, with a focus on the tools that RevasOS provides.

Contents:

• Why is accessibility important?
• Structure
  • Recommended practices
• Loading Speed
  • Recommended practices
• Colour contrast
  • Recommended Practices
• Text size
  • Recommended practices
• Images and alternative text
  • Recommended practices
• Use external services
  • Examples of services
• Conclusion

Why is accessibility important?

An accessible website is not only a sign of social responsibility, but also an opportunity to reach a wider audience. Include all users:

• Increases site satisfaction and usability.
• Improves SEO: Accessible sites are more easily indexed by search engines.
• Encourages innovation: Many solutions designed for accessibility improve the user experience for all.

Accessibility should not be seen as an obstacle, but as an essential part of an inclusive design strategy.

Structure

A well-designed structure is the heart of an accessible site. Each element must be clearly organised and follow a logic that is easily understood by both users and support tools such as screen readers.

Recommended practices

• Semantic HTML: Use elements such as <header>, <main> and <footer> to improve understanding of the content.
• Logical order: Structure content in a consistent and predictable sequence.
• Tab navigation: Users should be able to navigate with the keyboard in a clear and intuitive order.

With RevasOS: The generated code uses semantic HTML and a logical structure, simplifying the process.

Loading Speed

Loading speed affects the user experience and accessibility, especially for those using older devices or slow connections. A fast site is easier to use and ensures that everyone can access content without difficulty.

Recommended practices

• Optimise images, scripts and CSS/JS files.
• Ensure that the site works well on a variety of browsers and devices.
• Avoid loading times of more than 3 seconds.

With RevOS: Templates are optimised for speed and ensure multi-browser compatibility.

Colour contrast

The contrast between text and background is crucial to ensure readability. An incorrect colour combination can make it impossible for many people to enjoy the content, especially those with vision problems such as colour blindness.

Recommended Practices

• Use a colour scheme that meets WCAG requirements for contrast.
• Avoid text over complex images.
• Offer a high-contrast mode for users with special needs.

With RevOS: Templates include predefined configurations to ensure adequate contrast and the possibility of activating a high-contrast mode.

Text size

Readable text is essential for accessibility. The default size should be large enough for most users, with the possibility of enlarging the text without compromising the usability of the site.

Recommended practices

• Set a minimum size of 16px for the body of the text.
• Allow enlargement up to 200% without loss of functionality.
• Avoid fonts that are too decorative or difficult to read.

With RevasOS: Templates allow the text to be scaled up while keeping the site well-structured and easy to use.

Images and alternative text

Images play a key role in visual communication, but must be accompanied by text descriptions (alternative text) to be accessible to users using screen readers.

Recommended practices

• Write concise but effective descriptions for all images.
• Avoid unnecessary descriptions for decorative images (leave the alt attribute empty).
• Use simple, understandable language.

With RevasOS: It is easy to add alternative text to images via the user interface.

Use external services

In addition to internal configurations, it is possible to integrate external tools to further improve the accessibility of the site. These services offer advanced features such as accessibility analysis and interactive widgets.

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Examples of services

• AccessiBe: Automated solution to improve accessibility.
• UserWay: Plugin to add accessibility options.
• Wave: Analysis tool for testing accessibility.

Conclusion

Accessibility is an investment in inclusiveness and usability, with benefits for all users and for your site. With RevasOS, you can easily implement these best practices, creating an accessible experience without technical complications. Every small step towards a more inclusive web makes a big difference.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)