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Make These Website Changes ASAP
Published on Fri Nov 18, 2022
Think of usability as both a science and an art.
Professional website designers can maximize user accessibility via specialized knowledge and various tools (see resource below for more information), but anyone who can build or maintain a basic website can make sure the information they’re presenting is fully available to users.
![](https://www.aapc.com/codes/webroot/upload/articles_pdf/2022/mob/2022-11-18_19-25-13.webp)
According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), entities should focus on these six aspects of their practice’s website to boost accessibility:
- Use high color contrast. People whose vision is limited or who live with color blindness may not be able to see light-colored text on a light-colored background.
- Use cues beyond color. For example, people who live with color blindness may not be able to see that a hyperlink exists within a body of text if the hyperlink is a different color but not also underlined.
- Use text alternatives. Also called “alt text,” text alternatives are written descriptions or additional context that convey the purpose of any pictures, illustrations, graphs, or charts on a website.
- Use captions on videos. People who have hearing disabilities may not be able to access any information conveyed in a video unless they’re captioned. Additionally, don’t use “auto-play” function on videos because people may be confused about the sound’s origin.
- Make online forms accessible. People who rely on screen readers need labels for each field in a form. Other design choices, like offering clear instructions and error indicators, make forms easier for all users.
- Ensure keyboard navigation is possible. Some people require the use of a keyboard, rather than a mouse, to navigate websites. If your website is only navigable by mouse, then it may not be usable for people with disabilities.
Resource: Read the Web Accessibility Initiative and find general information and specific tutorials here: www.w3.org/WAI.