Best Practices for ADA Compliant Websites

Design Tips

Designing for accessibility means thinking beyond aesthetics. For instance, using semantic HTML elements like <nav> and <main> helps screen readers understand your page structure, making navigation easier for visually impaired users. Imagine a user who can't use a mouse—if your navigation is only accessible by hovering, they won't be able to reach important pages. Instead, ensure menus and buttons can be accessed and activated with a keyboard. Try tabbing through your site yourself to see what the experience is like.

Another practical tip: always provide a visible focus indicator (like an outline) for links and buttons. This helps users who rely on the keyboard to know where they are on the page. Consistent headings and logical content order also make your site easier to scan and understand, especially for those using assistive technology.

Development Tips

When building your site, use ARIA roles and attributes thoughtfully to enhance accessibility, but don't rely on them as a substitute for good HTML. For example, if you have a custom button, make sure it has role="button" and responds to both click and keyboard events. Test your site with a screen reader and only a keyboard—can you fill out forms, submit them, and navigate everywhere?

Keep your code clean and organized. This not only helps with maintenance but also reduces the risk of introducing accessibility bugs. For example, always associate labels with form fields so users know what information is required. If you use color to indicate errors, also provide a text message so users with color blindness aren't left guessing.

Accessibility is an ongoing process. As you add new features, check that they work for everyone. Tools like axe or Lighthouse can help you spot issues, but real user testing is invaluable. If you get feedback from users with disabilities, treat it as an opportunity to improve your site for all.