Why Accessibility Matters
Over 1 billion people worldwide have some form of disability. An accessible website reaches more users and can improve SEO.
WCAG Quick Principles (POUR)
- Perceivable - Users can see/hear content
- Operable - Users can navigate and interact
- Understandable - Content is clear and predictable
- Robust - Works with assistive technologies
Essential Accessibility Fixes
- Alt text on all images
- Keyboard navigation for all interactive elements
- Color contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1
- ARIA labels for custom components
- Focus indicators visible on all focusable elements
- Semantic HTML (button for buttons, not div)
- Form labels associated with inputs
- Skip navigation link for keyboard users
Testing Tools
- axe DevTools - Browser extension
- WAVE - Web accessibility evaluator
- Lighthouse - Built into Chrome DevTools
- Screen reader testing - VoiceOver, NVDA
Accessibility Benefits for SEO
Accessible websites tend to rank better because:
- Semantic HTML helps Google understand content
- Alt text provides image context
- Clear heading structure aids content parsing
Build an accessible website that works for everyone.