When we think about building web applications, accessibility often comes as an afterthought. But it shouldn't. Accessibility is the foundation of good design—not an add-on.
Why Accessibility Matters
- Legal compliance: Many jurisdictions have accessibility requirements
- Business reach: Over 1 billion people worldwide have disabilities
- Better UX: Accessible design improves the experience for everyone
The POUR Principles
Accessibility rests on four pillars:
- Perceivable: Information must be presentable in ways users can sense
- Operable: Interfaces must be usable through various input methods
- Understandable: Content must be clear and comprehensible
- Robust: Content must work across different technologies
Practical Steps
Start small:
- Semantic HTML: Use the right element for the job
- Color contrast: Ensure text is readable against backgrounds
- Keyboard navigation: Test that all functionality is accessible via keyboard
- ARIA labels: Use ARIA attributes when needed, but prefer native HTML
Testing
Accessibility testing should be part of your QA process:
- Screen reader testing
- Keyboard-only navigation testing
- Contrast ratio verification
- Automated testing with tools like axe or Pa11y
Conclusion
Building accessible web applications is not just the right thing to do—it's the smart thing to do. Start today, and make the web work for everyone.