Our senior web development instructor Kevin talks about the vital need for Inclusive Design. Kevin has a great track record developing User Interfaces across a wide variety of applications and industries – and with first-hand understanding of the special education needs of close family members, it brings home the importance of accessibility for everyone.
So why should we care?
Laws like WCAG and UK Public Sector rules require it. But more than that, it's the right thing to do - technology should help, not hinder people. And it makes business sense - you reach more people, create better experiences, and improve your search rankings.
The barriers that people face
Many people face challenges when using websites, and these barriers might affect any of us at different times.
Some have trouble seeing—whether it's poor vision, colour blindness, or full blindness. But even people with perfect vision might struggle to read a screen in bright sunlight or when they've forgotten their glasses.
Others struggle with using a mouse due to conditions like arthritis or tremors. But anyone might need keyboard navigation with a temporary wrist injury or while holding a baby.
Some have reading or focus issues like dyslexia or ADHD. But we all experience cognitive overload on poorly designed, cluttered websites, especially when tired or stressed.
The truth is, accessibility isn't just for "other people" - it's for all of us at different points in our lives.
The Foundations of Inclusive Design
1. Colour and Contrast
Poor contrast makes text hard to read. Dark text on a light background (or vice versa) works best for most people. This helps not just those with vision impairments, but anyone reading on a phone outdoors or on a dim screen at night.
For example, a light grey "Submit" button on a white background is hard for many people to see. A blue button with white text stands out clearly for everyone.
Don't use only colour to show important information. Adding symbols or text helps colour-blind users and anyone in a situation where colours are hard to distinguish.
2. Helpful HTML & Structure
Good code structure helps everyone navigate your site. Using proper tags like <header>, <nav>, and <main> helps screen readers understand your site. This structure benefits all users when they're scanning for content.
A well-structured news site helps screen reader users jump straight to headlines or sections. This same structure helps sighted users quickly find what they need, especially on mobile devices where space is limited.
3. Forms & Labels
Forms often create problems for many users. Clear labels stay visible even when typing begins, unlike placeholder text that disappears. This helps everyone, especially if you get distracted while filling out a form.
Error messages should explain exactly how to fix problems. "Please enter a valid email with an @ symbol" is much more helpful than "Invalid input."
Make buttons big enough to tap easily on mobile screens. This helps people with motor difficulties and also helps anyone trying to use a phone while walking or on public transport.
4. Interactive Elements
All interactive parts of your site—buttons, menus, sliders—need to work for everyone. Users should be able to access all features using only a keyboard.
For instance, dropdown menus should work with arrow keys and the Enter key, not just mouse clicks. This helps keyboard-only users and also benefits power users who prefer keyboard shortcuts.
Custom elements like sliders and tabs need extra attention to ensure they work with assistive technology and keyboard commands.
5. Navigation & Testing
Everyone needs to move around your site easily. Testing with real people helps find issues automated tools miss.
A common problem is when keyboard users get stuck in a video player or form and can't tab out. This frustrates anyone who prefers or needs to use a keyboard.
Make sure users can see which part of the page they're on with visible focus indicators - this helps keyboard users and anyone navigating complex forms.
Why Inclusive Design Is Good Business
Inclusive design helps everyone. When companies improve their websites for users with disabilities, they often find that all users benefit from the clearer layouts and simpler interactions.
Accessible sites typically load faster and have more intuitive navigation, improving the experience for all visitors. This leads to higher conversion rates and lower bounce rates as more users successfully complete their tasks.
Search engines rank accessible sites higher because clear structure helps Google understand your content better. Properly labelled headings, descriptive link text, and semantic HTML all contribute to better SEO performance.
You avoid possible lawsuits from inaccessible sites. Legal complaints about digital accessibility continue to rise, and the costs of litigation can far exceed the price of building accessibility in from the start.
And your brand reputation improves—research shows that consumers increasingly prefer to support businesses that demonstrate social responsibility. Companies known for their inclusive practices attract not just customers with disabilities but also their friends, families, and allies.
How you can start making a difference
You don't need to rebuild your whole site to improve:
Start small: Check if your text colours have enough contrast, make sure all images have alt text
Keep learning: Join online communities where developers share accessibility tips
Get training: Learn practical skills for making your sites work for everyone
Remember, we all benefit from accessible websites. The accommodations we make for permanent disabilities also help people with temporary limitations and those in challenging situations. By designing for everyone, we create a web that truly works for all.
Would you like to know more?
If you found this article interesting you might be interested in our Inclusive Web App Design Training Course.