How to Check if Your Website is Accessible: A Quick Guide
In today’s digital landscape, ensuring your website is accessible to all users is more important than ever. Web accessibility means making your site usable for people of all abilities, including those with disabilities such as visual impairments, hearing loss, or motor limitations. Not only is web accessibility the right thing to do, but it also helps improve user experience, increases engagement, and aligns your site with legal requirements like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
This blog will guide you through how to check if your website is accessible with a few easy steps. We’ll also introduce essential tools and tips to help you ensure your site provides a seamless experience for every visitor.
Step 1: Start with an Accessibility Check Tool
One of the easiest ways to begin your accessibility journey is by using an automated audit tool. These tools quickly scan your website and highlight any accessibility issues that may exist.
At Razor Accessibility, we offer a free Accessibility Check Tool that allows you to input your website’s URL and run a quick audit. This tool will identify common issues like missing alt-text on images, incorrect HTML structures, or insufficient color contrast. Automated tools can give you an overview of your site’s accessibility status and help you catch low-hanging fruit quickly. Using an automated checker will give you a baseline of your website’s accessibility, but remember that this is just the beginning. For a thorough evaluation, combine it with manual testing.
Step 2: Test Keyboard Navigation
Keyboard navigation is essential for users who cannot use a mouse due to physical or motor impairments. Ensuring your website can be fully navigated using only a keyboard is a critical aspect of web accessibility.
To manually test this:
Open your website and try navigating through it using only your keyboard.
Use the "Tab" key to move from one interactive element to another, such as links, buttons, and form fields.
Press "Enter" to select a link or activate a button.
Use "Shift + Tab" to go backward.
Check whether you can access every feature on the page without getting "stuck" in non-interactive elements. All essential parts of your website, including menus, forms, and links, should be operable via keyboard alone. If keyboard navigation fails on any part of your site, it indicates an accessibility issue.
Our Razor Accessibility Widget includes built-in support for keyboard navigation, ensuring that users with motor impairments can interact with your website effortlessly.
Step 3: Evaluate Screen Reader Compatibility
Screen readers are used by individuals with visual impairments to read aloud the content of a webpage. Ensuring your site is compatible with screen readers means structuring your content in a way that these tools can interpret and navigate effectively.
To test screen reader compatibility:
Download a free screen reader like NVDA (for Windows) or activate VoiceOver on Mac.
Use the screen reader to navigate your website, paying close attention to how it interprets headings, links, buttons, and images.
Make sure all images have alternative text (alt-text) that provides a description of the image. For example, instead of hearing "image001.jpg," users should hear "A person using a laptop."
In addition to alt-text, ensure that all interactive elements, such as buttons and links, are properly labeled. Poor labeling will confuse users and diminish their experience. Regularly test your site’s compatibility with screen readers to ensure it’s accessible to users with visual impairments.
At Razor Accessibility, we prioritize screen reader compatibility. Our Accessibility Widget offers features that make it easier for visually impaired users to navigate your website, improving overall accessibility.
Step 4: Check Color Contrast and Readability
Proper color contrast is vital for users with visual impairments or color blindness. Low contrast between text and background colors makes it difficult for these users to read content and navigate your site.
You can manually assess contrast by simply reviewing the visual elements of your site. However, for a more accurate result, tools like Contrast Checker can measure the contrast ratio of your text and background. WCAG guidelines recommend a contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for larger text.
If you find your site’s contrast ratios lacking, consider offering high-contrast modes to enhance readability. Our Accessibility Widget includes options for adjusting contrast and customizing colors, making it easy for users to personalize their browsing experience.
Step 5: Test Forms for Accessibility
Forms are an essential part of most websites, whether for contact information, signup forms, or checkout processes. Unfortunately, forms can be challenging for users with disabilities if they are not properly designed.
To ensure your forms are accessible:
Label all form fields clearly and associate them with the correct input fields.
Make sure form elements are reachable via keyboard navigation.
Test form submission using both keyboard navigation and screen readers.
Form error messages should also be accessible. Error prompts should be clearly labeled and announced by screen readers, ensuring that users know what went wrong and how to correct it.
Take Action on Web Accessibility
Ensuring your website is accessible is a crucial step in making your online presence inclusive, compliant, and user-friendly. While automated tools provide a good starting point, manual checks—like testing keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, and color contrast—are essential for a complete evaluation.
To simplify the process of improving your site’s accessibility, consider integrating our Razor Accessibility Widget. It offers features like keyboard navigation, text resizing, screen reader compatibility, and color contrast adjustments to help you meet accessibility standards and provide an inclusive experience for all users.
Ready to check your website’s accessibility? Start by using our Accessibility Check Tool and take the first step toward creating a more inclusive website today!
