Many Australians live with a disability, and many more have trouble with small text, poor eyesight or shaky hands as they get older. If your website is hard for them to use, they can't book, buy or contact you. Making a website accessible simply means making sure everyone can use it. The good news is that most of the work is common sense.
The Rules in Plain English
The main international guide is called the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, or WCAG for short. It is written by the W3C, the group that sets standards for the web. The newest version, WCAG 2.2, became an official standard in October 2023. It adds a few new checks, such as making buttons big enough to tap easily.
In Australia, the Disability Discrimination Act applies to websites as well as shops and offices. That means a business should not shut people out because of a disability, online or offline. We are not lawyers, so if you have a legal question, please ask a legal adviser. But following WCAG is the accepted way to show you have made a real effort.
Simple Checks You Can Do Today
You don't need special tools to find the most common problems. Try these:
- Picture descriptions: people who are blind use screen readers, which read the page out loud. Each important image needs a short written description, called alt text, so they know what it shows. For example, "Two staff members fitting a new kitchen bench".
- Colour contrast: light grey text on a white background looks stylish but is hard to read. Text should stand out clearly from the colour behind it. Free online contrast checkers will tell you if your colours pass.
- Keyboard use: put your mouse aside and try to use your website with only the Tab and Enter keys. Can you reach every menu, link and button? Can you see where you are on the page? Some people can't use a mouse at all.
- Readable text size: body text should be comfortable to read on a phone without zooming. People should also be able to zoom in without the page breaking.
- Captions on videos: add captions so people who are deaf or hard of hearing can follow along. Captions also help anyone watching on a train with the sound off.
- Clear form labels: every box in a form should have a clear label that stays visible, such as "Your phone number". Don't rely on faint grey hint text that disappears when someone starts typing. Error messages should say exactly what to fix.
- Large tap targets: buttons and links should be big enough, with enough space around them, to tap easily with a thumb.
Why It Is Worth Doing
Accessibility helps far more people than you might expect. Clear text, good contrast and simple forms make a website easier for everyone, including busy people on their phones in bright sunlight. Many of the same things, like picture descriptions and clear headings, also help Google understand your pages. It is good for your customers and good for business.
Where a Web Agency Fits In
Some fixes are quick, like adding picture descriptions or captions. Others, like menus that work with a keyboard or changing your brand colours, are easier to get right with help from people who build websites every day. The best time to think about accessibility is when a website is being designed, but an existing website can almost always be improved.
How We Can Help
At IDM2, we build websites that are easy for everyone to use, and we can review your current website against WCAG 2.2 and give you a clear list of what to fix. If your website needs more than a few fixes, our website redesign service can build accessibility in from the start. Contact our Port Melbourne team to talk it through.