Summary
Following accessibility guidelines will help everyone who contributes to websites make web content that is more usable by more users on more devices.
For web content creators, designers, and developers, the accessibility and usability of websites may seem like they are diametrically opposed:
- You can write, design, and code for screen reader users and minimize the use of visual elements, or
- You can use the latest visual techniques and internet technologies to wow users who have 20/20 vision, fine motor control, and the latest digital devices.
Strive for Accessibility and Usability
But accessibility and usability are intricately intertwined. Website users have a variety of needs and abilities. They use a multitude of technologies in varying environments to access your content.
Following accessibility guidelines will help you make sites that perform well on mobile, tablet, and desktop devices, and also reach more users with different needs and abilities.
Separate Content from Presentation
At the heart of both accessibility and usability is separating presentation and content.
If you are a web content creator, this means correctly using tools in your web content management system to format your content so its structure matches its meaning. Learn more about creating accessible content.
If you are a web designer or developer, it means using minimalist HTML code to semantically describe the content it represents, and cascading style sheets (CSS) to style your content for different audiences and devices.