Accessibility

What is Accessibility?

Web accessibility means building digital products that everyone can use effectively, including people with disabilities. This covers visual impairments (blindness, color blindness), hearing difficulties (deafness, partial hearing loss), motor challenges (limited hand mobility), and cognitive differences (dyslexia, attention disorders).

Accessibility involves multiple approaches: screen reader compatibility, keyboard navigation, color contrast optimization, captioned videos, and clear content structure. Standards include WCAG guidelines, ADA requirements, Section 508 compliance, and international accessibility frameworks.

How Product Teams Build Accessible Experiences

Product teams integrate accessibility throughout development rather than treating it as an afterthought. This systematic approach reduces costs while ensuring comprehensive coverage.

Design phase integration

Accessibility requirements become part of initial specifications instead of retrofit additions. Microsoft's inclusive design toolkit helps teams consider diverse abilities during early concept phases, preventing expensive corrections later.

Development workflow integration

WCAG 2.1 AA compliance integrates into definition-of-done requirements. Automated testing catches roughly 30% of accessibility issues during development, while manual testing addresses contextual and usability concerns.

User testing inclusion

Teams regularly include disabled users in testing cycles to identify real usage patterns and barriers. Apple conducts systematic accessibility reviews with diverse user groups to ensure products work effectively with assistive technologies.

Performance measurement

Accessibility metrics integrate with traditional KPIs. Organizations track keyboard navigation success, screen reader compatibility, and disabled user satisfaction alongside conversion rates and engagement metrics.

Essential Accessibility Standards & Checklist

WCAG 2.1 AA core principles:

• Perceivable: Information presented in multiple ways users can access
• Operable: Interface functions work for all users regardless of input method
• Understandable: Content and navigation are clear and predictable
• Robust: Content works across various assistive technologies and browsers

Practical compliance checklist:

• Color contrast meets 4.5:1 ratio for normal text, 3:1 for large text
• All images include meaningful alternative text descriptions
• Form elements have associated labels and clear error messages
• Keyboard navigation reaches every interactive element
• Focus indicators are clearly visible during keyboard navigation
• Page structure uses logical heading hierarchy (H1, H2, H3)
• Screen readers can access and announce all dynamic content
• Video content includes accurate captions and transcripts