Web Accessibility (a11y)
refers to the practice of designing and developing websites, apps, and digital tools so that everyone — including people with disabilities — can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with them effectively.
🔍 What Does “a11y” Mean?
a11y is a numeronym:
It stands for “accessibility“
The “11” represents the 11 letters between “a” and “y”
Common in developer and UX communities to shorten the term
👥 Who Benefits from Web Accessibility?
Accessibility is essential for:
People with visual impairments (blindness, low vision, color blindness)
People with hearing impairments
Users with motor disabilities (limited movement, tremors)
Individuals with cognitive or learning disabilities
Elderly users
Mobile users or those in temporary situations (e.g., bright sunlight, slow internet)
In short: everyone benefits from accessible design.
🧭 Key Principles (POUR)
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are built around four core principles:
Principle | Description |
---|---|
Perceivable | Information must be presented in ways users can perceive (e.g., alt text for images) |
Operable | UI must be usable with a keyboard or assistive device |
Understandable | Content must be readable, predictable, and helpful |
Robust | Site must work well across technologies, browsers, and assistive tools |
🛠️ Common Accessibility Features
Alt text for images
Keyboard navigability (tab order, skip links)
ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) roles and landmarks
Text contrast that meets WCAG standards
Captions or transcripts for audio/video
Semantic HTML (proper use of headings, lists, buttons, etc.)
✅ Why Is a11y Important?
Legal compliance: Avoid lawsuits under laws like ADA (US), RPWD Act (India), or EN 301 549 (EU)
SEO: Accessible websites often perform better in search engines
Increased reach: 15%+ of the global population has some form of disability
Better UX: Accessibility often improves usability for everyone
🧪 Tools for Testing a11y
WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool)
axe DevTools (browser extension)
Lighthouse (in Chrome DevTools)
Screen readers: NVDA, VoiceOver, JAWS
Color contrast checkers: WCAG Contrast Checker, Stark
🌐 Want to Make Your Website Accessible?
I can help you:
Audit your website for accessibility issues
Fix WCAG violations
Improve performance for screen readers
Add alt text, ARIA tags, and more