Effective ways to maintain accessibility standards for government websites

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Introduction

Accessibility refers to ensuring inclusivity by making the website accessible to people with different abilities. Maintaining accessibility for government websites by complying with the accessibility standards is important in terms of usability and legal aspects. mdifferent ways of enhancing site accessibility like using semantic HTML elements, providing text alternatives for media, maintaining adequate color contrast, and more. Read till the end to know more about accessibility standards and different ways to keep it on government websites.

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Accessibility Standards

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the most recognized set of guidelines provided by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). It contains 13 guidelines organized under 4 principles: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. WCAG 2.2 is the latest published set of guidelines following WCAG 2.1 and WCAG 2.0. 

Apart from WCAG, there are many different sets of guidelines available for different regions provided under

• Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
• European Accessibility Act
• International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 30071-1
• Americans with Disabilities Act

At Exemplifi, we've always prioritized creating digital experiences that are not just visually appealing but also accessible to everyone. Recently, we had the opportunity to implement these practices on a large-scale project for a government agency, which reinforced the importance of keeping accessibility at the forefront of web design.

Here’s what we’ve learned about maintaining high standards in accessibility.

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Using Semantic HTML Elements

One of the foundational practices we've embraced is the use of semantic HTML elements. These elements are more than just tags; they provide context and structure to the content, making it easier for screen readers and other assistive technologies to navigate a webpage.

For example, in our recent project, we used the <header> element to clearly define the top section of each page, which included the logo and primary navigation. The <main> element was utilized to encapsulate the core content, allowing screen readers to bypass repetitive information and jump directly to the main section. Additionally, <article> and <section> tags were employed to segment content logically, ensuring that each piece of information was properly categorized.

This structured approach not only made the code cleaner and more organized but also significantly improved the experience for users who rely on assistive technologies. By using semantic elements, we ensured that our website was easily navigable and that its content was presented in a meaningful way.

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Ensuring Keyboard Accessibility

Keyboard accessibility is crucial for users who rely on alternative input methods, such as those with motor impairments. We paid special attention to making sure that every interactive element on the site, from links to buttons to form fields, was fully accessible via keyboard.

In this project, we implemented a custom dropdown menu for navigation. To ensure it was keyboard accessible, we designed it so that users could open and navigate through the menu using the Tab key and arrow keys. We also ensured that the focus state was clearly visible—using CSS, we highlighted focused elements with a distinct border color and background change.

During testing, we navigated the entire site using only a keyboard. This exercise revealed issues like non-accessible pop-ups that didn’t receive focus when opened. By fixing these issues, we made sure that all users, regardless of their input method, could interact with the site seamlessly.

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Providing Text Alternatives for Media

Visual content, while engaging, can create barriers for users with visual impairments. To address this, we made it a point to include text alternatives for all media on the site. This involved adding descriptive alt attributes to images and ensuring that any videos were accompanied by captions or transcripts.

For instance, when dealing with a series of images, we provided detailed alt text that described the key points and data presented in the images. For videos, we created transcripts that were easily accessible, allowing users who couldn't view the videos to still engage with the content.

These text alternatives not only made our content more accessible but also contributed to better SEO, making the site more discoverable by search engines. It was a win-win scenario that highlighted the value of accessibility beyond just compliance.

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Maintaining Adequate Color Contrast

Color contrast is a critical aspect of web accessibility that is often overlooked. Ensuring that text is easily readable against its background is vital for users with visual impairments, including those with color blindness.

In our project, we used tools like the WCAG Contrast Checker to evaluate the color contrast ratios of our design elements. We discovered that some of our initial color choices didn’t meet the recommended contrast levels, particularly in buttons and links. To address this, we adjusted the color palette to improve contrast, ensuring that all text was easily readable, even in low-contrast situations.

For example, we changed the color of call-to-action buttons from a light blue to a darker shade, significantly improving their visibility and readability. This small change had a big impact, making the content more legible for all users, especially those with visual impairments.

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Enhancing Navigation for Better Usability

Good navigation is at the heart of a user-friendly website. For our project, we took steps to improve the site’s navigation by structuring it in a way that was intuitive and accessible.

We incorporated clear, descriptive labels for navigation links and ensured that the site’s layout was consistent across all pages. For instance, we added breadcrumb navigation, which allowed users to easily backtrack through the site’s hierarchy. This feature was especially beneficial for users with cognitive disabilities, as it provided a clear sense of place within the site.

Additionally, we made sure that all links were easily identifiable and included sufficient space around clickable elements to prevent accidental clicks. This made the navigation more user-friendly for everyone, including users with mobility impairments who may have difficulty with precise clicking.

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Compliance with Assistive Technology

An often overlooked aspect of accessibility is ensuring that the website is compatible with various assistive technologies. This includes screen readers, voice recognition software, and other tools that users with disabilities rely on.

To achieve this, we conducted extensive testing across different assistive devices and software. For instance, we tested our site with popular screen readers like JAWS and NVDA, to ensure that all content was being read correctly and that interactive elements were fully accessible. We also made sure that our site’s code was clean and well-structured, minimizing any barriers that could prevent these technologies from functioning correctly.

One specific example was the testing of form fields, where we ensured that every label was properly associated with its corresponding input field. This attention to detail made the site more accessible and user-friendly for individuals relying on screen readers.

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Conducting Regular Accessibility Audits

Accessibility is not a one-time checklist; it’s an ongoing commitment. After our initial implementation, we set up a schedule for regular accessibility audits. These audits involve both automated tools and manual testing to identify any issues that might have slipped through the cracks or emerged as we updated the site.

For instance, after a major content update, we conducted an audit using tools like Axe and WAVE to scan for any new accessibility issues. We also performed manual checks, such as navigating the site using only a screen reader, to ensure that no new barriers had been introduced.

Regular audits help us stay on top of the latest accessibility standards and ensure that our site remains accessible as we continue to add new content and features.

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Conclusion

Our journey in maintaining website accessibility has been one of continuous learning and improvement. By focusing on semantic HTML, keyboard accessibility, text alternatives, color contrast, better navigation, compliance with assistive technology, and regular audits, we’ve been able to create a website that is not just compliant with accessibility standards but truly user-friendly for everyone.

Accessibility is more than just meeting legal requirements; it’s about ensuring that all users, regardless of their abilities, have a seamless and inclusive experience on the web. 

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