Design Considerations to Create an Accessible Website
slamdunkmarketing, 07-20-2023
Designing an accessible website is crucial to ensure all visitors can access and engage with your content, regardless of their abilities. The choice of fonts plays a significant role in website accessibility, impacting readability and legibility. Here are some clear guidelines and standards to follow when creating an accessible website:
Font Size: Use a suitable font size that is easy to read for most users. Body text size should be at least 16 pixels (or 1 em). Opt for larger font sizes for headings to establish visual hierarchy and enhance content scannability.
Font Style: Stick to simple and legible font styles. Sans-serif fonts like Arial, Helvetica, or Open Sans are often recommended for online content, as they are more readable on screens.
Contrast Ratio: Ensure that there is enough contrast between the text and the background to facilitate reading. According to WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), the recommended contrast ratio is at least 4.5:1 for standard text and 3:1 for large text (18pt or 14pt bold).
Avoid Text in Images: Steer clear of using text embedded within images. Screen readers cannot read text within images, making it inaccessible to users who rely on these tools.
Responsive Design: Ensure your website's font scales appropriately on various devices and screen sizes, particularly mobile devices.
Line Spacing: Provide adequate line spacing (line height) to enhance readability. The general rule of thumb is to have line spacing 1.5 times the font size.
Avoid Underlined Text (Except for Links): Reserve underlined text solely for hyperlinks to prevent confusion. Underlined text can be mistaken for links, leading to a confusing user experience.
Font Adjustability: Allow users to adjust the font size without disrupting the layout or functionality of your website. Flexibility in font size is crucial for users with visual impairments.
Font Formats: Utilize web-safe fonts and offer fallback options if a specific font is not supported. Consider using WOFF (Web Open Font Format) for better cross-browser compatibility.
Text Formatting: Use bold, italics, and other text formatting sparingly. Emphasize important content but refrain from relying solely on formatting to convey crucial information.
Avoid Text Blocks in All Caps: Large blocks of text in all capital letters can be challenging to read. Use uppercase sparingly, such as for headers or short phrases.
Test with Users: Regularly conduct accessibility tests with real users, including those with different abilities, to gather feedback and identify areas for improvement.
By following these font guidelines and standards, you can significantly enhance the accessibility of your website, making it easier for all users to consume your content. Remember, web accessibility is an ongoing process, so continuously seeking feedback and making improvements is essential.
