Engineering
Accessibility Is Not Optional
Practical steps to make your web applications accessible, from semantic HTML to keyboard navigation testing.
by Alex Morgan
Start with Semantic HTML
The cheapest accessibility win is using the right HTML elements. Buttons for actions, links for navigation, headings in order.
Keyboard Navigation
Every interactive element must be reachable and operable via keyboard. Test your site by tabbing through every page without touching the mouse.
Color Contrast
Ensure text meets WCAG 2.1 AA contrast ratios (4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text). Don’t rely on color alone to convey information.
Testing Checklist
- Run axe DevTools on every page
- Test with a screen reader (VoiceOver or NVDA)
- Verify focus indicators are visible
- Check that all images have meaningful alt text