Thank You to Gary, Ben and the entire team at Insight of Dreams. We loved creating your website. Keep up the good work guys!

In Sight of Dreams is a registered Australian charity dedicated to empowering individuals who have acquired a disability. Founded in 2015 by Ben Felten, who lost his sight due to Retinitis Pigmentosa, the organization provides mentorship, guidance, and support through its Back on Track Program. This unique program blends peer support, mentoring, and counseling to help participants set and achieve personal goals.

Driven by Felten’s personal journey and passion, In Sight of Dreams aims to inspire people to overcome their challenges and reach for their dreams, regardless of their disability.

Learn more at In Sight of Dreams.

At Web Design 4 Business we create great looking websites for Not for Profits. In this case we specifically created a website for a blind audience.

Creating websites that are accessible to individuals who are blind or visually impaired is essential to promoting inclusivity. These sites are typically designed with a focus on Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which set standards for making content accessible to all users, regardless of their disabilities. Below are key principles and strategies for designing websites that cater to the blind, ensuring that everyone can navigate and interact with online content effectively.

1. Screen Reader Compatibility

Most blind users rely on screen readers to access web content. A screen reader converts text into synthesized speech or Braille, allowing users to “hear” the content or feel it through a Braille display. To enhance compatibility with these tools, follow these best practices:

• Semantic HTML: Use proper HTML tags for headings, lists, links, and tables, as screen readers rely heavily on these elements to convey information. For instance, a screen reader user can jump between sections of a page by scanning the headings. Ensure that <h1>, <h2>, and subsequent header tags are structured logically, reflecting the hierarchy of the content.
• ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) Attributes: ARIA provides additional attributes to describe elements to users that might not be accessible through native HTML. For example, ARIA roles and landmarks help screen readers interpret the function of various sections, like navigation bars (role="navigation") or banners (role="banner").
• Text Descriptions for Non-Text Content: Visual elements, such as images or icons, should have appropriate alternative text (alt attributes). Descriptions should be concise and clear, providing enough context for users to understand the content without seeing it. This is especially important for informative or functional images, like graphs or buttons. If an image is purely decorative, it can have an empty alt tag (alt="") to avoid unnecessary interruptions by the screen reader.

2. Keyboard Navigation

Blind users often rely on keyboard navigation rather than a mouse. Ensuring that your website is fully navigable through the keyboard alone is crucial for accessibility. A few guidelines for enhancing keyboard navigation are:

• Logical Tab Order: Make sure the tabbing order follows a logical sequence, so users can move smoothly through interactive elements like forms, buttons, and links. Improper tab order can create confusion, forcing users to jump around erratically on the page.
• Focus Indicators: Ensure that interactive elements have clear focus indicators (such as borders or highlights) to show which element is currently selected. While focus states are more visually important for users with low vision, they also help blind users who might be tracking the element’s position through verbal cues provided by the screen reader.

3. Descriptive Link Text

Links should be meaningful even when read out of context. Screen reader users often jump from link to link, so link text like “Click here” or “Read more” can be confusing when heard in isolation. Instead, use descriptive phrases such as “Download the 2024 report” or “Learn more about website accessibility.” This provides clear information about the link’s destination or action.

4. Color Contrast and Text Size

For users with some vision, it’s vital to consider high contrast between text and background colors. Proper color contrast ensures that users with low vision or color blindness can read content without difficulty. WCAG recommends a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for regular text and 3:1 for larger text.

Moreover, websites should allow users to resize text without breaking the page layout. Using relative units like em or percentages for text sizing rather than fixed px measurements ensures that content scales well across different devices and settings.

5. Content Structure and Layout

A clear, well-structured layout benefits both screen reader and low-vision users. When designing the layout:

• Use Lists: Group related items in ordered (<ol>) or unordered lists (<ul>). Lists are easy to navigate with screen readers, allowing users to quickly understand grouped content.
• Tables: If using tables, particularly for data, ensure they are structured with proper <thead>, <tbody>, and <th> tags. These tags help screen readers interpret the data’s structure, identifying column and row headers.
• Sectioning Elements: Proper use of HTML5 sectioning elements like <article>, <section>, and <aside> helps with page readability and navigation. These elements allow users to skip between major sections, enhancing the overall user experience.

6. Multimedia Accessibility

Multimedia elements, such as videos or audio content, should be accessible to blind users. A few important guidelines include:

• Audio Descriptions: If a video contains critical visual information (like diagrams or on-screen text), provide an audio description that narrates what’s happening on the screen. Some blind users rely on these descriptions to understand visual contexts.
• Transcripts: For audio content, provide text transcripts. This is particularly useful when a screen reader cannot parse the spoken information, giving users an alternative way to access the content.
• Keyboard Accessible Media Controls: Ensure that video and audio players are fully accessible via the keyboard. Controls like play, pause, and volume should be easy to manipulate without the need for a mouse.

7. Forms and Input Fields

Forms are a common feature on websites, and they need to be fully accessible to blind users. Several key elements contribute to form accessibility:

• Labels and Instructions: Always associate form inputs with <label> elements to ensure that screen readers can describe the purpose of each field. The label should clearly define what the user is expected to enter, and additional instructions (e.g., “required field”) should be placed near the input.
• Error Messages: When an error occurs in form submission, make sure that error messages are descriptive and provided in a format that screen readers can easily announce. Highlight the specific fields that need attention, rather than simply providing a generic error at the top of the form.

8. Testing with Real Users

While following WCAG and using accessibility checkers is helpful, the most effective way to ensure that a website is truly accessible to blind users is by testing it with real people who use assistive technologies. Engaging users who rely on screen readers or keyboard navigation in the testing process provides invaluable insights into the usability of your site, allowing you to identify issues and make improvements that automated tools might miss.

Conclusion

Creating websites that are accessible to blind users is not only a legal requirement in many regions but also a matter of inclusivity and equal access. By following WCAG guidelines, ensuring screen reader compatibility, enabling keyboard navigation, and making thoughtful design choices, web developers can build experiences that are accessible to all users. Accessibility enhances the overall user experience, benefiting not just those with disabilities but also a broader audience of users with varying needs and preferences.

What is Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)?

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are a set of internationally recognized standards for making web content more accessible to individuals with disabilities. Developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), WCAG outlines principles and techniques to ensure websites are perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for users with varying abilities. The guidelines cover areas such as text alternatives for non-text content, keyboard accessibility, and readability, helping developers create inclusive online experiences. WCAG is essential for promoting equal access to information and services online.