Reflecting on Accessibility in Front-End Development

As the year comes to an end, it's a time for reflection and growth. As a front-end engineer, I have realized the importance of considering accessibility in the design and development process and I would like to share my journey with you.

Why Accessibility Matters

There are several countries, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, that have legal requirements for website and digital content accessibility to ensure that people with disabilities are not left behind. In the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that all websites and digital content must be accessible to people with disabilities. In Canada, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) requires that all websites and digital content must meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. In the UK, the Equality Act 2010 requires that all websites and digital content must be accessible to people with disabilities.

However, the legal requirements are just the tip of the iceberg. Accessibility is a human right and ensures that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can access and use the information and services available on the web.

The Importance of Understanding Accessibility

As a front-end engineer, it's important to understand the basics of accessibility and how to make elements of a website or application more accessible. This includes understanding the different types of disabilities and how they impact the use of technology.

For example, people who are visually impaired may use a screen reader to navigate a website, while people with motor disabilities may use a keyboard to navigate and activate elements on a page.

Improving Accessibility in Key Areas

There are several key areas where accessibility can be improved, including:

Alt Text for Images

<img src="image.jpg" alt="A description of the image">

Adding alternative text (alt text) to images provides a text description of the image for users who are visually impaired and using a screen reader. The alt text should accurately and succinctly describe the content of the image.

Buttons

<button type="submit" aria-label="Submit Form">
  Submit
</button>

Buttons can be made more accessible by adding a clear and descriptive label, providing alternative text for screen readers, ensuring the button can be easily focused and activated using keyboard navigation, and adding ARIA attributes to provide additional information to assistive technologies.

Headings

<h1>Header 1</h1>
<h2>Header 2</h2>
<h3>Header 3</h3>

Using semantic headings (H1-H6) provides structure to the content on a page and makes it easier for users to navigate and understand the content, especially those using assistive technologies.

A Call to Action

Accessibility should not be an afterthought in the design and development process. It's our responsibility as front-end engineers to ensure that the web is inclusive and accessible to everyone.

According to the World Health Organization, it is estimated that around 15% of the world's population lives with some form of disability, and in Africa, this number could be potentially higher. By considering accessibility in our work, we can help bridge the digital divide and make the web a more accessible and inclusive place for all.

I will continue to share my journey and learnings on accessibility through this series and I encourage other engineers to join me in this journey of making the web a more accessible and inclusive