Introduction

In web development HTML, CSS, and ARIA are fundamental technologies that work together and contribute to making websites accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.

Where HTML provides the structure and meaning of content, CSS then ensures that content is visually accessible and responsive. ARIA is then used to provide accessibility for interactive, dynamic content that cannot be made accessible with HTML alone.

HTML - Hypertext Markup Language

HTML is the standard markup language used to structure content on the web.

When creating accessible websites, using semantic HTML is crucial. Semantic elements such as <header>, <nav>, <article> and <section> convey the meaning of the content to both browsers and assistive technologies like screen readers. This helps users with disabilities better understand the page structure, covering...

Proper use of headings, such as <h1> to <h6> create a hierarchical page structure, making it easier for users to navigate content using assistive technologies.

Alt attributes on images, e.g. <img alt="..." /> - Descriptive text for images ensures that users who cannot see the image still understand its context.

Form labels - By associating <label> elements with form inputs, this can help screen reader users understand the purpose of each form field.

Landmarks - Elements like <header>, <footer>, <nav> and <main> help users quickly jump to specific parts of the page.

CSS - Cascading Style Sheets

CSS is used to control the visual presentation of a web page. For accessibility, it is essential to ensure that the design does not impair usability for people with disabilities, especially those who rely on assistive technologies or have visual impairments.

Color contrast - Ensure sufficient contrast between text and background colors to make content readable for users with visual impairments such as colour blindness. Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) recommend a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text.

Responsive design - CSS media queries and flexible layouts using relative units such as em and %, make websites usable across different devices and screen sizes, benefiting users who rely on screen magnifiers or have low vision.

Positioning for important content - Make sure that key content is not hidden or inaccessible when the user zooms in or uses a screen reader.

Visible focus states - Ensure interactive elements like links and buttons have clear focus states to help keyboard-only users know where they are on the page.

ARIA - Accessible Rich Internet Applications

ARIA is a set of attributes that can be added to HTML to enhance the accessibility of web applications, particularly for users who rely on screen readers. ARIA is useful when native HTML elements cannot convey the necessary information or behavior to assistive technologies.

Role attributes - ARIA roles such as role="button" and role="dialog" define what an element is or how it should behave. This is important for custom UI components that do not use standard HTML elements.

ARIA states and properties - Attributes like aria-expanded, aria-checked and aria-hidden communicate the current state of an element to assistive technologies.

ARIA landmarks - These are similar to HTML landmarks and include roles like role="banner", role="navigation", and role="main", helping users navigate the page more easily.

ARIA should be used with caution and only when necessary, as excessive or improper use can lead to accessibility issues. Whenever possible, it's best to rely on native HTML elements, as they are designed to be inherently accessible.

Conclusion

Combining semantic HTML, accessible CSS design and appropriate use of ARIA, web developers can create websites that are usable by a wide range of users, including those with visual, auditory, physical, or cognitive disabilities.

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