Millions of Indians live with visual, hearing, motor or cognitive disabilities, and many more are older users who find small text and complex layouts difficult. An accessible website reaches more people and is usually easier for everyone to use. Government and many public-facing websites are expected to follow accessibility standards, and accessibility is good practice for all.
Practical basics
- Readable text: adequate font size and strong colour contrast.
- Alt text for images: describe meaningful images for screen readers.
- Keyboard navigation: users should be able to navigate and submit forms without a mouse.
- Clear labels: every form field needs a visible label.
- Descriptive links: "Download brochure" rather than "Click here".
- Captions: for videos with speech.
- Logical headings: use H1, H2 and H3 in order.
Mobile accessibility
Make tap targets large enough, avoid tiny text and let users zoom.
Language and clarity
Use simple language, short sentences and familiar words. Offer content in Hindi or regional languages where relevant.
Testing
Use automated tools like Lighthouse and WAVE, then test manually with a keyboard and a screen reader.
FAQs
Does accessibility help SEO?
Many accessibility practices — clear headings, alt text, descriptive links — also support SEO.
Is accessibility expensive?
Building it in from the start costs little; retrofitting costs more.
Which standard should we follow?
WCAG guidelines are the widely used reference.
