Seven Quick Accessibility Wins for Better User Experience

Introduction

Accessibility ensures all users, including those with disabilities, can navigate and understand websites. These quick wins improve usability for everyone and often help SEO and legal compliance.

Seven quick wins

1) Use semantic HTML elements

Prefer native elements (<header>, <nav>, <main>, <article>, <footer>, buttons, lists) over generic <div>s. Screen readers get structure for free, and keyboard behavior works by default.

2) Provide alt text for images

Describe the purpose of the image. If it�s decorative, use empty alt (alt="") so assistive tech skips it.

<img src="/team.jpg" alt="Support team answering customer chats">
<img src="/divider.svg" alt="" role="presentation">

3) Ensure sufficient color contrast

Meet WCAG AA: contrast ratio = 4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text (18.66px+ regular or 14px+ bold). Avoid relying on color alone to convey meaning.

4) Make all functions keyboard accessible

Every interactive control must be reachable and operable via keyboard (Tab, Shift+Tab, Enter, Space, arrow keys when applicable). Don�t remove outlines without providing a visible alternative.

5) Use ARIA landmarks and roles (when needed)

Use native landmarks first (<header>, <nav>, <main>, <aside>, <footer>). Add ARIA only to fill gaps (e.g., role="alert" for live errors, aria-live="polite" for status messages). Avoid �div + role=button�; use a real <button> when possible.

6) Clear headings & descriptive link text

Keep a logical heading hierarchy (one <h1> per page, then <h2>, <h3>, ...). Use link text that makes sense out of context (avoid �click here�).

<h1>Pricing</h1>
<h2>Business plan</h2>

<a href="/docs/accessibility">Accessibility guidelines for developers</a>

7) Label forms and show accessible errors

Associate each input with a <label>, group related fields with <fieldset>/<legend>, and connect errors via aria-describedby or live regions.

<label for="email">Email</label>
<input id="email" name="email" type="email" aria-describedby="emailHelp">
<div id="emailHelp" class="help">We never share your email.</div>

<p id="emailError" role="alert" class="error" hidden>Please enter a valid email.</p>

Impact

These improvements boost usability, reduce support tickets, and help with SEO and compliance. Most importantly, they make your site inclusive.

Quick checklist

Conclusion

Small changes yield big benefits. Start with these seven wins to improve access, performance, and overall user experience.