Nicholas Wiley

[Nicholas Wiley @nickshiftlives]

Set the page language in the code, for example lang="en".

Screen readers use it to pick the right pronunciation rules for the text.

#WebDevelopment #DigitalAccessibility

[Nicholas Wiley @nickshiftlives]

Every page needs a clear, unique title.

It is the first thing a screen reader announces and the label on the browser tab. "Home" on every page helps no one.

#WebContent #DigitalAccessibility

[Nicholas Wiley @nickshiftlives]

Try zooming your website to 200%.

Can you still read and use everything, with nothing cut off or overlapping? Text that can be resized without losing content is part of WCAG 2.2.

#WebDesign #DigitalAccessibility

[Nicholas Wiley @nickshiftlives]

“Click here” tells someone moving from link to link with a screen reader very little.

Write link text that makes sense on its own, like “Book a consultation” or “Download the menu”.

#WebContent #DigitalAccessibility

[Nicholas Wiley @nickshiftlives]

Not every image needs a description.

If an image is purely decorative, give it empty alt text (alt="") so screen readers skip it instead of announcing something meaningless.

#AltText #DigitalAccessibility

[Nicholas Wiley @nickshiftlives]

An icon-only button may be announced simply as “Button”.

Give it an accessible name, like “Search” or “Book appointment”, so a screen reader user knows what it does.

#ScreenReader #DigitalAccessibility

[Nicholas Wiley @nickshiftlives]

Screen readers rely on structure, not looks.

Real headings, real links and properly labelled buttons let someone move through a page by heading or link instead of listening from the top.

#ScreenReader #DigitalAccessibility

[Nicholas Wiley @nickshiftlives]

A visible focus indicator, usually an outline, shows which control a keyboard user is on.

Removing it to make a design look cleaner leaves people guessing where they are on the page.

#KeyboardAccessibility #WebDesign

[Nicholas Wiley @nickshiftlives]

Quick keyboard check: put the mouse away and press Tab on your home page.

Can you always see where you are? Does focus move in a sensible order? If not, keyboard users get lost too.

#KeyboardAccessibility #DigitalAccessibility

[Nicholas Wiley @nickshiftlives]

WCAG 2.2 sets a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal-size text and 3:1 for large text.

Light grey on white often falls short. Check text colours before you publish a new button or banner.

#ColourContrast #DigitalAccessibility

[Nicholas Wiley @nickshiftlives]

A placeholder is not a label.

The grey hint inside a form field disappears the moment someone starts typing. Keep a visible label above every field, connected to it in the code.

#AccessibleForms #DigitalAccessibility

[Nicholas Wiley @nickshiftlives]

Alt text test: if the image disappeared, would the words still carry the same point?

“chart.png” fails.
“Bar chart: bookings rose from 20 in January to 45 in March” passes.

#AltText #DigitalAccessibility