Accessibility in Design: Building Interfaces Everyone Can Use
Accessibility is not a checklist to complete at the end. Here are the practices I follow to make accessibility part of the design process. Accessibility is often treated as a compliance task, a checklist to complete before launch. Treated that way, it produces interfaces that technically pass automated tests but are still difficult for many users. Real accessibility is part of the design process from the start, influencing color, layout, interaction, and content decisions. After years of learning and correcting mistakes, here are the practices I follow to make accessibility part of design rather than an afterthought. Design for Keyboard Navigation First Many users work with interfaces without a mouse, using a keyboard, screen reader, or switch device. If an interface only works with a mouse, it excludes these users. I design interactions to work with keyboard first, then enhance with mouse and touch. This means every interactive element must be reachable with Tab, operable with Enter or Space, and have a visible focus indicator. Visible focus is the most commonly neglected aspect. Browsers provide a default focus outline, and designers routinely remove it with outline: none without providing an alternative. This is a critical mistake. More guides are on the Spark Blog.