A Designer’s Guide to ADA Compliance

Image by Mudassar Iqbal from Pixabay

Web designers play a crucial role in ensuring that a website is accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities. While web development involves the technical implementation of accessibility features, the design phase is where many critical decisions are made that can significantly impact the overall accessibility of the website.

Designing an ADA-compliant website involves ensuring accessibility for individuals with disabilities, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Here is a comprehensive list of points to consider:

Responsive Design

• Design for a responsive layout that works well on different devices and screen sizes.
• Ensure that content remains accessible when zoomed in.

Color Contrast

• Ensure there’s enough contrast (difference) between the colors of your text and background — at least a 4.5:1 ratio.
• Avoid relying solely on color to convey information.
• High contrast helps users with low vision or color blindness.

Text and Font

• Use legible fonts to ensure text is clear, concise, and easy to understand.