2.6 Accessibility Basics
Prerequisites
Before you start, make sure you have:
- Live website (Section 2.2)
Step-by-Step
Run an automated audit
Go to wave.webaim.org and enter your URL. Also run Google Lighthouse (Chrome DevTools > Lighthouse > Accessibility). Aim for 90+ score.
Fix image alt text
Every image on your site should have a descriptive alt attribute.
Check colour contrast
Use the WebAIM Contrast Checker. WCAG AA standard: 4.5:1 ratio for normal text, 3:1 for large text.
Ensure keyboard navigation works
Press Tab repeatedly through your homepage. You should be able to reach every link and button without a mouse.
Add skip navigation
A “Skip to main content” link at the top of the page for screen reader users.
Check form labels
Every form field must have a visible label. Placeholder text alone is not sufficient.
Caption videos if any
Auto-captions in YouTube are acceptable for small businesses. Enable them before embedding.
WAVE audit result for rmdboothco.com.au — 0 errors, 0 contrast errors, ADA Score 9.9/10. This is the target to aim for.
- Using colour alone to convey information
- PDFs without text — scanned PDFs are inaccessible
- Tiny tap targets on mobile — buttons should be at least 44x44px
- Missing page title tags
Microsoft Clarity (free) includes session recording — watch real users navigate your site. Accessibility problems often show up as rage clicks and confusion patterns.
You're Done When
- WAVE audit shows zero errors
- Lighthouse Accessibility score 85+
- All images have descriptive alt text
- Colour contrast passes WCAG AA
- All forms have proper labels