To make a website accessible for screen readers, the goal is to help users who can’t see the screen still understand and navigate everything clearly.
Here are some simple, effective ways 👇
- Use proper semantic HTML — Tags like
<header>,<main>,<nav>,<footer>,<section>, and<article>help screen readers understand the structure of the page. - Add
alttext to images — Use meaningfulaltattributes on images so the reader can describe the image to the user.
<img src="profile.jpg" alt="Profile picture of John Doe">
- Use descriptive labels for inputs — Associate labels with form fields to make them understandable.
<label for="email">Email Address</label>
<input type="email" id="email" name="email">
- Use ARIA roles only when needed —
aria-labeloraria-labelledbycan help describe elements that don’t have clear text.
<button aria-label="Close menu">✕</button>
- Maintain proper heading structure — Use headings (
<h1>to<h6>) in a logical order, not just for styling. - Ensure keyboard accessibility — All elements should be accessible and usable with only the keyboard (like
TabandEnterkeys). - Provide clear link text — Instead of writing “click here,” use descriptive link text like “Read more about our services.”
- Add skip links — Helps users jump directly to the main content, skipping navigation.
<a href="#main-content" class="skip-link">Skip to main content</a>
- Use good color contrast — Make sure text is easy to read against its background.
✅ In short: Use semantic structure, meaningful labels, proper navigation, and keyboard support to make your website friendly for screen reader users.