Accessible design is simply good design. It’s faster, clearer, and more reliable across devices and assistive technologies. Start with semantic HTML: headings that describe structure, landmarks that define regions, and lists that group related items. Use native controls first; they come with built-in accessibility and predictable behavior.
Keyboard is the universal input. Ensure every interactive element is reachable and operable with Tab, Enter, and Space. Preserve visible focus with a high-contrast outline. For custom widgets, map keyboard patterns to ARIA practices and test with screen readers. Avoid tabindex values above zero; they create confusing focus orders.
Color cannot carry meaning alone. Pair hue with iconography, text, or patterns. Maintain sufficient contrast for text, icons, and focus states. Provide resizable text without breaking layout; fluid type with clamp() helps maintain readability across scales.
Announce changes. Dynamic updates (modals, toasts, form errors) should be reachable and perceivable. Use aria-live regions or move focus appropriately. Prevent scroll-jacking and respect reduced-motion preferences with prefers-reduced-motion guards for animations.
Test with people and tools. Automated checks catch low-hanging fruit; real users reveal friction. Include screen readers (NVDA, VoiceOver), keyboard-only passes, and high-contrast mode. Accessibility isn’t a checklist item after handoff — it’s a design principle that improves everything.