Make Your Website Keyboard and Screen Reader Friendly in Minutes: Built for All!

ByBNW TEAM

Is it possible that website accessibility implementation is done in a few minutes? 

Yes! It is possible. So, now organizations can integrate required accessibility measures swiftly and easily. 

When digital accessibility has become a need of the hour, it is important for every organization to embrace accessibility without delay. However, many organizations need accessibility improvements – keyboard and screen reader friendliness – quickly. 

This article will help understand how to make a website more inclusive, usable, and compliant with global standards in lesser time. 

Keyboard and screen reader accessibility – Is it enough to focus on? 

Many users with motor disabilities, vision impairments, or temporary limitations rely on keyboards or screen readers to access digital content. If a site isn’t optimized for these tools, organizations risk excluding: 

  • Blind or low-vision users depend on screen readers like JAWS, NVDA, or VoiceOver. 
  • Users with mobility impairments can’t use a mouse and rely on the keyboard. 
  • Older adults may struggle with precise motor movements or complex navigation. 
  • Users with temporary disabilities or situational limitations. 

Accessibility isn’t just good ethics – it’s good business. An accessible site widens the audience base, boosts SEO, and helps avoid costly legal trouble. 

Quick moves: making a website keyboard-friendly in minutes! 

Let’s start with keyboard accessibility. Users rely on keyboard navigation, using the Tab, Enter, Spacebar, and Arrow keys. Steps to accommodate them quickly: 

  • Check and fix focus order 

Ensure that pressing the tab key moves focus in a logical order – top to bottom, left to right. Avoid random jumps. 

Fixing method: Structure HTML properly. Use semantic elements like <header>, <nav>, <main>, and <footer>. 

  • Add visible focus indicators 

A user must be able to see where the focus is. 

Fixing method: Avoid removing outlines using outline: none; . Instead, enhance it: 

css 

   :focus { 

           outline: 3px solid #1976d2; 

        outline-offset: 2px;  } 

  • Skip to main content link 

A “Skip to Content” link lets keyboard users bypass repetitive navigation menus. 

Fixing method: Add this near the top of HTML: 

<a href=”#maincontent” class=”skip-link”>Skip to main content</a> 

Then, ensure the main content has the correct ID: 

<main id=”maincontent”>…</main> 

  • Avoid trap zones 

Modals, carousels, or dropdowns that trap focus can be frustrating for users. 

Fixing method: Use JavaScript to trap and release focus correctly and always return focus to the element that triggered the interaction. 

Also, WCAG outlines some success criteria for keyboard accessibility: 

SC 2.1.1 (Level A), SC 2.1.2 (Level A), SC 2.4.3 (Level A), SC 2.4.7 (Level AA), SC 2.1.4 (Level A), SC 2.5.1 (Level A), and SC 2.4.1 (Level A). 

Make a website screen reader-friendly swiftly! 

Screen readers interpret and vocalize what’s on a site. Thus, their inaccessibility impacts website experience for users depending on these screen readers. So, how to make them accessible easily? 

  • Use semantic HTML 

Stick with elements like <button>, <form>, <label>, <ul>, <li>, <nav>, and <section>. Screen readers understand these natively. 

Fixing method: Avoid using <div> s or <span> s for interactive elements. 

  • Label all interactive elements 

Every link, button, form field, and icon must have a text label. 

<button>Submit</button> 

  • Add alt text to images 

Ensure every meaningful image has a concise, descriptive alt tag. 

<img src=”product.jpg” alt=”Blue cotton shirt on hanger”> 

And what about decorative images? Use alt=”” to skip them. 

  • Use ARIA responsibly 

ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes enhance screen reader experience, but misuse can cause confusion. Use it when native HTML can’t convey meaning. 

<div role=”alert” aria-live=”assertive”>Your changes have been saved, </div> 

WCAG success criteria for screen reader accessibility: SC 4.1.3 (Level AA) 

Tools that help organizations audit and fix issues swiftly! 

There are tools that reduce manual work and speed up the process of fixing accessibility barriers. 

  • Keyboard-only testing: Use the Tab, Enter, and Esc keys to test interactions. 
  • Screen reader testing: Try NVDA (free, Windows), VoiceOver (built-in on Mac), or TalkBack (Android). 
  • Browser Extensions:  
  1. Axe DevTools 
  1. WAVE by WebAIM 
  1. Lighthouse (in Chrome DevTools) 

All in One Accessibility® Widget: Instant Accessibility Enhancement! 

If a business/organization needs a rapid start, consider implementing an accessibility widget like All in One Accessibility® from Skynet Technologies. 

The widget offers: 

  • Keyboard navigation enhancements 
  • 140+ languages support. 
  • Screen reader adjustments 
  • Real-time focus management 
  • Text resizing and contrast controls 
  • Alt text generation using AI 

There are many more premium services including manual accessibility audit, remediation, PDF remediation, VPAT generation, and much more. While not a substitute for full remediation, these tools offer quick, visible improvement and serve as a stepping stone to long-term accessibility. 

In short: Don’t delay inclusivity! 

Improving keyboard and screen reader accessibility doesn’t have to be overwhelming or time-consuming. With a few changes, organizations can implement in minutes and open the site to a much larger audience, enhance usability for all, and show the brand’s commitment to inclusivity and compliance. 

Accessibility only needs actions to implement and maintain its status. Act small but act now! 

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