By examining the general state of digital accessibility, we’re presented with a concerning insight. For five consecutive years, one web accessibility issue has held its top place – low-contrast text. Despite the known importance of this factor, it remains a significant barrier for users with visual impairments or color vision deficiencies. In this post, we will delve deeper into the underlying reasons for this persisting issue.
Understanding the State of Web Accessibility
Web Accessability In Mind (WebAIM) collects and analyzes annual data by conducting an automated audit of the home pages of the top 1 million websites. Although it’s important to note that automated tests may have limitations, they also provide us with a crucial snapshot of digital accessibility at large. The WebAIM’s Million report revealed a concerning fact – 96.3% of home pages had detectable WCAG 2.0 failures.
Dearth of Color Contrast
The most common issue was, unsurprisingly, the lack of proper color contrast. The report concluded that 83.6% of home pages used low-contrast text. That’s only a meager improvement of 0.3% from the previous year. So, despite widespread awareness, why does this issue continue to prevail?
Understanding the Importance of Contrast
According to an estimate by Georgetown University, an average of 8% of the U.S. population suffers from some sort of visual impairment. When text has inadequate contrast with the background, these users may find it challenging, if not impossible, to read the content. The difficulty is heightened for users with color vision deficiencies or low vision.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) defines a minimum color contrast ratio, derived from the difference in luminance between the foreground and background. Black text on a white background has the highest contrast ratio of 21:1. For most text, a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 is required, and for larger text, a ratio of 3:1 is acceptable.
The Disconnect in Design
Even though WCAG’s color contrast rules are simple, most designers are either unaware of them or neglect them in favor of aesthetically complementary color pairs. However, such a lax mentality can result in legal repercussions, as color contrast issues feature prominently in accessibility lawsuits under the ADA.
Making Your Website Accessible
Identifying and rectifying color contrast issues is simple and quick. Automated tools can test color combinations against WCAG requirements. The Bureau of Internet Accessibility, for instance, offers a free a11y® color contrast accessibility validator, which can test web pages or individual color pairs.
Remember that optimized color contrast isn’t limited to text only. User interface components and essential graphic aspects too require a good color contrast ratio. A high-contrast mode can vastly improve accessibility, but all your webpage versions must maintain appropriate contrast.
Finally, ensure that all designers are educated about how color affects accessibility. Once your text color meets the necessary contrast ratio, you’re one step closer to a website that caters to the entire spectrum of its users.
Conclusion
To look out for all potential users of your website, sticking to the WCAG’s Level AA success criteria is a great way to ensure consistency. The free WCAG Level AA web analysis and the Ultimate Guide to Web Accessibility eBook can provide you with more essential accessibility information.
Tags: #webAccessibility #colorContrast #WCAG #webDesign