UNF: Top 10 Digital Accessibility Tips for Developers

At UNF, accessibility is a priority—we want our digital content to be welcoming and usable for all. At UNF, we’re dedicated to creating digital content that’s clear, consistent, and inclusive for everyone. By following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA, we take important steps toward that goal. These ten tips are a great way to begin making your content more accessible and user-friendly.

Keyboard Operability

Ensure all menus, forms, and interactive elements are usable by keyboard.
WCAG SC: 2.1.1 Keyboard (A)

No Keyboard Traps

Prevent situations where users can enter but not exit a control using the keyboard.
WCAG SC: 2.1.2 No Keyboard Trap (A)

Logical Focus Order

Tab sequence must follow a logical reading order.
WCAG SC: 2.4.3 Focus Order (A)

Visible Focus Indicator

Provide a clear visual outline or highlight for focused elements.
WCAG SC: 2.4.7 Focus Visible (AA)

Color and Contrast

Normal text contrast ratio ≥ 4.5:1.
Large/bold text and graphical objects contrast ratio ≥ 3:1.
WCAG SC: 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) (AA); 1.4.11 Non-text Contrast (AA); 1.4.1 Use of Color (A)

Form Labels

Every input field must have a visible or programmatic label.
WCAG SC: 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions (A)

Error Identification and Suggestions

Clearly identify errors and provide suggestions to correct them.
WCAG SC: 3.3.1 Error Identification (A); 3.3.3 Error Suggestion (AA)

Error Prevention on Critical Forms

For legal/financial/data submissions, add confirmation screens or undo options.
WCAG SC: 3.3.4 Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data) (AA)

Input Purpose

Use autocomplete attributes to expose input purpose to browsers and assistive tech.
WCAG SC: 1.3.5 Identify Input Purpose (AA)

Reflow and Zoom

Content must remain usable at 200% zoom and reflow at 400% without horizontal scrolling.
WCAG SC: 1.4.4 Resize Text (AA); 1.4.10 Reflow (AA)