By Parker Blunt — Sep 29, 2024

Making Our Site More Accessible and User-Friendly: Key Updates and Improvements

Today, we made several important updates to improve both the accessibility and overall design of our website. These changes are designed to enhance your experience, whether you’re browsing on a desktop, mobile device, or using accessibility tools.

Accessibility Improvements

One of the first things we tackled was improving accessibility. This is all about making sure everyone, including people with disabilities, can use a website easily. For example, some users rely on screen readers, which are software that read web content aloud, or prefer navigating with a keyboard instead of a mouse.

One of our key updates was adding a "Skip to Main Content" link at the top of the page. While it may sound simple, this feature is a game-changer. It allows users to bypass menus and headers, diving straight into the main content without unnecessary detours.

We also improved the color contrast on our buttons, ensuring they meet official readability guidelines. This is especially important for users with visual impairments, as low contrast between text and background can make it difficult to read. By using a contrast checker tool, we verified that our buttons are now clearer and easier to read for everyone.

Customization with AI-Powered Tools

In addition, we introduced an AI-powered tool that not only tests the site for accessibility issues but also gives users control over certain design elements. This tool adds a button on the page that allows users to customize their browsing experience. They can adjust text size, contrast, and even change color schemes to make the site easier to use. Whether someone needs larger fonts or prefers high-contrast colors, this tool allows them to personalize the site to suit their needs.

Enhanced User Interface for Desktop and Mobile

On the design front, we focused on enhancing the user interface for both desktop and mobile devices. Since mobile screens are smaller, we ensured the layout adapts nicely to different screen sizes. For example, on desktop, the full menu is always visible, but on mobile, we implemented a clean and responsive "hamburger menu" that smoothly expands when tapped. This keeps navigation simple, no matter the device.

Fully Responsive Design

To further optimize the experience, we worked on making the site fully responsive. Whether you’re browsing on a large monitor or a small phone, the design will adjust seamlessly. Buttons won’t be too small to tap, and text will remain legible across devices.

More Engaging Landing Page

We’ve also expanded the content on our landing page to make it more engaging. This includes improving the design and visibility of our call-to-action buttons to encourage more interaction from visitors. We’ve added detailed descriptions of what we offer, making it clearer why our platform is valuable. Not only does this provide more value to users, but it also helps us rank higher in search engines, driving more traffic to the site.

Improving Text Readability

We made sure that all of our text readability met high standards. By using tools like the WebAIM Contrast Checker, we fine-tuned the contrast between text and background. This ensures that even users in bright light or with visual impairments can read everything clearly.

Streamlined Menus

Menus are a critical part of website navigation, and we’ve now streamlined them to be more user-friendly. Depending on whether a user is logged in or not, the menu will display relevant options like "Profile" or "Logout" for logged-in users, and "Login" or "Sign Up" for visitors. This makes the site feel more tailored to each user.

On mobile devices, we also made the menu more compact, offering a clean, simplified navigation system that’s easier to use.

New “Back to Top” Button

Another small but useful update we added is a “Back to Top” button. When you’ve scrolled far down the page, this button lets you quickly return to the top with a smooth, natural scroll. It only appears when necessary, making it a handy feature for long pages.

Oops, We Broke the App!

While we were busy making these improvements, we hit a snag and accidentally broke the app! Fortunately, no one was actively using it at the time, and we’ll have everything fixed up by tomorrow. These little hiccups are part of the development process, and we’re confident everything will be running smoothly again soon.

Testing New Accessibility Tools

We’re also testing new AI-powered accessibility tools to ensure our site meets the highest standards. These tools help catch potential issues early, like missing image descriptions or poorly labeled buttons, so we can fix them before they become a problem for users. Additionally, the AI-driven tool gives users control over how they experience the site, offering options to adjust fonts, contrast, and other elements to personalize their interaction with the content.

Consistent Design Across Pages

Finally, we made sure our design is consistent across all pages. From the footer to the buttons, every element now has a uniform look, making navigation smoother and giving the site a more professional feel. This consistency helps users feel more at home, knowing where to find information no matter where they are on the site.

For users who rely on screen readers, we’ve made sure our site is easier to navigate. With properly labeled buttons and interactive elements, users will know exactly what action they’re taking. The "Skip to Main Content" link is another critical feature, allowing screen reader users to bypass less important sections and get straight to the main content.

Overall, we’ve made big strides to ensure that our site is more accessible, easier to navigate, and visually consistent. We hope these improvements enhance your experience, whether you’re browsing casually, using a screen reader, or exploring on your mobile device.