An accessibility overlay is a software that sits on top of your website to make it easier for users with disabilities or special needs to use. Accessible websites are key in the web’s bid to remain relevant and important as more and more people start shopping online – knowing how to spot a good vs. bad website makes it easier to take advantage of what the web has to offer. The following are some essential tips for making your website more accessible and user-friendly to those with disabilities or special needs.

1. Add Captions to Your Videos Anyone who has ever tried to watch a video on YouTube with the sound off knows what it’s like to have trouble understanding what’s being said, even when there are subtitles available. People who are deaf or hard of hearing may be totally unable to understand your video without captions, so adding them can make a world of difference.

2. Create a Text-Based Homepage If you have a lot of visual content on your site, consider offering a text- or screen reader-based homepage instead to allow everyone access to the general idea of it. This makes it easier for those who can’t see images and understand how your website works, so it’s sure to be a hit with your users.

3. Make Sure All Links Can Be Accessed by Keyboard Entering text into a box is great, but those who can’t use their hands or access the mouse may find it more difficult than those simply typing on the keyboard. Ensure that all links and buttons can also be accessed through standard key commands so that all types of users will have an equal opportunity to enjoy your website and its content.

4. Don’t Rely on Color Alone for Meaning Many people who are colorblind don’t know what they’re missing out on when it comes to distinguishing between colors like blue and green since they see them as the same thing. Think twice about using color alone to convey the meaning behind something, such as a link, so that everyone can understand its purpose.

5. Give Users Options for Changing Font Size While not every user will need to change their browser or website font size, those who are visually impaired may find it necessary to do so in order to read everything on your site. Consider giving users this option as part of your Accessibility Overlay.

6. Make Your Site Keyboard-Navigable If someone cannot use a mouse, they’ll likely have difficulty using your site at all – around half of all websites aren’t designed with people without a mouse in mind! Keyboard navigation is much more important than many realize since not everyone has one hand free at all times to be able to control their web experience easier.

7. Be Mindful of Color Contrast Colors look much different when you’re not looking at them off a screen, where brightness and contrast are hard to judge. Black text on a white background is likely the easiest for everyone to read, while dark gray text on a light gray background would make it harder for many people to see what’s written.

8. Make Your Site Accessible on Mobile Devices Some users are still accessing the web through their phones, even though the way we visit websites has changed tremendously in recent years. Be sure that your site can be accessed by mobile devices as well as traditional computers if possible, since there may be times when that’s all someone has to use!