Your non-profit works to make the world a more inclusive place. Your website should reflect that same value. Website accessibility means making sure that people with disabilities can use your website. This includes people who are blind and use screen readers to browse the internet, people who are deaf and need captions on videos, and people who cannot use a mouse and rely on a keyboard to navigate. Creating an accessible website is not just a technical task; it is a core part of being a welcoming and inclusive organization.

Making a website accessible is also a legal issue. Laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) require that public places be accessible to people with disabilities, and courts have ruled that websites count as public places. But beyond the law, it is simply the right thing to do. A good user experience is one that works for everyone. This guide will give you 8 simple, practical steps you can take to make your non-profit’s website more accessible to all of your supporters.

Step 1: Use Clear and Descriptive Page Titles

The page title is the text that appears in the browser tab at the top of your screen. It is also the first thing a screen reader announces to a user who is blind. A good page title tells the user exactly what the page is about before they even read the content. Be specific. Instead of a generic title like “News,” use a clear title like “Our Latest News and Updates | [Your Non-Profit’s Name].” This simple step makes your whole site much easier to navigate for screen reader users.

Step 2: Add Alternative Text (Alt Text) to All Your Images

Alternative text, or “alt text,” is a short, written description of an image. You cannot see it on the page, but it is in the website’s code. When a person who is blind visits your site using a screen reader, the software will read the alt text out loud to describe the image. This is a crucial part of your non-profit web design.

Every single image on your website that conveys information should have alt text. The description should be short and simple. For example, for a photo of volunteers working, good alt text would be: “Three volunteers planting trees in a park.” This simple habit makes all of your visual content accessible.

Step 3: Use Strong Color Contrast

Some people have low vision or are colorblind, which can make it hard to read text if there is not enough contrast between the text color and the background color. For example, light gray text on a white background is very difficult for many people to read. Your website should use strong contrast to make sure your content is legible for everyone.

Step 4: Make Sure Your Website Can Be Used with a Keyboard

Some people cannot use a mouse because of a physical disability. They use the “Tab” key on their keyboard to move from link to link on a webpage. You need to make sure that your website works perfectly with a keyboard. Try it yourself. Can you get to every link and button on your site just by using the Tab key? When you do, is there a clear visual indicator (like a box or an outline) showing you where you are on the page? This is one of the most important accessibility tests you can do.

Step 5: Use Clear and Descriptive Link Text

People who use screen readers often have the software read out a list of all the links on a page to help them navigate quickly. This is why you should never use vague phrases like “Click Here” or “Learn More” as your link text. A list of links that just says “Click Here, Click Here, Click Here” is not helpful.

Your link text should be descriptive and make sense out of context. Instead of “To download our annual report, click here,” make the link itself descriptive: “Download our 2024 Annual Report.” This makes your site much easier to use for everyone.

Step 6: Add Captions and Transcripts to Your Videos

If you use video in your non-profit storytelling, you need to make sure it is accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Every video on your website should have accurate, synchronized captions. Many video platforms, like YouTube, have tools that can automatically generate captions for you, which you can then edit for accuracy.

It is also a best practice to provide a full text transcript of the video on the same page. This is helpful for people who are deaf-blind and use a refreshable braille display, and it also makes your video content searchable by Google, which is great for your SEO.

Step 7: Use Headings to Structure Your Content

Just like in a book, headings and subheadings help to organize your content and make it easier to read. This is especially important for screen reader users. They can use the headings on a page to get a quick outline of your content and jump to the section that is most interesting to them. Use a logical heading structure on all of your pages (H1 for the main title, H2 for main sections, H3 for sub-sections). This is a simple change that makes a big difference.

Step 8: Make Your Forms Accessible

Forms, like your donation form or your email sign-up form, can be a major challenge for people using assistive technology if they are not built correctly. Every field in your form (like “First Name” or “Email Address”) needs to have a clear, properly coded label. Any instructions should be clear and easy to understand. And if a user makes a mistake, the error message should clearly explain what went wrong and how to fix it. An accessible donation form is a critical part of your donation page optimization.

Accessibility is not a feature; it is a fundamental part of good design. It is about making sure that everyone can access your mission.

Conclusion: A Website for Everyone

Creating an accessible website is a direct reflection of your non-profit’s inclusive values. It is about making sure that no one is left out of your community because of a disability. While some parts of accessibility can be technical, the basic principles are simple and easy to follow. By taking these 8 steps, you can make your website a more welcoming place for all of your supporters. You will not only be complying with the law; you will be living out your mission and building a stronger, more inclusive community.