Accessible user experiences: 6 best practices to follow (with extra tips)

This article outlines six essential accessibility best practices UX designers and companies should follow, complete with actionable tips for improving inclusivity and compliance and explains why accessibility has become a key factor to take into account, rather than a “nice to have” element.

Why is creating an accessible user experience so important?

Accessibility in UX (User Experience) focuses on removing barriers and ensuring equal access for people with disabilities, including those with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments. Following accessible user experience best practices leads to products that are not only compliant but also more intuitive, efficient, and enjoyable for all users.

Creating an accessible UX has become a cornerstone of modern digital design. Accessibility is not only about compliance. It’s about empathy, inclusion, and building products that work for everyone, regardless of their abilities or circumstances. With the European Accessibility Act (EAA) coming into full force in 2025, the need to design and develop digital interfaces that everyone can use has never been greater. For more information on the Accessibility Act, click the ergomania.eu link.

Accessibility best practice number 1 – Prioritize keyboard navigation and non-pointer input

The first and arguably most critical accessible user experience best practice is ensuring that every element on a website or app can be accessed and used via keyboard alone. This is vital for users with motor impairments or those who rely on assistive devices.

Key considerations:

• Define a logical tab order, so users can navigate through elements sequentially.
• Provide visible focus indicators (for example, a clear outline when a button or link is selected).
• Avoid keyboard traps that prevent users from escaping certain areas.
• Support input alternatives like voice commands or adaptive switches.

Testing your product without a mouse is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to identify accessibility gaps.

Extra tip: Use the “Tab” key test. If you can’t reach every interactive element smoothly, you need to adjust your navigation logic.

Accessibility best practice number 2 – Ensure screen reader compatibility and semantic markup

Screen readers allow visually impaired users to navigate and interpret websites through speech or braille. To create an accessible user experience, designers must structure pages with proper semantic markup and ensure compatibility with assistive technologies.

Best practices:

• Use native HTML elements correctly (<button>, <form>, <nav>, <header>).
• Apply ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes only when standard HTML cannot convey meaning.
• Provide alt text for all images, icons, and infographics.
• Use live regions (ARIA live) to announce dynamic content updates.

Proper semantics make your site not just accessible, but also more SEO-friendly and easier to maintain.

Extra tip: Test with popular screen readers such as NVDA or VoiceOver to verify that your content hierarchy and labeling make sense when read aloud.

Accessibility best practice number 3 – Use clear, simple language and logical content structure

One of the most impactful accessibility best practices UX experts recommend is simplifying language. Overly complex content can alienate users with cognitive disabilities, non-native speakers, or anyone skimming.

What to do:

• Write in plain, everyday language and avoid technical jargon.
• Use short sentences and break large chunks of text into paragraphs or bullet points.
• Create a clear hierarchy using headings (H1, H2, H3) and meaningful section titles.
• Add summaries, glossaries, or tooltips to explain complex concepts.

This approach not only improves readability but also enhances SEO by making content scannable and structured.

Extra tip: Use online readability tools (like Hemingway or Readable) to measure your content’s complexity and adjust as needed.

Accessibility best practice number 4 – Guarantee sufficient color contrast and flexible typography

Visual accessibility is essential for users with low vision or color blindness. A visually clear and adaptable interface is key to an accessible user experience.

Implementation tips:

• Follow the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for text and background.
• Provide theme toggles (light, dark, high-contrast) to accommodate different needs.
• Use scalable font sizes that respond to user browser settings.
• Maintain consistent spacing to prevent clutter and eye strain.

Design systems that integrate accessibility best practices for UX from the beginning tend to produce more professional, visually balanced interfaces.

Extra tip: Test your color combinations in grayscale mode! It quickly reveals whether your design relies too heavily on color alone.

Accessibility best practice number 5 – Make interactive controls predictable, consistent, and resilient

Consistency builds confidence. Users should know what to expect when they interact with buttons, forms, or menus. Unpredictable behavior frustrates everyone, but especially those relying on assistive technologies.

Best practices:

• Keep similar controls behaving consistently across pages.
• Label all form fields clearly and associate error messages with specific inputs.
• Provide undo or cancel options where possible to prevent irreversible mistakes.
• Build resilience! Ensure your app remains usable even under slow connections or technical errors.

Predictable interactions are at the heart of a reliable, accessible user experience best practice framework.

Extra tip: Conduct user testing under different conditions (low bandwidth, offline mode, or high latency) to ensure your interface remains stable.

Accessibility best practice number 6 – Test with real users and iterate continuously

Perhaps the most overlooked (but most vital) of all accessibility best practices for UX principles is ongoing testing. Automated tools can detect technical issues, but real accessibility requires human feedback.

Actions to take:

• Involve people with disabilities in your usability tests.
• Use automated accessibility testing tools (Axe, WAVE, Lighthouse) to catch common issues.
• Monitor analytics to identify where users struggle or abandon processes.
• Make accessibility reviews a recurring part of your product lifecycle.

Accessibility is not a one-time project: it’s a continuous improvement journey.

Extra tip: Partner with professional UX agencies or accessibility consultants for periodic audits to stay compliant and up to date with legal changes.

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