Building Accessible Components for Screen Readers

Have you ever wondered how visually impaired people use your application or website? Screen readers play a key role in this process. Well-designed components that are accessible to these tools can significantly improve user experience and make your application more inclusive.

Why is Accessibility Important?

Designing accessible interfaces is not just an ethical and legal issue but also a UX consideration. Screen reader-friendly components:

• Improve user experience for people with disabilities.
• Facilitate navigation and interaction for all users, such as those using a keyboard.
• Can positively impact SEO since search engines appreciate semantic code.

How to Create Accessible Components?

1. Use Proper HTML Tags

Semantic HTML is the foundation of accessibility. Instead of <div> and <span>, use native elements:

• <button> instead of a div mimicking a button,
• <label> for form field descriptions,
• <nav> to indicate navigation sections.

2. Use ARIA Attributes Only When Necessary

ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) can help improve accessibility, but overuse can have negative effects. Key attributes include:

• aria-label – adds a description for an element,
• aria-hidden="true" – hides an element from screen readers,
• role="alert" – announces important changes on the page.

3. Ensure Logical Structure and Navigation Order

Screen readers rely on the DOM order, so you should:

• Use headings (h1-h6) in a hierarchical manner,
• Maintain a clear tab order (tabindex),
• Avoid hiding essential information visually.

4. Test with Screen Readers

The best way to check accessibility is by testing. Popular screen readers include:

• NVDA (Windows, free),
• JAWS (Windows, paid),
• VoiceOver (macOS/iOS),
• TalkBack (Android).

5. Example React Component

jsx

import React from "react";

const AccessibleButton = ({ onClick }) => {
  return (
      <button 
          onClick={onClick}
          aria-label="Expand menu"
      >
          <span className="hamburger-line"></span>
          <span className="hamburger-line"></span>
          <span className="hamburger-line"></span>
      </button>
  );
};

export default AccessibleButton;

Conclusion

Accessibility is not an add-on but a fundamental aspect of good UX. By creating accessible components, you make your products more useful and inclusive. Remember to test, use semantic HTML, and apply ARIA attributes wisely.