For charities and not for profit organisations like yours, your online presence is a cornerstone in achieving your mission. Your website is typically your first point of contact between your organisation and your loyal supporters, generous donors, and the people you aim to assist. This makes it imperative to guarantee that your online platform goes beyond being just informative and user-friendly – it must also be accessible to a wide-ranging and all-inclusive audience.
A fundamental aspect of web accessibility is the use of a well-thought-out colour scheme that considers the needs of all users.
In this article, we will explore the significance of colour accessibility for charitable and nonprofit websites, providing valuable tips and examples tailored to your unique context.
What Does Colour Accessibility on the Web Mean?
Colour accessibility is the contrast between text and background colour is important on web pages making it easy for everyone to read.
Whilst the human eye and brain is very good at distinguishing shapes, patterns and colours generally, a significant number of people find it difficult to distinguish shades, or specific colours. The term colour blindness is used, but that may be misleading, and colour vision deficiency is better.
Around 1 in 12* men and 1 in 200* women have some degree of colour vision deficiency. Complete colour blindness (or monochromatic vision) is extremely rare. See NHS choices Colour vision deficiency page for more information.
For example, in the below Ishihara colour test plate what number can you see?
Why Colour Accessibility Matters for Your Audience
Charities and not for profit organisations are built on the principles of serving the community, often catering to individuals from diverse backgrounds, abilities, and age groups.
The significance of colour accessibility for your website lies in your commitment to serving all members of your audience equally. Here's why it's so vital:
Inclusivity: Implementing accessible colour schemes ensures that your website is welcoming and usable for individuals with visual impairments. This inclusivity sends a strong message about your dedication to accessibility and equal opportunities. This is especially important if your charity is dedicated to supporting those who have visual impairments.
Enhanced User Experience: An accessible website benefits everyone. Those without visual impairments will appreciate the user-friendly design, while those with visual challenges will have a seamless experience, fostering a stronger connection with your cause.
Expanded Reach: An accessible website can attract a larger and more diverse audience. When potential supporters or beneficiaries find it easy to navigate your site, they are more likely to engage with your organisation's work and contribute to your cause.
Practical Tips for Colour Accessibility:
1. Prioritise Contrast:
The contrast between text and background is fundamental. High contrast ratios ensure text remains easily readable. Tools like the WebAIM Contrast Checker can help you evaluate if your chosen colours meet accessibility standards, providing a straightforward pass or fail assessment. Use sliders to fine-tune your colours until you reach an optimal contrast ratio.
To meet W3C’s minimum AA rating, your background-to-text contrast ratio should be at least 4.5:1. So, when designing things like buttons, cards, or navigation elements, be sure to check the contrast ratio of your colour combinations.
2. Thoughtful Colour Palettes:
While the temptation to use a wide range of colours is real, remember that simplicity enhances accessibility. Stick to a limited colour palette with perhaps three to five colours, focusing on hues that offer sufficient contrast.
3. Account for Colour Blindness:
Various forms of colour blindness exist, necessitating that your content is distinguishable by individuals with varying colour vision deficiencies. Tools like Colour Oracle can simulate how your content appears to different types of colour blindness. It's essential to be aware that red-green colour blindness affects up to 8% of males and 0.5% of females, with decreased colour perception in old age.
4. Test in Diverse Conditions:
Your design may look perfect on your screen, but how does it fare in different lighting environments? Test your colours in various lighting conditions to ensure readability. Additionally, consider how your colours will appear in print, fabric, or alongside different background colours.
5. Adjust for Text Size:
Colours can appear differently at varying text sizes. Ensure that your chosen colours maintain adequate contrast even when the text is enlarged. For example, larger text is easier to read at lower contrast so the contrast requirement is lower.
Normal Text: There should be a contrast ratio of 4.5:1 between text and background. This is the ratio chosen for level AA.
Large Text. For large text, there should be a contrast ratio of 3:1 between text and background. Text that's 18pt (approximately 24px) or greater is considered "large." If the text is bold, it only needs to be 14pt (approximately 18.5px) or greater to be considered large text.
Enhanced Contrast. A contrast ratio of 7:1 for normal text, and 4.5:1 for large text is considered enhanced. This is the ratio chosen for level AAA. Black on white has the highest contrast ratio of all, at 21:1.
6. Adhere to Accessibility Standards:
Familiarize yourself with accessibility guidelines such as WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines). These standards provide precise requirements for colour contrast and accessibility.
7. Design for Everyone:
Accessibility isn't just a feature; it's an integral aspect of design. Prioritize it from the outset of your design process to create an inclusive experience for all users.
8. Embrace Ongoing Learning and Adaptation:
Keep up with evolving accessibility trends and guidelines. Design principles change, and continuous learning ensures your designs remain inclusive. Be open to feedback from your audience and adapt as necessary.
Somewhere over the rainbow…
By following these straightforward tips and being mindful of colour accessibility, you can guarantee that your website is not only visually pleasing but also welcoming to all users.
If you're ready to create a more inclusive digital landscape but would like some help, reach out to me today to discuss how I can assist you in making your website accessible and impactful.
Together, we can make the web a more inclusive place for all. 🌈