Learnings from the A11y Udemy Tutorial

This post covers key takeaways from an accessibility (a11y) course on Udemy — including tools, best practices for semantic HTML, accessible forms, and how to support users with different disabilities. A great starting point for building more inclusive websites. 🌐💡

I recently completed a Udemy course on web accessibility, and I wanted to share some of my key takeaways for anyone building digital products with inclusivity in mind.

Accessibility Is for Everyone

Accessibility (often shortened to a11y) means making the web usable for people with a wide range of disabilities — visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive. Common examples include color blindness, tinnitus, Parkinson’s, memory difficulties, and autism. The goal is to ensure that websites are:

Perceivable
Operable
Understandable
Robust

These are the principles outlined in the WCAG 2 guidelines — with AA level being the industry standard.

Tools to Check Accessibility

A few helpful tools and resources from the course:

Semantic HTML Matters

Structure and semantics go a long way:

Use hierarchical headings (h1 → h2 → h3…)
Choose sans serif fonts and generous line heights for better readability
Links should be descriptive, underlined, and not rely on color alone
Ensure sufficient color contrast
Add alt text to images
Provide transcripts for audio/video content (tools like Rev.com help)

Accessible Forms

Forms are a hotspot for accessibility issues. Best practices include:

Always use labels, don’t rely on placeholders alone
Avoid disabling form fields — it’s better to allow input and then explain errors
Use aria-invalid="true" for invalid fields and pair with aria-describedby for helpful error messages
Consider live regions (aria-live) to announce dynamic content politely or assertively

Building with accessibility in mind is not just about compliance — it’s about creating better experiences for everyone. 💪🌈 Let’s make the web more inclusive, one project at a time!