An accessible web is a web that can be used by everyone, regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities. Text-to-speech (TTS) is one of the most important assistive technologies for making web content accessible to millions of people. Let's see how TTS contributes to a more inclusive web and how you can use it to improve the accessibility of your own site.
Who benefits from text-to-speech on the web?
Text-to-speech is essential for several groups of users:
- People who are blind or visually impaired: Screen readers, which are text-to-speech software, are the primary means for blind people to navigate the web. They read the content of the page aloud, including texts, links, and image descriptions.
- People with dyslexia: As we saw in a previous article, TTS helps people with dyslexia understand text by presenting it in auditory form.
- People with motor difficulties: For people who have difficulty using a mouse or keyboard, voice control combined with text-to-speech can offer an alternative for navigating the web.
- Users on the go: Text-to-speech is not just an assistive technology. It can also be used by people who want to listen to a blog article while driving or exercising.
How to make your site compatible with screen readers
For text-to-speech to be effective, your website must be properly structured and coded. Here are some best practices to follow:
- Use correct semantic HTML structure: Use the appropriate HTML tags for their function (for example, `<h1>` for the main title, `<nav>` for navigation, `<button>` for buttons). This helps screen readers understand the structure of your page.
- Provide alternative text for images: Use the `alt` attribute to describe the content of your images. This description will be read aloud by screen readers.
- Ensure that all interactive elements are keyboard accessible: All links, buttons, and form fields must be reachable and activatable using only the tab key.
- Use clear and descriptive link labels: Avoid generic link labels like "Click here". A good link label should describe the destination of the link, for example "Learn more about our services".
Going further with a built-in reading feature
In addition to making your site compatible with screen readers, you can also integrate a text-to-speech feature directly on your site. By adding a "Listen to this article" button, you offer all your visitors the opportunity to consume your content in audio form, without the need for external software. This is a great way to improve the user experience and show your commitment to accessibility.
Conclusion
Text-to-speech is a pillar of web accessibility. By designing websites that work well with screen readers and offering built-in reading features, we can ensure that everyone has access to the information and opportunities that the web offers. This is a responsibility that we all share as creators of the web.