Documentation Accessibility

Documentation accessibility ensures design system documentation is usable by people with disabilities. Accessible documentation removes barriers for users with visual, motor, cognitive, and other disabilities. Making documentation accessible aligns with design system accessibility values and legal requirements.

What Is Documentation Accessibility

Documentation accessibility refers to documentation that can be used by people with disabilities. This includes users who rely on screen readers, keyboard navigation, screen magnification, or other assistive technologies. Accessible documentation follows WCAG guidelines and inclusive design principles.

Documentation accessibility matters because design system users include people with disabilities. Inaccessible documentation prevents these users from learning and using the design system effectively. Documentation about accessibility that is itself inaccessible undermines credibility.

How Documentation Accessibility Works

Structural accessibility uses semantic HTML and proper heading hierarchy. Screen readers rely on document structure for navigation. Proper heading levels create navigable outlines. Lists, tables, and other semantic elements convey structure. Landmark regions identify page sections.

Content accessibility ensures content is perceivable and understandable. Images have alternative text describing their content. Color is not the only means of conveying information. Text has sufficient contrast against backgrounds. Language is clear and readable.

Interactive accessibility ensures interactive elements work for all users. Links and buttons are keyboard accessible. Focus indicators show current keyboard position. Form elements have proper labels. Interactive examples work with assistive technologies.

Key Considerations

• Semantic HTML structure enables screen reader navigation
• Alternative text makes images accessible to visually impaired users
• Keyboard accessibility ensures users can navigate without mice
• Testing with assistive technologies verifies actual accessibility

Common Questions

How do teams test documentation accessibility?

Accessibility testing combines automated and manual approaches. Automated tools like axe or WAVE catch many common issues. Keyboard-only navigation testing verifies keyboard accessibility. Screen reader testing verifies actual screen reader experience. Testing with users who have disabilities provides the most accurate assessment. Regular testing catches issues introduced by documentation changes.

How accessible do interactive code examples need to be?

Interactive code examples present accessibility challenges. Code editors should support keyboard navigation and screen reader announcement. Preview panes should be accessible or have accessible alternatives. Error messages should be announced to screen readers. Complete accessibility for complex interactive elements may be difficult. When interactive examples cannot be fully accessible, providing accessible alternatives like static code examples ensures all users can access content.

Summary

Documentation accessibility removes barriers for users with disabilities. Accessible documentation uses semantic structure, provides content alternatives, and ensures interactive elements work for all users. Testing with assistive technologies verifies accessibility beyond automated checking.