The Cake Is a Lie... And So Is Your Login’s Accessibility

Is your login form an impossible puzzle for users with disabilities? Learn to fix common accessibility issues using a screen reader and ARIA.

#1about 5 minutes

Using the game Portal as an analogy for web accessibility

The initial confusion and challenges in the game Portal serve as an analogy for the frustrating experience users with disabilities face on inaccessible websites.

#2about 4 minutes

Defining the spectrum of accessibility and its legal importance

Accessibility benefits everyone by addressing permanent, temporary, and situational disabilities, and is enforced by laws like the European Accessibility Act.

#3about 5 minutes

Demonstrating login form issues with a screen reader

A live demonstration using the VoiceOver screen reader reveals that an inaccessible login form fails to provide any feedback when an error occurs.

#4about 6 minutes

Implementing ARIA attributes to fix form accessibility

Adding ARIA attributes like `role='alert'`, `aria-invalid`, and `aria-describedby` provides essential context and error feedback to screen reader users.

#5about 4 minutes

Writing better error messages and using semantic HTML

Improve accessibility by writing specific, actionable error messages, using visual icons instead of just color, and employing semantic HTML for better structure.

#6about 1 minute

Enhancing focus management for keyboard users

Replace default browser outlines with more prominent custom CSS outlines to clearly indicate the focused element for keyboard navigators.

#7about 4 minutes

Following accessibility guidelines for authentication flows

Adhere to WCAG guidelines for authentication by enabling copy-paste, offering passwordless options like passkeys, and avoiding complex CAPTCHAs.

#8about 3 minutes

Designing accessible multi-factor authentication (MFA)

Make multi-factor authentication accessible by providing longer time limits for OTPs, enabling auto-copy for codes, and offering multiple verification methods.