Squarespace is one of the web’s most popular website-building platforms. It allows individuals to build fully accessible websites with additional features like pre-built templates, hosting solutions, and more.
Squarespace offers built-in tools, including automatic text contrast adjustments, keyboard navigation support, alt text, and more. Using Squarespace’s built-in design panel, screen reader users can adjust text and background colors on the fly, incorporating test tools like WebAIM’s Contrast Checker with customizable CSS options to increase WCAG 2.1 AA compliance and make all Squarespace websites easily readable for all individuals with disabilities.
Keep reading to learn more about Squarespace, the steps in identifying and fixing contrast/accessibility issues, and the role of accessibility in helping Squarespace websites meet ADA standards.
Introduction to ADA Compliance
Before receiving the lowdown on how to fix color contrast errors in Squarespace, it’s essential to explain what an ADA-compliant website is all about.
Following the Americans with Disabilities Act and other accessibility laws, ADA compliance ensures that websites and mobile applications are accessible to individuals with disabilities. One key ADA compliance measure is improving the navigation experience by removing barriers for people with visual impairments.
This includes allowing things such as alt text for images, properly formatted error messages, proper headings, descriptive links, and much more, in addition to color contrast adjustments, enabling users to better distinguish between different website elements.
Contrast Errors and Impact on Accessibility
In the world of website accessibility, proper color contrast between text and background colors is a must. With limited contrast between text and background colors, individuals with dyslexia, color blindness, and visual impairments would have difficulty distinguishing between text and imagery, as well as buttons, forms, and other navigational/interactive elements, creating a fully accessible Squarespace website.
Standard Contrast Issues in Squarespace Templates
One key tenet of Squarespace websites is its minimalist layout. You’ll find low-contrast text on lighter backgrounds, making it incredibly hard to read. Additionally, many configured templates feature text over images, such as pink text on light-colored banners. Per WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) 2.1, best practices recommend a 4.5:1 contrast ratio for standard text and a 3:1 ratio for larger text, which can be managed using Squarespace’s style editing tools.
Another area where Squarespace templates fall short is with button and link colors. Often, pastel-colored buttons clash against white or light-colored backgrounds, making it very difficult to distinguish between different call-to-action buttons. This can ultimately impact average time on site, bounce rates, average order size, and several other KPIs, affecting SEO over time.
Always aim for a minimum contrast ratio of at least 3:1 for user interface elements, along with effective use of underlines in formatting. Do not forget to use color blindness simulators to test the visibility of different buttons and links.
Tools and Methods to Assess Contrast Ratios
One of the best ways to assess contrast ratios on Squarespace websites is by using accessibility testing tools like Squarespace-compatible contrast checkers.
Three popular options include WebAIM’s Contrast Checker, Color Oracle, and Google Chrome extensions like Lighthouse. These tools allow you to enter text and background color values to determine appropriate contrast ratios. For example, using white text (#FFFFFF) on a dark blue background (#003366) offers a high contrast ratio (10.7:1), making it much easier to read for individuals with limited vision while also meeting WCAG standards.
Color Oracle works differently from WebAIM’s Contrast Checker, as it simulates websites based on different types of color blindness (e.g., deuteranopia, protanopia, and tritanopia).
Lastly, Chrome extensions like Lighthouse do an excellent job scanning your website and auditing for contrast and other accessibility issues. Any page that fails to meet color contrast accessibility standards is flagged, and fixes are suggested.
Overall, tools like WebAIM’s Contrast Checker, Color Oracle, and Google Chrome extensions like Lighthouse provide a reliable way to evaluate and improve your website’s color contrast.
Accessibly’s Recommendations for Design Alterations
One of the best ways to fix ADA color contrast errors on your Squarespace site is by leveraging web accessibility overlay widgets like Accessibly.
Accessibly is one of the leading website accessibility tools available. It allows users to improve readability by adjusting text size and background colors. However, Accessibly should be used as part of a broader accessibility strategy rather than as a standalone solution.
Squarespace’s Color Contrast-Friendly Features
Here are three of our favorite Squarespace accessibility features that help improve contrast:
Built-In Color Contrast Checker
Arguably one of the most useful accessibility tools out there, Squarespace’s built-in color contrast checker within the Design Panel ensures that your text and background contrast meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) with proper color contrast ratios for everyone, including those with cognitive disabilities.
For example, if a developer selects light black text on a light gray background, Squarespace will automatically detect the low contrast and suggest alternative color combinations to improve readability.
Pre-Designed Accessible Templates
Another area where Squarespace excels is its pre-designed web accessibility templates, which feature automatic high-contrast color combinations and easily readable typography.
We’re big fans of the Impact and Clarity templates, which offer well-structured layouts, making both text and navigation elements easy to read.
Custom CSS for Contrast Adjustments
For those who want more control over website accessibility, custom CSS allows developers to override default styles and enhance contrast manually.
For example, web developers can introduce additional CSS rules to ensure that:
- Body text remains dark on light backgrounds (or vice versa)
- Navigation elements are highly visible
- Links and buttons are distinguishable from the surrounding text
By focusing on fixing ADA color contrast errors, using appropriate contrast ratios for small and large text, leveraging WebAIM’s Contrast Checker (and other tools), and following Accessibly’s design recommendations, you’ll create a fully functional, user-friendly website that supports individuals who are dyslexic, color-blind, or visually impaired.
Be sure to follow WCAG and ADA compliance, prioritize accessibility, and create an accessible Squarespace site compliant.
