When designing a website, it is easy to assume that all users experience it visually, scanning menus, banners, sidebars, and interactive elements. For people who rely on screen readers, a website is not a spatial layout but a linear document.
The difference in perception can make or break a site’s accessibility. Without the right structure in place, navigation becomes confusing and frustrating. Designing with accessibility in mind improves the experience for screen reader users and creates websites that are more usable for everyone.
In this article, we will explore how they work, why accessibility matters in web design, and the practical steps you can take to build inclusive, well-structured websites.
What is a Screen Reader?
A screen reader is a type of assistive technology that converts digital text into speech or braille. It allows people with visual impairments to navigate websites, applications, and documents by reading content aloud or sending it to a braille display.
Rather than interpreting a page visually, screen readers follow the underlying code, moving through headings, links, lists, and other elements in a set order. The quality of that experience depends on how well a website is structured, which is why accessibility is such an important part of web design.
How Do Screen Readers Work?
Screen readers process the code behind a web page and present it as spoken feedback or on a reader display, such as a refreshable braille device. Instead of moving visually through menus and layouts, users navigate step by step using the keyboard. Headings, lists, links, and landmarks act as signposts, allowing quick jumps to different parts of a page.
When a website is built with proper semantic HTML, the reading order makes sense and screen reader users can move efficiently between sections. If the structure is missing or inconsistent, navigation becomes slow and frustrating, since the screen reader will read everything in sequence without context.
To make sure your site stays accessible over time, explore our Website Accessibility Monitoring service.
Why Screen Reader Accessibility is Essential for Web Design
Designing with accessibility in mind ensures that people who rely on screen readers can navigate and use a website effectively. Without this focus, essential features such as menus, buttons, and forms may be unusable, excluding visitors who depend on assistive technology.
Accessibility also improves the overall quality of a site. A well-structured page is easier to maintain, performs better in search engines, and provides a smoother experience for mobile and voice-controlled browsing. Prioritising accessibility from the start creates digital spaces that are more inclusive, usable, and sustainable.
Find out more in our Accessibility in the Definition of Done guide which explains how to make accessibility part of every release.
Building Websites with Semantic HTML
Since screen reader users rely on a document-like reading order, web pages must be built with proper semantic markup. Semantic HTML gives structure and meaning to content, helping assistive technologies understand how different parts of a page relate to one another. A strong foundation not only improves accessibility but also supports consistency, maintainability, and search engine performance.
To create a website that works for everyone, keep these practices in mind:
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Headings must follow a logical structure – Skipping heading levels or using them purely for styling disrupts navigation.
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Landmarks should be clearly defined – Regions such as navigation, main content, and footers should be identified using appropriate HTML elements (e.g.,
<nav>,<main>,<footer>). -
Interactive elements must be coded correctly – Links, buttons, and form fields should use proper HTML elements rather than generic
<div>or<span>tags. -
Dynamic content should be made accessible – Elements like carousels, accordions, and pop-ups need ARIA roles and keyboard support to ensure screen reader users can interact with them.
For practical guidance on this, read our Importance of Landmarks for Screen Reader Users article.
Common Accessibility Pitfalls for Screen Reader Users
Even when a site looks polished and functions well for sighted visitors, accessibility barriers can remain hidden. These issues often surface only when tested with assistive technology, and they can quickly disrupt the experience of screen reader users. Small coding oversights, missing labels, or poor structural choices can make an otherwise usable site frustrating or even impossible to navigate.
Some of the most common pitfalls include:
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Content is visually positioned with CSS but doesn’t follow a meaningful order in the HTML.
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Important elements (like a checkout button) are hidden from assistive technology due to incorrect ARIA attributes.
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Navigation menus lack structure, forcing users to listen to an entire block of text instead of quickly jumping to relevant sections.
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Forms lack accessible labels, leaving screen reader users guessing what to enter in each field.
If these issues sound familiar, our Remediation Consulting service can help you identify and fix accessibility barriers so your site works for every user.
Testing Websites for Screen Reader Accessibility
Building an accessible site is only the first step. Regular testing ensures that features work correctly and that content remains usable as the site evolves. Evaluating a site with screen readers is the most reliable way to understand how users experience it. Combined with automated tools and manual checks, testing helps uncover issues that might otherwise go unnoticed, and and our how-to guide for inclusive user testing offers practical steps to get started.
Some effective testing approaches include:
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Use real screen readers – Popular options include NVDA (Windows), VoiceOver (Mac), and JAWS. Each has slightly different behaviours, so trying more than one is valuable.
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Navigate with a keyboard only – This mirrors how many people interact with assistive technology and helps identify focus or tab order issues.
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Leverage automated testing tools – Tools like Axe or Lighthouse can highlight missing attributes or structural errors, though they should be supplemented with manual testing.
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Test with actual users – Feedback from people who rely on screen readers provides insights no automated tool can replicate
The Benefits of a Well-Structured Website
Good structure supports every visitor, not just those using assistive technology. When content is organized clearly and coded correctly, websites become easier to navigate, faster to maintain, and more discoverable by search engines. For screen reader accessibility, strong structure ensures users can move through content efficiently and understand the relationships between different elements.
Key benefits include:
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Improved usability – A logical reading order and clear headings make content easier to follow for everyone.
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Better SEO – Semantic markup helps search engines understand page content, improving visibility and avoiding issues where accessibility impacts SEO.
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Enhanced mobile experience – Clean structure supports smaller screens and voice-controlled browsing.
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Easier maintenance – Consistent HTML reduces errors and simplifies updates.
Final Thoughts
When websites are not designed with accessibility in mind, screen reader users face unnecessary barriers that make navigation and interaction difficult. Designers and developers need to think beyond visual layouts and commit to building content with semantic, meaningful structure.
An accessible website benefits everyone. It supports inclusion, improves search visibility, enhances mobile usability, and creates a better overall user experience. By prioritising accessibility from the start, businesses not only meet the needs of their audience but also strengthen their digital presence.
Is your website truly accessible? Now is the time to review its structure, address any gaps, and ensure it works for all users. Our Audits & Inclusive User Testing service can help you take that next step.