ARIA: Saving the World, One Accessible Web App at a Time!

I'm here to explain why we need to incorporate ARIA in our applications and its impact on creating inclusive web applications.

First and foremost what is ARIA ?

Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) is a set of roles and attributes that define ways to make web content and web applications (especially those developed with JavaScript) more accessible to people with disabilities.

Definition by MDN

Picture a web application that warmly embraces individuals of all abilities, like a giant digital hug.
Well,

• Unleashing the Power of Inclusivity:
  ARIA builds bridges to assistive technologies, inviting users with visual impairments or motor disabilities to be part of this digital world.
  By adding ARIA's roles, states, and properties, developers extend include every user, ensuring they can explore and engage with the application in a meaningful manner.

• Dynamic Content and SPAs:
  These applications often rely on JS to dynamically update content or navigate between sections. ARIA attributes like live regions, aria-expanded, and aria-controls enable developers to communicate these changes to assistive technologies, ensuring that screen reader users are aware of updates in real-time and can navigate through the application seamlessly.

• Keyboard Accessibility:
  By assigning meaningful roles, such as "button," "link," or "menuitem," developers enable keyboard users to navigate through interactive elements and trigger actions effectively. Now who doesn't want to lift their fingers.

• Web Accessibility Standards: ARIA aligns web applications with recognized accessibility standards, such as WCAG. By implementing ARIA properly, developers demonstrate their commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, making their applications more compliant with accessibility guidelines and regulations. This, in turn, opens up opportunities to reach a broader audience and fosters a positive reputation for the application and its developers.

Last but most importantly
ARIA significantly enhances the accessibility and user experience of web applications. By implementing, developers ensure that their applications improve the user experience for ALL users.

I hope this is convincing enough to include ARIA in all our applications from now on and not lift our finger at any cost.