Website Accessibility Basics for Michigan Nonprofits and Community Organizations
Practical, non-technical steps Michigan nonprofits can use to make their websites easier to use for people with disabilities, plus low-cost testing tools and how accessible sites also help reach more supporters.
Why accessibility matters for nonprofits in Michigan
Accessibility is about making your website usable by as many people as possible — including people with vision, hearing, motor, or cognitive disabilities. For nonprofits and community groups that serve diverse populations across Michigan and Oakland County, an accessible website means more volunteers, donors, and participants can find and use your programs. It also improves overall usability for older adults and people on mobile devices.
Simple visual fixes anyone can apply
Start with obvious, high-impact changes: use high contrast between text and background, pick legible fonts and comfortable sizes, and avoid tiny clickable targets. Make text resizable by not fixing font sizes in pixels, keep line length moderate, and provide consistent page layout and navigation. These changes are low-effort but immediately improve readability for many users.
Make images and media accessible
Add descriptive alternative text (alt text) to meaningful images so screen reader users understand the content. For decorative images, use empty alt attributes so they’re skipped. Provide captions and transcripts for video or audio content whenever possible — captions help people who are deaf or in noisy environments and also make your content more searchable.
Keyboard navigation and clear structure
Many users rely on keyboard navigation instead of a mouse. Ensure all interactive elements (links, buttons, form fields) can be reached via the Tab key and that focus outlines are visible. Use a logical heading structure (H1, H2, H3) so people navigating by headings or assistive tech can understand page organization quickly.
Practical, low-cost tools to test accessibility
You don’t need to be a developer to start testing. Use browser tools like Google Lighthouse for broad checks, the WAVE extension for visual feedback, or the axe browser extension for detailed issues. For color contrast, try an online contrast checker. Testing manually by increasing zoom, navigating with the keyboard, and trying a free screen reader (NVDA on Windows or VoiceOver on Mac/iOS) reveals real-world problems that automated tools miss.
How accessibility helps SEO and community reach
Accessible sites often have clearer structure, better headings, descriptive link text, and thoughtful image descriptions — all elements that search engines use to understand content. Faster page performance and simpler navigation also reduce bounce rates. In practice, clients who improved hosting and site performance found it easier to make updates and roll out accessibility fixes, which in turn improves visibility and engagement.
Next steps and how Advanced WEB Strategies can help
A good next step is a short accessibility check: run a Lighthouse scan, a WAVE report, and a quick keyboard walkthrough of your key pages (home, donate, contact, events). If you want support, Advanced WEB Strategies (based in Rochester Hills and serving Michigan nonprofits) offers website design, hosting, and ongoing technical support—paired with a collaborative approach to prioritize fixes that give the biggest benefit. To get started, schedule a consultation and we’ll outline a practical, cost-effective accessibility plan tailored to your organization.
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Advanced WEB Strategies
Our goal is to help non-profits and small businesses create a professional website for a reasonable price. We want to create your web presence, so you can focus on what you do best. We utilize the latest technology with clean, fast development. We create websites that are compatible with tablets and smartphones.