Making Your Squarespace Site More Accessible
TL;DR:
- Squarespace templates include basic accessibility features, but you need to handle the rest
- Add descriptive alt text to every image you upload
- Check colour contrast between text and backgrounds meets accessibility standards
- Use proper heading structure and descriptive link text
- Test your site regularly with accessibility tools
Squarespace gives you a decent starting point for accessibility, but don't assume your site is compliant straight out of the box. The platform handles some of the technical foundations, but the content-related accessibility features are down to you.
What Squarespace Does for You
Squarespace 7.1 templates come with proper HTML structure and keyboard navigation built in. The code is clean and screen readers can generally navigate through the basic layout without issues.
That covers the technical side, but it's only half the story. The content you add and how you configure it makes the real difference for accessibility.
Alt Text Gets Forgotten Most
Every image needs descriptive alt text. This isn't optional if you want your site to be accessible to people using screen readers.
Go to any image block on your site and you'll find the alt text field in the design panel. Don't just write "photo" or copy the filename. Describe what's actually in the image and why it matters to someone who can't see it.
If the image is purely decorative, you can leave the alt text empty. Screen readers will skip over it completely.
Colour Contrast Matters More Than You Think
Your text needs enough contrast against its background. Light grey text on white backgrounds might look stylish, but it's unreadable for many people.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines recommend a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text. Use a contrast checker tool to test your colour combinations.
In Squarespace's style editor, you can adjust text and background colours across your entire site. Stick to darker text on light backgrounds or light text on dark backgrounds.
Structure Your Content Properly
Use proper heading tags (H1, H2, H3) to create a logical content hierarchy. Don't pick headings based on how they look. Pick them based on the structure of your information.
Your page should have one H1 (usually the page title), followed by H2s for main sections, and H3s for subsections. Screen readers use this structure to help people navigate your content quickly.
Make Your Links Descriptive
Avoid "click here" or "read more" links. Instead, make the link text describe where it goes or what it does.
Instead of "To learn more about our services, click here," write "Learn more about our web design services." The link text should make sense even when read out of context.
Test What You've Built
Use accessibility testing tools to check your work. WAVE is a free browser extension that highlights accessibility issues on your pages.
Try navigating your site using only your keyboard. Can you reach every button and link using the Tab key? Can you see where you are on the page?
Test with actual screen reader software if possible. NVDA is free for Windows, and VoiceOver is built into Mac and iOS devices.
FAQs
Do Squarespace sites automatically meet accessibility standards?
No. While Squarespace templates include some accessibility features, you need to handle alt text, colour contrast, and content structure yourself.
Which Squarespace version is better for accessibility?
Squarespace 7.1 has better accessibility features than 7.0. If you're still on 7.0, consider upgrading to get cleaner HTML structure and better keyboard navigation.
Can I make my Squarespace site fully ADA compliant?
You can get close with careful attention to alt text, colour contrast, heading structure, and content organization. Full legal compliance often requires professional accessibility auditing.
What accessibility features does Squarespace include by default?
Squarespace 7.1 includes proper HTML structure, keyboard navigation, focus indicators, and semantic markup. You handle the content-related accessibility features.
Jargon Buster
Alt text: Alternative text that describes images for screen readers and other assistive technologies.
Colour contrast ratio: A measurement comparing the brightness difference between foreground text and background colours.
Screen reader: Software that reads web page content aloud for people with visual impairments.
WCAG: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines – the international standard for web accessibility.
Semantic markup: HTML code that describes the meaning and structure of content, not just its appearance.
Wrap-up
Squarespace handles the technical accessibility foundations, but creating an accessible website is mostly about how you add and structure your content. Focus on descriptive alt text, readable colour combinations, and logical content structure. Test your site regularly and fix issues as you find them.
Building accessibility into your workflow from the start is much easier than trying to fix everything later.
Want to dive deeper into Squarespace accessibility techniques? Join our community for detailed tutorials and expert feedback on your projects.