From Hearing Loss to Inclusive Design

It probably wasn’t until after I had successfully healed from my hearing surgery that I fully began to understand just how much of the world I had missed out on experiencing. I was participating in meetings at work, in person, and leaning in to hear what felt like quiet conversations to me that were, in reality, full-throated presentations. Audiology testing would later confirm that I was only beginning to hear at a 90-decibel level. Essentially, I was only starting to hear conversation when it approached concert-level volume.

Nonetheless, I began looking for solutions. I tried everything from hearing aids to logging into Teams meetings and listening through my AirPods—even while sitting in the same room—because the room mic often gave me better clarity than my own ears.

Understanding ADA Compliance

It’s with this background that I became empathetic as someone who could finally understand the struggles others face when trying to navigate the world differently. If it was hard for me to hear, how much harder must it be for someone who cannot see a website without the help of a screen reader?

Here’s the truth:

For-profit organizations are not technically required by law to make their websites ADA compliant. Nonprofits, on the other hand, are required to meet those standards—ironically, they’re often the ones with the least resources to do so.

That imbalance creates an awkward reality. The companies best equipped to lead accessibility improvements often move slowly because there’s no direct financial incentive. Yet accessibility should never be a “nice-to-have.” It’s part of creating a more equitable digital landscape—and it starts with small, intentional steps.

Why Alt Text and Headers Matter

Alt text is one of those simple, foundational steps. It’s the starting point for making your website accessible—and as a bonus, it’s also good for SEO.

Search engines read a page much like a screen reader does. They depend on structure and descriptive text to understand what’s on your site.

• Headers (H1, H2, H3) help search engines understand hierarchy and meaning, breaking your content into scannable sections.

• Alt text provides meaning to images, allowing both users and algorithms to understand what visuals contribute to the story.

  
  

So yes—accessibility isn’t just good ethics. It’s good SEO.

What It Takes to Provide an Alt Text

Let’s look at an example. This is a photo of my family:

Now imagine trying to experience that image without being able to see it. A screen reader would only find this:

<img>

Not helpful.

But when we add alt text, we give context and inclusivity to the story:

<img src="media/HaywoodsNiagara.jpg" alt="Left to Right: Nathan, their oldest son, their younger son, and Trisha stand at sunset in front of Niagara Falls from the Ontario, Canada side.">

That’s useful, personal, and human. It communicates what’s in the photo, not just that a photo exists.

As a best practice, avoid putting key text inside images. But if you must, describe what the image text says—especially if it’s important to the meaning of the page.

Bringing It All Together

Every website platform—whether WordPress, Squarespace, or Wix—offers an easy way to add alt text. It takes just a few seconds to do, but over time, it becomes a habit that improves every visitor’s experience. And while you’re there, structure your pages with clear, intentional headers. Doing so not only improves accessibility but also gives search engines a clean roadmap to understand your content.

Resources

There are fantastic tools and resources that make accessibility easier:

• AccessiBe: An AI-driven tool that helps visitors customize their website experience.

• Screen Reader Demo: A short YouTube video that lets you experience what it’s like to browse a website without visuals.

  
  

Accessibility isn’t just about compliance—it’s about care, empathy, and creating a digital space where everyone can participate.

At Haywood Creative Design, we believe design should inspire and include. If you’re ready to make your website more accessible, let’s talk about how we can help.