What colours are best for an accessible website? Are captchas shutting people out? How do you show lots of images on mobile without slowing everything down?
In Episode 58.5 of 3Spoonies, we welcomed back digital accessibility expert Chris Naylor to answer community questions about inclusive web design, user experience and practical ways to improve websites for real people.
Find out more about Chris here.
If you run a website for your business, charity or side project, there were plenty of useful takeaways in this one.
Choosing Accessible Website Colours
The first question focused on colour combinations.
Chris explained that there is no single perfect palette because people experience colour differently. What works well for one person may not work for another.
However, some principles can help:
- Use strong contrast between text and background
- Avoid colours that are too similar in tone
- Consider softer off-black and off-white shades instead of harsh pure black and white
- Test brand colours before applying them everywhere
He also recommended using WCAG colour contrast checkers, which allow you to test whether your chosen colours meet recognised accessibility standards.
That small step can make a huge difference to readability.
It’s Not Just Colour — Font Weight Matters Too
Another useful point was that accessibility is not only about colour contrast.
Thin fonts or delicate lettering can become hard to read, even if the colours technically pass a contrast test.
Sometimes a simple change like:
- using a bolder font weight
- increasing text size
- improving spacing
- reducing clutter around text
can instantly improve usability.
Are Captchas Accessible?
The next question tackled captchas — those “prove you’re not a robot” tests using images, letters or puzzles.
Chris admitted this is a tricky area.
Many image-based captchas can create barriers for:
- visually impaired users
- screen reader users
- people with cognitive difficulties
- anyone struggling with unclear or distorted images
Even users without access needs often find them frustrating.
The conversation highlighted an important truth: security features still need to be usable.
If something blocks real people more than bots, it may need rethinking.
Displaying Lots of Images on Mobile
The final question looked at websites with lots of images, such as portfolios, product pages or galleries.
Chris recommended avoiding pages that load every image at once, especially on mobile.
Instead, use systems that load images gradually as users scroll or interact.
Benefits include:
- faster load times
- less mobile data use
- smoother browsing
- better user experience
- improved accessibility for slower connections
This is especially important for people experiencing digital poverty, shared devices or unreliable internet access.
Accessibility is not only about disability. It is also about access to technology.
Buttons and Navigation Matter Too
When using image galleries or sliders, Chris also advised making controls clear and consistent.
That means:
- visible next/previous buttons
- buttons that contrast with the background
- controls staying in the same place
- avoiding jumping layouts as images change size
Predictability helps everyone, especially neurodivergent users and people using assistive technology.
Accessibility Doesn’t Need to Be Complicated
One of the most refreshing parts of the episode was Chris’s practical approach.
Accessible web design is not about perfection or fear.
It is about asking:
- Can people use this easily?
- Can they read it?
- Can they find what they need?
- Can they access it on different devices?
- Does it exclude anyone unnecessarily?
That mindset alone can improve a website dramatically.
Final Thoughts
This episode was a reminder that good websites are not just pretty websites.
They are clear, usable and welcoming.
The more barriers you remove, the more people you invite in.
And that is good for users and good for business.
Find out more about Chris here.
Watch / Listen to Episode 58.5
Search 3Spoonies Episode 58.5 – Accessible Web Design Community Questions on your prefered podcast platforms. Or you can find the main ways here.
About 3Spoonies
3Spoonies is a podcast about disability, business, wellbeing and life — honest conversations, practical advice and real stories from three hosts navigating the world with not enough spoons.
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