Squarespace is a website builder catering to businesses and individuals looking to build their websites. What sets Squarespace apart is that anyone can use it, even those with little to no experience building websites. It is truly a do-it-yourself experience for people on a strict budget that still need a website.
Squarespace is unique in that individuals build their websites and are ultimately responsible for the accessibility of their sites. However, we can still look at the overall accessibility of their website, app, and subscriber emails to determine just how accessible Squarespace is.
Website
Squarespace’s website has high contrast, which is a bit of a mixed bag. Some of it, like the black lettering on a white background further down on the homepage, is clear and easy to read for people with low vision or vision disabilities. However, the very top of the website has a light blue-green background with white lettering, which is not enough of a contrast to be accessible.
Additionally, the text is not solid on the page; sometimes, it flashes in and out, which is not accessible to those with light sensitivities or who cannot track movement. It would be more accessible to keep the text static on the page to allow for ease of reading. The text itself has an accessible font choice and size, according to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
The images and GIFs on the homepage have appropriate alt text. Alt text must be WCAG-compliant and accessible to those who use screen readers or other assistive technology. Using alt text indicates good accessibility on Squarespace’s behalf in this area. Users will be able to navigate the website using screen readers.
The layout of the homepage is WCAG-compliant as well. The menus are tabbable, meaning that the site can be navigated using the keyboard, which is highly accessible for users who only use keyboard navigation. Drop-down menus at the top of the homepage are not hoverable, but click-down menus are more accessible because they stay extended without the need for more precise mouse controls. The website is highly accessible for users who cannot use a mouse.
All in all, Squarespace’s website is accessible.
App
Squarespace’s app seems to be where they fall a bit short on accessibility. In their app reviews in the Apple store, many users cite the layout as confusing and the design as poorly thought out. Headings and text are reportedly tiny and difficult to read, inaccessible to those with low vision or vision disabilities, and clickable buttons are easily mistaken for plain text boxes, making it unclear where a user is on the app. The text color and size are inconsistent, which is neither compliant with WCAG guidelines nor confusing, especially for those with cognitive disabilities.
Squarespace does do well on contrast in their app. The majority of it seems to be in black and white, with black text on a white background, which has great contrast and is highly readable, but, as stated before, the black text is not consistent. Often, the text switches to gray or blue, which doesn’t have as good contrast and becomes difficult to read, rendering the app inaccessible.
Navigation on Squarespace’s app is confusing as well. Many reviewers complain that the buttons aren’t clearly labeled, with no idea which button takes a user where. This can cause users to lose their place in the app, especially if they use assistive technology that relies on clear and comprehensive navigation to work properly.
Overall, Squarespace’s app is not accessible.
Emails
Squarespace’s user emails, like their homepage, have mostly good contrast. They utilize white text on a dark background, making the email legible for people with vision disabilities. Their font choice is also accessible, with the headings labeled and differentiated from the rest of the text, making them stand out and making it clear what the email is about. This is accessible for people with cognitive disabilities as well as people with vision disabilities.
The only thing with poor contrast is their logo, which is in black on a dark background and does not stand out. Making the logo larger, making it obvious who is sending the email, and making it a more contrasting color would make the email more accessible. A larger, more contrasting logo combined with the separated headings would make this email highly accessible.
The links in the email do not follow best practices for writing accessible links. The link's text should be written out as something other than a url, as a screen reader would read each letter individually. Instead, links should be formatted in segments of plain text to clarify where the link will take a user. Squarespace does not do this making it inaccessible
Squarespace’s emails are partially accessible, though there is room for improvement.
Conclusion
Squarespace, a popular website builder, has a very accessible website. In addition, their mobile app needs to be updated, and their email service needs to be improved. Though nobody is perfect regarding accessibility, focusing on WCAG guidelines and adjusting accordingly will help Squarespace become more accessible.
Comments