Responsive Design: Ensuring Accessibility Across Devices

Why Responsive Design Matters

Responsive design ensures that webpages adapt seamlessly to different screen sizes and devices, providing an optimal experience for all users, whether they’re on a desktop, tablet or smartphone. This is crucial for accessibility, as more than half of Elon University’s website visitors access content on mobile devices. A responsive website guarantees that users with disabilities, including those relying on assistive technologies, can navigate and interact with content effectively, regardless of their device.

Elon University’s Approach to Responsive Design

To maintain consistency and accessibility, Elon University’s CMS employs pre-built, fully responsive templates. These templates are rigorously tested to ensure they meet both accessibility and usability standards. Content editors play an important role in maintaining responsive design by using the provided tools correctly and avoiding practices that could break responsiveness.

Key Features of Our CMS Templates:

  • Pre-Built Responsive Layouts: Templates automatically adjust to fit different screen sizes.
  • “Toggleable” Sections: When available within specific templates, editors can enable or disable specific sections of a template without affecting the layout’s overall responsiveness.
  • Versatile Components for Layout and Content: The CMS offers a variety of responsive components that allow you to add and organize content effectively. These include:
    • Columns: Ideal for creating side-by-side content such as text and images while preserving responsiveness.
    • Accordions: Perfect for organizing content into collapsible sections, making it easier to navigate large amounts of information.
    • Galleries: Use for displaying images in a responsive format that adjusts seamlessly across devices.
    • Member Profiles: A responsive way to present team or department member information with images and text.
    • And More: Additional components are available to help you achieve your content goals without compromising accessibility or responsiveness.

To learn more about these components and how to use them effectively, visit our WordPress Training Guide.

Best Practices for Maintaining Responsive Design

  • Use the Columns Component for Layout Adjustments:
    • The Columns Component is designed to help you create side-by-side content (e.g., text and images) while preserving responsiveness.
    • Avoid using tables or other workarounds for layout purposes, as they are not responsive and can create accessibility issues.
  • Avoid Overloading Templates:
    • Do not try to “force” a template to do more than it was designed for. Overloading templates with excessive content or elements can make pages harder to navigate, especially on mobile devices.
  • Optimize Images for Responsiveness:
    • Use images that scale appropriately within the template. Upload high-quality images that are not excessively large, as oversized images can slow load times and disrupt layout on smaller screens.
  • Test Your Pages on Multiple Devices:
    • After editing content, preview your page on various devices (e.g., desktop, tablet, smartphone) to ensure all elements display as intended.
  • Prioritize Content Hierarchy:
    • Keep important information at the top of the page to ensure users on smaller screens can quickly find what they need without excessive scrolling.

Accessibility Considerations for Responsive Design

Responsive design isn’t just about aesthetics — it’s about usability for all users. Key accessibility factors include:

  • Readable Text Sizes:
    • Ensure text remains legible on smaller screens. The CMS templates automatically adjust font sizes for responsiveness, so avoid overriding these styles.
  • Avoid Horizontal Scrolling:
    • Content should fit within the screen width on all devices. Elements like wide tables or improperly formatted columns can force horizontal scrolling, which is frustrating and inaccessible for users.
  • Keyboard and Touch Navigation:
    • All interactive elements must be operable via keyboard and touch input. Templates ensure this functionality is preserved, but always test interactive elements after adding them to your page.
  • Avoid Fixed-Width Elements:
    • Fixed-width elements can break responsive layouts, causing content to overflow or become inaccessible on smaller screens. Stick to the flexible tools provided in the CMS.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Using Tables for Layout: Tables are not responsive and should only be used for presenting structured data, not arranging content.
  • Customizing Template Layouts: Content editors should not attempt to modify the underlying layout of templates, as this can break responsiveness and introduce accessibility issues.
  • Ignoring Mobile Testing: Failing to test pages on mobile devices can lead to overlooked issues, such as overlapping content or unreadable text.
  • Embedding Non-Responsive Media: Ensure all embedded videos, images and other media adjust properly to different screen sizes.

Final Thoughts on Responsive Design

Elon University’s templates and tools are built to handle responsive design automatically, but it’s up to content editors to use these tools as intended. By following best practices, using the Columns Component, and avoiding problematic workarounds like tables, you can ensure your pages remain accessible, professional and user-friendly across all devices.

If you have questions about responsive design or encounter challenges with layouts, contact the Online Communications Team for guidance. We’re here to help you maintain a website that is both beautiful and accessible to all users.