In this article, we’ll show you how Stripo makes your emails screen-reader-friendly without any extra work, how you can save time on designing accessible emails, and what we’re planning next to make it even easier.
We’ve covered email accessibility from why it’s important to the risks, such as lawsuits, that businesses face when their emails aren’t accessible. Knowing how tough accessibility optimization can be, we’ve added features to our editor that make it easier than ever.
Importance of digital accessibility
Let’s quickly revisit why digital accessibility is crucial:
- Over 1.5 billion people have hearing difficulties, 2.2 billion experience some form of visual impairment (ranging from general visual impairments to blindness and color blindness), and 9%–12% of the global population (about 900 million people) have dyslexia, which makes reading difficult.
- In 2023, 4,060 lawsuits were filed in the US against companies with accessibility issues. Of these, 97% targeted websites and applications, including digital content such as attachments, videos, and forms.
- People with disabilities shop online at twice the rate of the general population, but 27% abandon their purchases due to poorly coded websites.
Optimizing email code for screen readers
I see accessibility work as having two main components: optimizing for screen readers and refining email content. Optimizing email code for screen readers is particularly challenging, as it demands advanced coding skills and is often time-consuming.
Recognizing these challenges, we set out to simplify the process for our users and make screen reader optimization more accessible to everyone.
In November 2023, we enhanced our editor so that every email created with Stripo is optimized for screen readers. Here are the key improvements:
- 99.17% of emails lack the <dir> attribute. Why does this matter? The direction of the language set in the email client will carry over to the email content. If a recipient’s email client is set to a right-to-left language, but the email content is left-to-right, this can cause layout problems and make the email difficult to read;
- 68.32% of email code is missing the <lang> attribute in the <html> element. Why is this important? Defining a document’s language helps tools like translators and assistive technologies read content correctly;
- 98.29% of email code is missing the <lang> attribute on the body element. Why is this necessary if the <lang> attribute is already set on the <html> element? Some email clients strip language settings from the <html> element, so it’s important to include them on direct children of the body element as well;
- 88.97% of emails miss the role attribute set to “presentation” or “none” for tables. Why is this important? Table elements should only be used to present data, not for layout. Setting the role attribute properly ensures that assistive technology can handle it correctly.
We automatically detect the language and direction of the email and apply these settings to all emails. We also apply the role attribute to all emails. If you’re tech-savvy and comfortable with code, you can add these elements yourself. But what if you’re not, or simply don’t have the time? Stripo has you covered.
But why did we do all this in the first place?
With over 1.2 million users creating emails with Stripo, we believe this change will have a significant impact on email accessibility worldwide. Currently, 99% of emails are inaccessible. Who knows, maybe this change will help us reduce this number to 97%.
Dmytro Kulaksyz,
Does this only affect new emails?
The code of all emails created since November 2023 is fully optimized and has all these elements, tags, and attributes added to your emails — you can see them in the email editor.
If you’re using a previously built email, don’t worry. We add these attributes and tags during the export process, regardless of the export method—whether you’re exporting to ESPs, downloading as HTML files or images, or using webhooks and Zapier.
You’ll still need to add alt text and make your links descriptive — this part of email code optimization is something we can’t do for you.
Modular email design for easy and simple email accessibility
As many of you know, we’re big fans of modular email design because it saves time — our users have found that it makes email production up to five times faster.
But what does this have to do with email accessibility?
While using modules alone doesn’t guarantee fully accessible email campaigns, it does mean you don’t have to repeatedly optimize certain elements. Many aspects can remain accessible from one campaign to the next, even if you modify them (like updating email copy without changing styles).
How does this work with modules? You or your designer/coder create an email, check it with accessibility tools, and break it up into reusable modules. These modules can be used across different campaigns without the need for constant reviews.
Some elements that you can design and verify once and trust to remain consistent include the following:
- color contrast that’s tested for both light and dark modes;
- links that are distinguishable without relying on color alone;
- left-aligned copy for readability;
- fonts that work for both desktop and mobile devices;
- simple, monochromatic backgrounds;
- proper line spacing.
This approach saves you time while ensuring that your email content remains accessible across multiple campaigns.
Work in progress
This spring, designer Daniel Britton, known for his impressive work and unique representation of how people with dyslexia see letters, hosted a webinar with our product designer, Roman Burdyga.
(Source: The alphabet in the eyes of some dyslexics, as there are different forms, by Daniel Britton)
They discussed the importance of using accessible fonts. During the webinar, Daniel, who is dyslexic, shared that OpenDyslexic fonts are considered to be the most beneficial. In response, Roman committed to incorporating more of these fonts into our emails.
However, there was a challenge. Our brand guidelines require the use of Manrope, and not everyone appreciates non-typical fonts in emails. Roman came up with a solution: recipients can now switch between the standard email font and OpenDyslexic font as needed.
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Standard font
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OpenDyslexic font
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Our initial test showed promising results—recipients are actively using this feature, much to our delight. We encountered no issues with the font switcher, but we wanted to run a few more tests. Once we’re satisfied that everything is performing well, we’ll share the code so you can easily add this feature to your emails to make them even more accessible.
Stay tuned!
Our plans for email accessibility in 2025
We’ve begun developing a new feature, tentatively called Accessibility Precheck, though its final form is still in the works. The product team is focused on creating functionality that will ensure that Stripo checks emails for compliance with accessibility standards, such as missing alt text, color contrast, copy alignment, and line spacing. The feature will identify noncompliant elements and provide recommendations on how to fix them.
Wrapping up
Stripo aims to make accessibility easy for email marketers by introducing innovative features and tools. From code optimization for screen readers to modular email design, we’re helping to ensure that creating accessible emails is no longer a complex, time-consuming task. Our upcoming tool, Accessibility Precheck, will take this commitment even further by allowing users to check their emails for compliance with accessibility standards and receive practical recommendations for improvement.
These efforts are part of our broader vision to empower marketers to create content that reaches everyone, including those with disabilities. By prioritizing accessibility, we’re fostering a more inclusive digital environment where everyone can comfortably and effectively engage with email content.
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