A good stack for Accessible Web and app Development

Introduction: Accessibility Is not optional anymore

A website or app that only works for some people… is broken.

That’s why building with accessibility in mind from the start is a superpower. It means your product works for everyone: people with disabilities, older users, users on slower networks, users with different devices or screen readers.

But how do you actually build something like that without losing your mind in technical rabbit holes?

Simple. Start with the right tools. And that’s exactly what the combination of Strapi , React , Chakra v3, and Playwright with Axe offers.

Let’s break it down.

1. Strapi: The friendly content brain

Think of Strapi as your app’s content engine. It’s where your team can add, update, and organize all the words, images, and information that show up on your site without touching any code.

Why it helps accessibility:

• ✅ Editors can write alt text for images
• ✅ You can create fields that require accessibility info (like captions or ARIA labels)
• ✅ It’s customizable: you can shape it around your accessibility rules

💡 Example: You can make sure every image uploaded requires a description for screen readers. Boom more inclusive content by default.

2. React: The lego blocks of the web

React is one of the most popular tools for building websites and apps. It lets developers create small, reusable pieces (“components”) like buttons, menus, or forms and then combine them like LEGO bricks.

Why it helps accessibility:

• ✅ You can build accessible components once and reuse them everywhere
• ✅ React handles a lot of the logic, so developers can focus more on how things behave for real users
• ✅ You can use any flavor framework you like: nextjs, Remix, Gatsby, ...

💡 Example: A developer can create a dropdown menu that supports keyboard navigation and screen readers and use that same dropdown throughout the whole app.

3. Chakra UI v3: Design that just works (for everyone)

Chakra UI is a design system built on React. It gives developers a set of beautifully styled, accessible components out of the box: buttons, modals, forms, and more.

Why it helps accessibility:

• ✅ Accessibility is baked in. Chakra UI uses best practices automatically (like proper keyboard focus and ARIA roles)
• ✅ Components behave as users expect whether they use a mouse, keyboard, or screen reader
• ✅ Styling and layout are easy and consistent, so you spend less time fiddling and more time creating

💡 Example: Want a modal (popup) that traps keyboard focus and announces itself to screen readers? Chakra’s already got you covered.

🧪 4. Playwright + Axe: Your automated accessibility watchdogs

Playwright is a tool that simulates users visiting your site. It can click buttons, type in forms, and navigate like a real person.

Axe is an accessibility testing library that finds problems in your interface like missing labels or poor color contrast.

When you combine them, you get a superpower: automated accessibility testing.

Why it helps accessibility:

• ✅ Detect issues before real users ever see them
• ✅ Test pages, components, and flows like real humans use them
• ✅ Improve continuously, not just as a one-time fix

💡 Example: Every time you build a new feature, Playwright + Axe can check if it’s still accessible and alert you if something breaks.

🔚 Final Thoughts: Inclusive by Default

You don’t need to be an accessibility expert to start building inclusive websites. You just need the right tools that support your intentions and make it easy to do the right thing.

By using Strapi, React, Chakra UI, and Playwright with Axe, you give your team (and your users) a huge gift:

✔ A faster, more efficient workflow

✔ A better user experience for everyone

✔ A future-proof product that meets real-world needs

And the best part? You’re not just building a site. You’re building something everyone can use.

Now that’s good design.