An accessible website is one that everyone can use, including people with visual, hearing, motor, or cognitive disabilities, and anyone using a phone in bright sunlight, a slow connection, or a keyboard instead of a mouse. Accessibility is often treated as a technical checklist, but at its heart it is simply good design: clear, readable, and easy to use.
It also makes business sense. Accessible sites reach more potential customers, tend to work better for everyone, and are easier for search engines to understand. In many places, accessibility is also a legal expectation for certain organizations.
The most common barriers
Most accessibility problems come from a small set of recurring issues.
Low color contrast
Light gray text on a white background, or dark text on a dark background, is hard to read for many people. Text should have enough contrast with its background to be read comfortably.
Images without text alternatives
Screen readers announce images using their alternative text. Without it, people who cannot see the image miss its meaning. Decorative images should be marked so they are skipped.
Links and buttons that do not say what they do
"Click here" or "Read more" repeated across a page tells a screen reader user nothing. Link text should make sense on its own, for example "Read the case study".
Content that needs a mouse
Some menus, sliders, and pop-ups only work with a mouse. Everything interactive should also work with a keyboard, with a visible focus indicator showing where you are.
Forms without clear labels
Placeholder text that disappears when you start typing is not a label. Every field needs a visible label, and error messages should explain what went wrong and how to fix it.
Unclear page structure
Headings should follow a logical order, because many people navigate by jumping between them. Visual styling alone does not create structure.
Media without captions
Videos need captions, and audio content benefits from transcripts.
Text that cannot be resized
People should be able to zoom text without the layout breaking or content being cut off.
How to check your site
- Run an automated check. PageSpeed Insights includes an accessibility score and lists specific issues. Automated tools catch only part of the problems, but they are a good start.
- Try it with a keyboard. Put the mouse away and press Tab through a page. Can you reach and use everything? Can you see where the focus is?
- Zoom to 200 percent. Does everything still fit and work?
- Try a screen reader. VoiceOver is built into Macs and iPhones; TalkBack is built into Android. Even a few minutes is eye-opening.
- Ask real users. Feedback from people who rely on assistive technology is the most valuable test of all.
Quick wins to start with
- Fix low-contrast text, especially on buttons and small print.
- Add meaningful alternative text to important images.
- Replace vague link text with descriptive labels.
- Make sure every interactive element works with a keyboard and shows a visible focus outline.
- Add visible labels to all form fields.
- Check that headings follow a logical order on your key pages.
Make it part of the process
Accessibility is easiest when it is built in from the start rather than added at the end. Include it in design reviews, test new pages before launch, and review the site whenever major changes are made.
The bottom line
An accessible website is a better website for everyone. Most improvements are straightforward, and many also make your site clearer, faster, and easier to find.
If you would like an accessibility review of your website, or want a new site designed with accessibility built in from day one, we are happy to help.
