,More than 1.3 billion individuals across the globe have a disability, and digital platforms in the United States are a significant challenge for almost 25% of the adult population from an accessibility point of view. However, less than 4% of all websites on the internet are accessible in a way that millions can still perform online operations like navigating, shopping, or interacting.
Web accessibility is not just a social responsibility. It enhances user experience, expands your reach, builds brand trust, and drives business growth. Accessible websites are better websites.
Keq Takeaway
- Equal access: Websites should be usable by everyone, including people with disabilities.
- Business impact: Accessible sites reach more customers, build trust, and drive growth.
- User experience: Captions, alt text, straightforward navigation, and mobile-friendly design benefit all users.
- Legal compliance: Following WCAG guidelines.
What Is Web Accessibility?
Web accessibility means creating websites that everyone can use, including people with disabilities, following the WCAG guidelines to ensure they are easy and usable for all.
WCAG focuses on four main principles:
- Perceivable: Everyone can understand your content
- Operable: Everyone can navigate your site
- Understandable: Your information is clear
- Robust: Assistive technology works with your site
Understanding WCAG Levels
WCAG comes in different versions. The current version is WCAG 2.2, released in 2023.
Each version has three conformance levels:
- Level A: Basic accessibility features
- Level AA: Addresses significant barriers (this is the standard most aim for)
- Level AAA: The strictest level
Most experts agree your website should meet WCAG 2.1 or 2.2 at Level AA. This ensures your site works for people with disabilities.
Key Accessibility Features
Meeting WCAG Level AA includes practices like:
- Good color contrast between text and background
- Compatibility with screen readers
- Keyboard-only navigation
- Alt text for images
- Captions for videos
- Clear headings and structure
- Labeled form fields
This list covers just the basics. Full accessibility requires attention to many details.
Five Reasons Web Accessibility Matters
Here are the top reasons to make your website accessible.
1. Equal Access Is a Basic Right
The world has moved online. You need websites for almost everything now:
- Banking and finances
- Healthcare appointments
- Government services
- Shopping and entertainment
- Education and job applications
When websites are not accessible, people with disabilities are left out of everyday life.
Healthcare, education, and everyday tasks rely on websites. If sites aren’t accessible, many people can’t use them. Everyone deserves equal access, which is why web accessibility is essential.
2. Reach More Customers
Web accessibility is not just about inclusion; it’s also an innovative business. Here’s why it matters:
- According to the Return on Disability Group, people with disabilities have over $13 trillion in global purchasing power.
- Websites that are hard to use can make businesses lose customers to competitors.
- Accessible websites build trust, strengthen your brand, and attract more customers.
3. Everyone Benefits from Accessible Design
Accessible design helps everyone, not just people with disabilities.
- High-contrast text makes reading easier in bright or dim light.
- Video captions help users in noisy environments or when watching videos with the sound off.
- Mobile-friendly design lets everyone, including the 96% who use phones, access your site.
- Clear navigation helps visitors find information quickly.
Good accessibility makes the website easier and more enjoyable for all users.
4. Boost Your Search Rankings
Accessible websites rank higher in search results, and research supports this. A study by SEMrush and AccessibilityChecker.org of 847 websites found that over 73% of sites that improved accessibility also saw more organic traffic.
Accessibility helps SEO in several ways:
- Alt text for images helps search engines understand visuals and supports screen reader users.
- Video captions give search engines text to index, boosting video visibility.
- Clear headings make content easy to navigate for both users and search engines.
- Fast, accessible websites load better and rank higher in search results.
Making your website accessible improves user experience and drives more traffic.
5. Comply with the Law
Several laws require websites to be accessible, and ignoring them can lead to legal issues.
- In the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) treats websites as public accommodations. While the Law doesn’t specify technical standards, courts and settlements often use WCAG 2.1 Level AA as a benchmark.
- Section 508 applies to federal agencies and their contractors, requiring accessible digital content that is usually aligned with WCAG 2.0 or 2.1.
- In Ontario, Canada, the AODA requires many organizations to make their websites accessible in accordance with WCAG 2.0 Level AA standards.
- The European Accessibility Act (EAA) requires businesses serving the EU to meet accessibility standards by June 28, 2025.
These laws protect people with disabilities and help businesses avoid legal trouble.
Why Web Accessibility Matters
Accessibility affects daily life:
- Healthcare: Accessible telehealth and medical portals let people manage their health.
- Education: Accessible online learning helps students keep up.
- Work and Economy: Accessible job applications and tools enable everyone to participate in the workforce and training.
- Social Life: Accessible social media and entertainment prevent isolation.
Common Accessibility Problems:
- Missing image descriptions (alt text)
- Low color contrast
- Forms without labels
- Videos without captions
- Buttons that don’t work with keyboards
- Confusing navigation
- PDFs that can’t be accessed
These problems can be easily fixed with proper planning and testing.
How to Make Your Website Accessible
- Audit your website: Use tools to find problems.
- Follow WCAG guidelines: Target Level AA.
- Test with real users: People with disabilities spot what tools miss.
- Train your team: Everyone working on the website should know the basics of accessibility.
- Check regularly: Evaluate the accessibility every time you renew texts or add new features.
Making your website accessible benefits everyone. Audit your site, fix the most significant issues first, and keep improving. Every step makes the web more inclusive.
