Website accessibility isn't just good practice—it's increasingly a legal requirement. ADA lawsuits against websites have surged, and accessible design benefits everyone. Here's what you need to know.
What is Website Accessibility?
Web accessibility means designing websites that people with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with. This includes people who are:
- Visually impaired (blind, low vision, color blind)
- Hearing impaired (deaf or hard of hearing)
- Motor impaired (limited mobility or dexterity)
- Cognitively impaired (learning disabilities, cognitive limitations)
Why Accessibility Matters
Legal Requirements
- ADA website lawsuits increased 400%+ in recent years
- Average settlement: $20,000-$150,000
- Many industries now require accessibility
Business Benefits
- 15% of world population has some disability
- $8 trillion in combined spending power
- Accessible sites often have better SEO
- Better UX for everyone, not just disabled users
WCAG Guidelines Overview
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the standard. They're organized by four principles:
1. Perceivable
Information must be presentable in ways users can perceive:
- Alt text for images
- Captions for videos
- Sufficient color contrast
- Resizable text
2. Operable
Users must be able to operate the interface:
- Keyboard navigation (no mouse required)
- Enough time to read and use content
- No content that causes seizures
- Clear navigation
3. Understandable
Content must be understandable:
- Readable text
- Predictable functionality
- Input assistance (error identification)
4. Robust
Content must work with assistive technologies:
- Valid HTML code
- ARIA labels where needed
- Works with screen readers
Essential Accessibility Checklist
Images & Media
- ☐ All images have descriptive alt text
- ☐ Videos have captions
- ☐ Audio has transcripts
- ☐ No flashing content over 3 times per second
Text & Colors
- ☐ Color contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text
- ☐ Information not conveyed by color alone
- ☐ Text resizable up to 200% without breaking layout
- ☐ Clear, readable fonts
Navigation & Interaction
- ☐ All functionality available via keyboard
- ☐ Visible focus indicators
- ☐ Skip-to-content link
- ☐ Logical tab order
- ☐ Form fields have labels
Structure
- ☐ Proper heading hierarchy (H1, H2, H3...)
- ☐ Descriptive page titles
- ☐ Language specified in HTML
- ☐ Landmarks and ARIA roles where appropriate
Testing Accessibility
Free Testing Tools
- WAVE: wave.webaim.org (browser extension)
- Lighthouse: Built into Chrome DevTools
- axe: Browser extension for developers
- Color Contrast Checker: webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker
Manual Testing
- Navigate using only keyboard
- Test with screen reader (VoiceOver, NVDA)
- Zoom to 200% and check usability
- Disable CSS and check structure
Common Accessibility Fixes
- Add alt text to all images
- Increase color contrast
- Make form labels explicit
- Add focus styles to interactive elements
- Create skip-to-main-content link
- Ensure proper heading structure
Need an Accessibility Audit?
We can evaluate your website's accessibility and recommend fixes. Contact us for an ADA compliance review.
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