Full Guide to Website Accessibility

TL;DR: Website accessibility means designing and developing your website so that everyone, including people with disabilities, can use it. This guide covers what web accessibility is, why it’s crucial for user experience and to avoid legal risks under laws like the ADA, common barriers that can make sites unusable, and how you can make your site accessible. In short: accessible websites are better for all users, reduce the chance of costly lawsuits, and can be achieved using the right strategies and tools (like EqualWeb’s AI Accessibility Widget, free Accessibility Checker, and hybrid managed solutions).

What Is Website Accessibility?

Website accessibility is the practice of making sure your website is usable by everyone, including people with disabilities. In practical terms, an accessible site allows users who are blind, deaf, have limited mobility, cognitive impairments, or other disabilities to navigate and interact with the content as effectively as any other user. This involves designing your site so that all information and functionality is available in alternative formats that accommodate different needs. For example, text descriptions (alt-text) should be provided for images so that a blind user using a screen reader can understand what the image is conveying. Likewise, videos should have captions or transcripts for deaf users, and all interactive elements (like links, buttons, and forms) must be operable via a keyboard for those who cannot use a mouse.
In essence, accessibility is about inclusive design. It ensures that no potential customer or user is excluded from your website. Importantly, web accessibility overlaps with good general user experience practices. Many features that help users with disabilities, such as clear navigation, sufficient color contrast, and descriptive labels, also make the site easier to use for everyone.

Why Website Accessibility Matters

Better user experience for everyone

Making your website accessible isn’t just about checking a legal box. It genuinely improves the experience for all your visitors. When a site is designed to accommodate people with disabilities, it often becomes easier to navigate and read for everyone. For instance, good color contrast and readable fonts benefit users with low vision or color blindness, but they also help anyone trying to read content on a screen. Clear navigation benefits users with cognitive impairments and also makes the site more intuitive for everyone. In short, accessibility enhances overall usability and inclusivity, showing your audience that you care about all of them. About 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. has some type of disability, so if your site isn’t accessible you could be alienating a significant portion of your potential customers. On the flip side, an accessible site means more people can engage with your business.

Legal compliance and risk reduction

In the United States, web accessibility is not only a best practice – it’s often a legal requirement. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandates that people with disabilities must have equal access to places of public accommodation, and courts and regulators have increasingly interpreted this to include websites for businesses that serve the public. If your website isn’t accessible, you could be at risk of ADA-related complaints or lawsuits. In recent years, thousands of U.S. businesses have been sued because their websites were not usable by people with disabilities. These lawsuits can result in costly settlements, legal fees, and reputational damage. Ignoring accessibility can expose your organization to significant legal risk. By ensuring your site is accessible, you protect your business from lawsuits and demonstrate social responsibility.

The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)

The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) is a program launched by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to develop standards and support materials that make the web accessible to people with disabilities. It’s the driving force behind guidelines like WCAG and tools like WAI-ARIA attributes. If you want to understand where the rules come from and how global accessibility standards are formed, this is the place to start.

ADA, WCAG, and Web Accessibility Standards

When we talk about accessibility, it`s helpful to understand what “compliance” means. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the most widely accepted standard for accessible web design. Created by the W3C, they outline how to make websites perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.

In the U.S., courts often expect businesses to meet Web Accessibility Standards in order to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). While the ADA doesn’t explicitly reference WCAG, following these guidelines helps reduce legal risk and ensures a more inclusive experience for users with disabilities.

Common Web Accessibility Barriers

Even well-intentioned websites can have barriers that make them difficult or impossible for people with certain disabilities to use. Here are some of the most common web accessibility issues that businesses should be aware of:

Images without alt text: If important images lack descriptive alt text, blind users using screen readers will miss that content (e.g., a product photo with no alt description leaves a user guessing).
Videos without captions: If you don’t provide captions for videos (or transcripts for audio content), deaf or hard-of-hearing users cannot access that content.
Keyboard inaccessibility: Ensure everything on your site can be used with keyboard alone. If not, anyone who can’t use a mouse (for example, due to a motor disability or blindness) will be unable to navigate.
Low contrast or color-only cues: Use sufficient text color contrast and don’t rely on color alone to convey information. Otherwise, people with low vision or color blindness may not be able to read or understand important content. Learn more in our Color Contrast Checker guide.
Unlabeled form elements: Make sure every form field and button has a clear text label or name. If not, screen reader users won’t know what an unlabeled input or button is supposed to do.

These are just a few examples, but they highlight the kinds of issues that can severely hinder accessibility. The good news is that all of these barriers have well-documented solutions. By identifying and fixing these common problems, you’ll eliminate major pain points that would otherwise block users with disabilities from using your website.

If you’re new to these issues, beginner’s guide to web accessibility walks you through them with practical examples.

Web Accessibility Certification

While certification is not legally required, many organizations seek it to demonstrate their commitment to accessibility and reduce legal risk. A web accessibility certification can serve as a formal record that your website has been audited and meets WCAG standards. It also shows customers and partners that you`re serious about inclusivity.

How to Make Your Website Accessible
Achieving full website accessibility can seem overwhelming at first, especially if you have an existing site with many pages. However, by breaking the process down into manageable steps and leveraging modern tools, you can systematically bring your site into compliance. Here’s a practical roadmap for making your website accessible and keeping it that way:

Assess your current site (audit and plan): Start by identifying your site’s accessibility issues. Automated scanning tools can provide a quick overview: for example, run your URL through a free checker like EqualWeb’s Accessibility Checker to see which WCAG criteria your pages might fail. You can also get a full manual evaluation – see our accessibility audit guide for details.
Fix issues and leverage AI tools: Next, start implementing the fixes. Many problems can be resolved by updating your site’s code or content according to best practices (such as adding alt-text to images or adjusting color contrast). At the same time, consider deploying an AI-driven tool for a quick boost. EqualWeb’s AI Accessibility Widget is one example; once you install it on your site, it automatically applies many fixes and provides an accessibility toolbar for users. This rapidly addresses common issues and improves your compliance, though no automated tool catches everything.
Use human expertise for the remaining issues: Some accessibility fixes require human judgment and coding. For instance, an expert might need to write meaningful descriptions for complex images or ensure the HTML structure is screen-reader friendly. Your development team can tackle these tasks guided by the audit results, or you can opt for a hybrid solution like EqualWeb’s managed service. In a hybrid approach, the AI widget handles the easy fixes while EqualWeb’s accessibility specialists fix the tougher issues. This way, your site meets ADA and WCAG 2.2 standards completely.
Monitor and maintain accessibility: Finally, treat website accessibility as an ongoing commitment. Whenever you update your website or add new content, make sure those changes are accessible. Schedule regular checks or scans to catch any new issues. Also, publish an Accessibility Statement on your site to affirm your commitment and give users a way to report problems. By continuously monitoring and improving, you’ll keep your site compliant and user-friendly over time.

Conclusion: Embrace Accessibility Now

Web accessibility is no longer optional; it’s an essential part of running a modern, inclusive business. By making your site accessible, you open your digital doors to a wider audience and protect your organization from legal risks, all while demonstrating social responsibility and care for your users.

EqualWeb can assist you at every step, whether you’re just starting out with a free site evaluation or are ready for a full compliance strategy. Don’t wait for a lawsuit or complaint to force action. Contact EqualWeb today to schedule a free website accessibility audit or to learn how our hybrid AI + expert solution can quickly bring your site into ADA compliance. By investing in accessibility now, you’ll ensure a better experience for everyone and future-proof your online presence.