Accessibility has become one of the biggest topics in web design recently, and for good reason. With new legislation being enforced for government and public sector websites, the topic has spread quickly into private business conversations too. More people are realizing that accessibility is not just a legal requirement. It is a design and user experience issue at its core.
In reality, accessibility, good design, and strong SEO are all connected. When a website is easy to navigate, properly structured, and readable by both people and search engines, it naturally becomes more accessible. Alt text, clear hierarchy, contrast, and responsive layouts all serve the same purpose—helping users find and understand information.
This guide is meant to simplify the conversation. It will walk through what accessibility really means, what tools do and don’t help, and how to make your website usable for everyone without losing sight of design quality or performance.
For Business Owners & Agencies
Accessibility is not about checking boxes. It is about expanding your audience and protecting your business. A website that works for everyone reaches more people and converts better. It also reduces the risk of legal complaints, which are becoming more common every year.
When accessibility is done right, it improves your brand perception, boosts search rankings, and creates a smoother experience for every user—whether they rely on assistive technology or not. It is a win for both compliance and conversion.
For Designers & Developers
Accessibility is not an extra task at the end of a project. It is part of the design system. The same choices that improve SEO and usability also improve accessibility.
Clean HTML structure, consistent heading levels, descriptive alt text, high-contrast color schemes, and keyboard-friendly navigation all come from good design principles. Building accessibly from the start saves time, avoids retrofits, and produces better results across every metric.
Why ADA Website Compliance Matters
Accessibility matters because the internet was built to connect people. Every visitor who lands on your website should be able to navigate it, understand it, and take action—no matter what device, software, or level of ability they have.
When accessibility is ignored, it creates barriers. A person using a screen reader might not be able to find the main menu. Someone with low vision may struggle to read light gray text on a white background. A keyboard-only user might get stuck in a form field they can’t tab out of. These are not small inconveniences. They are walls that stop real people from engaging with your brand.
Inclusion and Equal Access
At its core, accessibility is about inclusion. The web should work for everyone. Disabilities can be permanent, temporary, or situational. Someone might have low vision, a broken arm, or be trying to fill out your form while holding a baby. Accessibility design ensures that every user can still complete the same tasks successfully.
This mindset shifts accessibility from being a compliance chore to being part of what good design means. It is not a feature you add later—it is a foundation you build on from the start.
Business and Brand Reputation
From a business perspective, accessibility makes financial sense. The global population of people with disabilities is massive, representing trillions in annual spending power. Ignoring accessibility means closing your doors to that audience entirely.
Search engines also reward accessible websites. Many accessibility best practices—clear headings, descriptive link text, alt attributes, and logical structure—are also strong SEO signals. That means better rankings and more visibility.
Accessibility also builds brand trust. A business that values inclusion demonstrates professionalism and social awareness. In a marketplace full of competitors, that can be the difference between looking careless or credible.
Reducing Risk
Accessibility lawsuits are increasing every year. Most businesses don’t realize they can be targeted until it happens. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related laws are being interpreted to include websites and digital experiences.
Even if your company never faces legal action, being proactive about accessibility protects you. Compliance is becoming part of what it means to operate responsibly online, similar to having privacy policies or secure payment systems.
Better Design for Everyone
The truth is that most accessibility improvements make your website better for all users. Captions help people watching videos in noisy environments. High contrast improves visibility on mobile devices in bright light. Keyboard navigation helps power users move faster through interfaces.
When accessibility is part of your design process, your site becomes easier to use, faster to navigate, and more effective overall. It’s not about checking boxes—it’s about creating a website that truly performs.
Why There Is a Big Push for Accessibility Right Now
The recent focus on accessibility did not come out of nowhere. For years, the guidelines have existed, but enforcement was inconsistent. That is changing fast.
In 2024, updates to federal and state requirements started pushing public-sector and government websites toward strict compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA standards. Many local governments, schools, and contractors are now required to meet these standards, and private companies that serve public organizations are often being pulled in as well.
At the same time, accessibility lawsuits are rising in the private sector. Small and mid-sized businesses are increasingly being targeted because courts have ruled that websites are part of the “public accommodation” defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The result is a new level of awareness. Business owners are realizing that accessibility is not just for large corporations or government agencies. It is becoming an expectation for everyone with a website.
Add to that the growing use of assistive technology, screen readers on mobile devices, and AI-driven accessibility tools, and it is clear that accessible design is no longer a niche topic. It is a standard.
WCAG — The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. These are global standards that define how to make websites usable for everyone. Most laws reference WCAG 2.1 AA as the baseline for compliance.
https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/
Can Overlays Like UserWay Make Your Website ADA Compliant?
Short answer: no.
Accessibility overlays, like UserWay, AccessiBe, and EqualWeb, promise to make your website compliant with one line of code. In reality, they only address a small portion of accessibility issues, and sometimes they create new ones.
Overlays work by adding a script that changes the way content looks or behaves for users. They might add a font resizer, high-contrast toggle, or voice control button. While these tools can be helpful for some users, they do not fix the underlying code problems that make a website inaccessible in the first place.
If your site has missing alt text, poor heading structure, or unlabeled form fields, the overlay cannot rewrite your HTML to solve it. In many cases, screen readers conflict with these tools, making navigation even harder.
Overlays can serve as a temporary stopgap while a site is being rebuilt or audited, but they are not a long-term solution. Accessibility must be baked into the design and code, not layered on top after launch.
Recommended Approach
If you want to improve accessibility, start with a proper audit. Fix structural issues in your code, use clear hierarchy, label your forms, and ensure all content is readable by assistive technology. Follow the WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines and test your site with both automated tools and real users when possible.
How to Make Your Website WCAG 2.1 AA Compliant
There is no single button or plugin that makes a website accessible. It takes a combination of structure, testing, and smart design decisions. The good news is that most of what makes a site accessible also makes it easier to use and better for SEO.
Start With Page Structure
Accessibility starts in the code, not in the visuals. A clean structure helps both users and search engines understand your content.
- Use one H1 per page and keep heading levels in order.
- Write alt text that describes images accurately.
- Use clear, descriptive link text instead of “click here.”
- Label every form field so screen readers can announce what it does.
- Make sure buttons and menus are reachable by keyboard alone.
Good structure also means semantic HTML—using elements for their real purpose, like <nav> for navigation, <button> for actions, and <h2> for subheadings. It helps assistive technology interpret your site the way you intend.
Test How Real Users Navigate
Automated tools can only catch about 30 percent of accessibility issues. The rest require human testing.
- Try using your site without a mouse.
- Use the Tab key to move through links, buttons, and forms.
- Turn on a screen reader like NVDA or VoiceOver and listen to how your site reads aloud.
If you can’t easily navigate or understand your own site this way, someone using assistive tech definitely can’t either.
Accessibility Is Not an Exact Science
You will never get a perfect score on every test. Accessibility depends on context, user needs, and the tools they use. What passes in one situation might fail in another.
Instead of chasing perfection, aim for continuous improvement. Fix the big problems first: contrast, keyboard traps, missing alt text. And then you can improve your website over time. Accessibility is more about progress than perfection.
Why Good Design and Good SEO Equal Good Accessibility
Accessibility, design, and SEO all share the same foundation: clarity, structure, and usability. When you follow best practices for design and optimization, accessibility follows naturally.
Search engines and assistive technologies read websites in similar ways. Both depend on clean HTML, logical heading order, descriptive alt text, and meaningful link labels to understand what each page contains. The same structure that helps your site rank in search results also makes it easier for users with disabilities to navigate.
Performance plays a major role too. Accessible websites are often faster because they rely on efficient code and lightweight design. Reducing clutter, optimizing images, and keeping scripts lean all improve accessibility and SEO scores while creating a smoother user experience for everyone.
Ultimately, good accessibility is good design. A site that is clear, fast, and easy to use will reach more people, perform better in search, and leave a stronger impression. Following best practices for design, SEO, and accessibility gives you a website that is not only compliant but also more visible, usable, and effective.
Common Web Accessibility Mistakes to Avoid
Even small design choices can create big barriers. These four mistakes show up on more websites than you’d expect and they’re all easy to fix once you know what to look for.
1. Using Low-Contrast Colors
Light gray on white or pale text over busy images may look stylish, but it’s hard to read. Aim for strong contrast between text and background so every user can read your content clearly, whether they’re using a phone in sunlight or a screen reader highlighting sections.
2. Skipping Alt Text or Using It Incorrectly
Alt text isn’t filler. It should describe the image’s purpose or message so that someone who can’t see it still understands what’s there. If an image is decorative, use an empty alt tag so assistive technologies know to skip it.
3. Missing Form Labels
Unlabeled fields are a dead end for users relying on assistive tools. Every form input needs a clear, descriptive label that tells the user exactly what belongs there—like “Email Address” instead of just “Required Field.”
4. Overcomplicating Animations or Motion
Heavy animation can overwhelm or disorient some users. Keep motion subtle, avoid flashing elements, and offer a pause or “reduce motion” option where possible. Simpler movement creates smoother experiences for everyone.
WCAG 2.1 AA Accessibility Checklist
Use this checklist as a starting point to make sure your website works for everyone. It covers the essentials that improve accessibility, SEO, and overall user experience.
Content and Structure
- One H1 per page with logical heading order (H2, H3, etc.)
- Descriptive alt text for all meaningful images
- Clear, descriptive link text instead of “click here”
- Labels for every form field and button
- Language attribute set in the HTML tag (<html lang=”en”>)
Navigation and Interaction
- Site can be fully navigated with a keyboard
- Visible focus indicator on links and buttons
- Skip navigation link or method to jump to main content
- Forms, pop-ups, and menus work without a mouse
Color and Visual Design
- Text contrast meets or exceeds a 4.5:1 ratio
- No important information shown by color alone
- Font sizes are responsive and easy to read
- Animations and motion effects are limited or optional
Media and Files
- Videos include captions
- Audio content has transcripts
- Downloadable files (PDFs, etc.) are tagged for accessibility
Testing and Maintenance
- Run automated scans with tools like WAVE, axe DevTools, or Lighthouse
- Manually test keyboard navigation and screen reader compatibility
- Review accessibility after any design or plugin update
- Avoid relying on overlays as your main accessibility solution
Accessibility Resources & Tools
Use these trusted resources to learn, test, and maintain accessibility across your website projects.
Official Guidelines
- WCAG 2.1 Overview (W3C) – The global standard for web accessibility.
- Section 508 Standards – U.S. government accessibility requirements for digital content.
- ADA.gov – Accessibility and the Law – The U.S. Department of Justice’s guidance on how ADA applies to websites.
Testing and Evaluation Tools
- WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool – Quick browser-based scanner for accessibility issues.
- axe DevTools – Developer-friendly testing tool with browser extensions.
- Google Lighthouse – Built-in audit tool for performance, SEO, and accessibility.
- Color Contrast Checker (WebAIM) – Checks text contrast ratios for WCAG compliance.
- NVDA Screen Reader – Free Windows screen reader for real-world testing.
- VoiceOver – Built into macOS for accessibility navigation testing.
Education and Training
- WebAIM Articles and Tutorials – Practical accessibility resources and checklists.
- Deque University – Courses and certifications for accessibility professionals.
- W3C Accessibility Tutorials – Step-by-step guides for accessible design and development.
Conclusion: Accessibility Is Good Business
Accessibility is not a passing trend. It is the natural result of thoughtful, professional web design. When your site is built with clear structure, fast performance, and real users in mind, it not only meets legal standards but also delivers a better experience for everyone who visits.
Start small if you need to. Fix the easy wins first, then make accessibility part of every new decision going forward. Over time, those improvements compound into a faster, more inclusive, and more profitable website.
If you want a partner who understands both the technical and creative sides of accessibility, WebPressPRO can help. We design and build WordPress sites that meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards, load fast, and support long-term growth. Whether you need an accessibility audit or a complete rebuild, we can help you create a website that performs well for every user.