Your Guide to Website Accessibility: Standards and Why it Matters
Here’s a straightforward guide to help you understand website accessibility standards and why you need to take them seriously.
It may sound obvious, but you need to make sure that as many people as possible can access your website.
Purely investing in SEO and the right digital marketing strategies isn’t enough if you’re still leaving out a large portion of your audience. This is one major reason why website accessibility is so important.
Beyond this, following the right website accessibility standards is also a firm legal requirement. If your website hasn’t been updated with the latest web accessibility standards, you could be facing hefty fines – especially considering developments like the new EAA law in the EU.
Whatever way you look at it, website accessibility is essential.
Here’s a straightforward guide to help you understand it and why it’s so important.
What is Web Accessibility?
Website accessibility is all about making sure that websites are usable by everyone, including individuals with disabilities or impairments.
It involves designing and developing sites that accommodate a wide range of needs, ensuring that people can access and interact with content regardless of their abilities. This can include features such as screen reader compatibility, keyboard navigation, and providing alternative text for images.
By making a website accessible, you create an inclusive experience that removes barriers and allows all users to engage with your content efficiently. Accessibility also benefits businesses, as it helps reach a broader audience and ensures compliance with legal standards.
Shockingly, over 96% of the world’s top one million web pages are not accessible. While web accessibility is a major issue for many websites, it’s also a huge opportunity for businesses to enhance their online presence and user experience.
Who Manages Web Accessibility?
Web accessibility is managed by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI), a part of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
WAI is responsible for creating and maintaining the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which outline the standards for making websites accessible to people with disabilities.
These guidelines help website developers and businesses understand how to improve accessibility.
WAI also works to promote awareness and ensure that web accessibility is prioritised across the internet, making it easier for everyone to navigate and use online content.
And when we say that they manage web accessibility, we really mean it. Non-compliant websites can be fined up to $75,000 for the first violation and $150,000 for each subsequent violation.
So, not only is having an accessible website important for your users, but it’s also a critical legal requirement for any business operating today.
And it’s something that these bodies are taking more seriously.
They’re cracking down on more non-compliant websites, and if you’re caught not keeping your site up to standard, you can face a serious penalty.
Why is Website Accessibility so Important?
Beyond the fact that an accessible website is a legal requirement for any business (especially if you operate in Europe), here are some key reasons why you should take website accessibility seriously.
From a Business Perspective
One of the most important things about owning a website is ensuring you can get as much traffic to it as possible. So, why sacrifice a sizeable chunk of traffic (and potential customers) with poor accessibility.
Website accessibility is crucial for businesses because it opens up your site to a larger audience, including the one in six people worldwide who have a disability.
By ensuring your website is accessible, you increase your potential customer base, driving more traffic and potentially boosting revenue.
It also helps avoid costly legal penalties, as many countries have regulations requiring web accessibility. By demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity, businesses can build brand loyalty and trust with users.
So, beyond the fact that your website legally needs to be accessible, having a high accessibility rating also opens up plenty more room for business growth.
From a User Experience and SEO Perspective
An accessible website offers a better user experience for everyone, not just people with disabilities.
Features like easy navigation, clear content structure, and fast-loading pages benefit all users.
Accessibility also positively impacts SEO since search engines favour sites that are easy to navigate and read.
Proper use of headings, alternative text, and optimised structure helps search engines index your content more effectively, leading to better search rankings.
From the Perspective of People with Disabilities
Of course, the whole reason that web accessibility standards exist is to help those who do have disabilities.
For people with disabilities, website accessibility is essential for equal access to information, services, and opportunities online.
Features like screen reader compatibility, captions, and keyboard-friendly navigation ensure that everyone can interact with the web regardless of their abilities.
Without these considerations, people with disabilities may be excluded from using a site, which limits their ability to participate fully in the digital world.
New Website Accessibility Standards
Website accessibility standards are always changing, and always getting stricter.
Right now, one of the biggest standards to watch out for is the European Accessibility Act (EAA).
Under the EAA, any business that trades in Europe needs to offer a fully accessible website. In fact, if your website simply serves Europe, you’ll want it to meet the relevant accessibility requirements.
This law comes into action in June 2025, so you need to bring your site up to standard now if you’re going to stay compliant.
Website Accessibility Standards
Website accessibility standards are designed to ensure that all users, regardless of their abilities, can access and navigate your website. These standards are outlined by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and focus on four main principles: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.
Let’s break these down.
Perceivable
This means that users must be able to recognise and interact with the content on your site.
For example, those with vision impairments might use screen readers, so it’s important that text, images, and media are presented in a way that everyone can understand, even without seeing them.
Operable
A website must be easy to navigate and use.
All functionality, from clicking links to filling in forms, should be accessible to all users.
Avoid complex or unnecessary elements that could make it difficult for people with disabilities to use your site effectively.
Understandable
Your content should be clear and simple for everyone to grasp.
This includes making sure the language is straightforward and that the site structure is logical.
This helps not only users with cognitive disabilities but also those who may not be fluent in the language of your website.
Robust
The site needs to be compatible with a wide range of assistive technologies, such as screen readers.
Well-written code ensures that all users, including those relying on assistive devices, can access and interpret your content easily.
How to Make Your Website Accessible
To make your website accessible, you need to follow the guidelines based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
These include the four key areas of website accessibility standards listed above.
Now, it’s essential to note that simply getting your website into an accessible state is only the first step. Maintaining your website accessibility is crucial, and this is where most businesses get it wrong.
First, website accessibility standards are always changing. New laws are coming into action, and what might have been considered accessible once may not pass the mark in a year’s time.
Second, your website is always changing.
As you add new content, update your branding, publish new pages, or introduce new marketing tactics, this impacts your website accessibility score. If you don’t have an expert continually checking accessibility, then you’ll probably start to slip behind standard.
This is why at Itineris, we don’t take a “set it and forget it” approach to website accessibility. Instead, we continually update and enhance our clients’ sites to ensure they’re always up to standard.
Don’t Leave Your Audience Behind
Ultimately, website accessibility affects everyone. By ensuring your site is up to standard, you’re doing everything you can to create a more impactful online presence.
From an SEO boost to better user experiences, website accessibility offers so much for your business. Not to mention the fact that you could be facing a serious fine if you avoid it.
While it’s so valuable, creating an accessible website doesn’t have to be a headache. You just need to work with the right team, and ensure you keep your site consistently updated with the latest website accessibility standards.
Get in touch with our team if you’re looking for a partner to keep your site in top condition. kind of impact we’ve made through local SEO for law firms.