Accessibility in Web Design: Why It Matters for Businesses

What Is Accessibility in Web Design?

Accessibility in web design means creating websites that can be used and accessed easily by everyone, regardless of age, ability, or the devices they use. This includes users such as older adults with low vision, people who rely on voice search, users who navigate using only a keyboard, and those who use assistive technologies like screen readers.

To ensure accessibility in web design, websites must support clear text, proper color contrast, readable font sizes, and responsive layouts that work well across different screen sizes and resolutions—from advanced devices like MacBooks to basic or lower-resolution screens. Designs should also consider users with color blindness by avoiding color-dependent cues and ensuring sufficient visual distinction.

Accessibility in web design also focuses on interaction and navigation. This includes well-defined hover and focus states for keyboard users, clear and properly labeled form fields, and alternative text (alt tags) for images so screen readers and assistive tools can interpret content accurately. Features such as breadcrumb navigation, clear headings, and well-structured header and footer sections help users understand where they are on the website and move through it easily.

Overall, accessibility in web design ensures that all users can interact with, understand, and navigate a website effectively, creating a more inclusive and usable digital experience for everyone.

Why Is Accessibility Important in Web Design?

Website usage is constantly evolving, and today people from every background and with different abilities use websites. This includes users with temporary or permanent disabilities, older users, people who rely on voice search, and users who access websites through assistive technologies or extensions that read content aloud. Accessibility ensures that every user can understand, navigate, and achieve their goal on a website—whether that goal is making a purchase, submitting a form, or requesting information.

Accessibility is also important for SEO. Elements such as clear headings, descriptive alt text for images, structured navigation, breadcrumbs, schema markup, and proper internal linking make it easier for search engine crawlers to understand and index a website. When accessibility is implemented correctly, it improves both user experience and crawlability, which can lead to better rankings and increased visibility in search results. This is one of the key reasons why accessibility is important in web design.

In addition, accessibility has legal importance. In the United States, laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) require digital platforms to avoid discrimination against people with disabilities and ensure equal access to online content. Following accessibility best practices helps businesses meet legal requirements while providing a more inclusive digital experience.

Importance of Accessibility in Web Design for Businesses

The importance of accessibility in web design lies in its ability to serve all types of users, including people with disabilities, who make up nearly 16% of the world’s population. By making websites accessible, businesses can reach a wider audience and ensure that more users can interact with their content effectively.

Accessibility in web design also helps increase engagement and conversions. When a website is easy to use for everyone, users are more likely to complete key actions such as making a purchase, signing up, or submitting a form. Providing an inclusive and seamless experience across all user groups helps businesses achieve their business goals more efficiently.

In addition, accessible websites strengthen brand reputation. Delivering a positive experience to all users demonstrates social responsibility and builds trust, positioning the brand as inclusive, user-centric, and forward-thinking.

Benefits of Web Accessibility for Businesses

• Expanded target audience, including users with disabilities
• SEO benefits, as accessible websites are easier for search engine crawlers to understand and rank
• Improved user experience, making the website easier to navigate and use for all visitors
• Stronger brand reputation, reflecting inclusivity and user-focused design Increased engagement and revenue, driven indirectly by better usability and broader reach
• Improved AEO performance, as optimized headings, structured markup, internal linking, breadcrumbs, images, and voice-friendly content help AI systems understand and surface content more effectively

What Makes a Website Accessible?

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are global standards designed to make web content accessible to everyone. Every website should aim to comply with WCAG 2.1 Level AA, which is widely considered the recommended level of accessibility compliance.

WCAG includes different versions such as WCAG 1.0, 2.0, and 2.1, and three levels of conformance: Level A, Level AA, and Level AAA. Level A covers basic accessibility requirements, Level AA is the recommended and often legally required standard, and Level AAA represents advanced accessibility. Although WCAG 2.1 AA can be challenging to fully implement, it is the most commonly accepted level.

WCAG is published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and is based on four core principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (POUR). The guidelines cover requirements such as text alternatives for images, non-text content, time-based media, video captions, clear link distinction, and more.

By following these guidelines consistently, websites can achieve higher accessibility levels and significantly improve their overall accessibility score, ensuring a better experience for all users.

Key Web Accessibility Features Every Website Should Have

• Alternative text for images
• Distinguishable links with clear text labels
• Closed captions for videos
• Meaningful text alternatives for non-text content
• Keyboard accessibility for all functionality
• High color contrast for text and UI elements
• Resizable and readable text
• Logical heading structure (H1, H2, etc.)
• Breadcrumb navigation for better orientation
• Consistent navigation across the site
• Visible focus indicators for keyboard users
• Clear form field labels and instructions
• Error identification and suggestions on forms
• Skip links to bypass repetitive content
• Accessible multimedia controls
• Responsive layouts for different screen sizes
• No strict timing constraints without alternatives
• Clear and consistent UI labels
• Descriptions for icons and UI controls
• Proper semantic HTML structure

How Businesses Can Start Improving Website Accessibility

Businesses can start improving website accessibility by choosing an accessible CMS that supports accessibility best practices. Content should be properly structured using heading tags (H1 to H6) so users and assistive technologies can easily understand the page hierarchy.

Accessibility can also be improved by organizing internal and external links clearly, updating schema markup for better navigation, and using readable fonts with sufficient color contrast. Ensuring mobile responsiveness across devices and screen sizes is equally important.

Forms should include clear labels to help users understand input requirements. If the website includes videos, adding closed captions (CCs) is essential. Well-structured headers, footers, and a clear site architecture further improve usability and navigation.

Websites should also support keyboard-only navigation and assistive tools. These improvements can be tested using accessibility tools and browser extensions to ensure better compliance and accessibility scores.

If you want to know how accessibility in web design impacts businesses, get in touch with our team.