Over the past few months, more and more clients have been asking me about accessibility. So, I decided to write an article that explains what accessibility is and highlights the key things you should consider.
The internet is meant to be for everyone. But not all websites are built with everyone in mind. A site that looks fine to one person may be completely unusable to another. Web accessibility is about fixing that—it’s about designing and developing websites so that all people can access information and services, no matter their abilities or circumstances.
This matters not only because of new EU laws from 2025/26, but also because accessibility brings real benefits: better usability, improved SEO, and more trust from your customers.
What is Web Accessibility?
When we talk about accessibility, we’re talking about making sure your website works for as many people as possible. This isn’t only about permanent disabilities—it also covers temporary and situational challenges.
Examples:
- A blind visitor using a screen reader to browse your shop
- Someone with low vision struggling with pale grey text
- A person with dyslexia finding long, cluttered pages overwhelming
- A user with limited mobility navigating only by keyboard
- A commuter watching your video on a noisy train needing captions
- A rural user with slow internet needing lightweight pages
By improving accessibility, you’re not just meeting legal requirements—you’re opening your business up to a wider audience.
WCAG: The Accessibility Standard
Because accessibility can feel vague, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide a clear, international framework to follow. These guidelines set the standard for making websites more inclusive and user-friendly.
WCAG is built around four key principles, often called POUR:
- Perceivable – Users must be able to perceive the content (e.g. captions for videos, alt text for images).
- Operable – Users must be able to operate the interface (e.g. using a keyboard, not just a mouse).
- Understandable – Content should be clear, consistent, and predictable.
- Robust – The site should work reliably with different devices and assistive technologies.
WCAG Levels Explained
The guidelines are divided into three levels:
- Level A (basic accessibility)
Covers the most essential needs. Without these, many people cannot use the website at all. Examples:- Forms have proper labels so screen readers can announce them
- Content works with a keyboard, not only a mouse
- Skip links allow users to jump past repeated menus
- Level AA (recommended standard)
This is the level most organisations aim for and the level I build all my custom websites to. It’s also the level often required by law. These are broken down into three further levels, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2 and you can read more about them here. Examples:- Text has enough colour contrast against backgrounds
- Captions are available for videos
- Navigation menus are consistent across all pages
- Error messages are clear and give helpful guidance
- Level AAA (advanced accessibility)
The gold standard. Not always practical for every site, but ideal where inclusivity is mission-critical. Examples:- Sign language interpretation for video content
- Extended audio descriptions of multimedia
- Very high colour contrast and simplified language options
Most businesses should aim for Level AA.
The European Accessibility Act (EAA)
Accessibility isn’t just “nice to have” anymore. From 28 June 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) came into effect. From 2026 onwards, EU countries will begin enforcing it more strictly.
What this means for businesses
- Websites, apps, and digital services must be accessible
- Non-compliance could result in fines (up to €80,000 in some countries)
- Meeting WCAG Level AA is the best way to comply
📌 Learn more: European Accessibility Act – EU Commission
It’s best to see this not as a burden, but as an opportunity. By making your site accessible now, you’ll be ahead of the curve and making your business more welcoming to all.
Why Accessibility Matters for Your Business
Many business owners ask, “Why should I invest in accessibility?” The answer is that it helps everyone—your customers, your staff, your business, and your bottom line.
Here’s why it matters:
- Inclusion – You make sure people with different abilities can access your services.
- Trust – Customers see that you care about their experience.
- SEO – Google rewards good structure, clear content, and image alt text.
- Legal protection – You reduce the risk of complaints, fines, or reputational damage.
- Conversions – The easier your site is to use, the more likely visitors are to enquire, buy, or book.
Think of accessibility as the online equivalent of having a ramp at your shop entrance—it helps some people a lot, but it makes things easier for everyone.
Accessibility Statements
An Accessibility Statement is a short page on your website that:
- Tells visitors your commitment to accessibility
- Explains which standards you aim to meet (e.g. WCAG 2.1 AA)
- Shares known accessibility issues (if any)
- Provides contact details so users can report problems
Why have one?
- Transparency – You show you’re aware of accessibility and working on it
- Trust – Users know you care about their experience
- Compliance – The EU requires many organisations to publish one as part of accessibility law
Sample Accessibility Statement (adaptable for your site)
Accessibility Statement for [Your Business Name]
We are committed to making our website accessible to everyone, regardless of ability or technology. Our goal is to follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA wherever possible.
How we support accessibility
- We use clear headings and consistent navigation
- Images include descriptive alternative text
- Colours are checked for contrast
- Forms are labelled for screen readers
Known limitations
While we do our best to make every page accessible, we know some areas may not yet be fully compliant. We are actively working to improve these.
Feedback and contact
If you experience any difficulty using our website, please contact us at:
📧 [[email protected]]
📞 [Your phone number]
We welcome your feedback and will do our best to respond promptly.
Free Tools to Check Accessibility
You don’t need to be a developer to start checking your website’s accessibility. These free tools are a good way to spot common issues and understand how different users experience your site.
- Wave Web Accessibility Tool
Run your page through WAVE and it will highlight issues like missing alt text, low colour contrast, or unlabeled form fields. Good for quick checks. - axe DevTools
A free browser extension (Chrome/Firefox) that runs detailed accessibility tests inside Developer Tools. It shows what fails WCAG standards and explains how to fix it. - Lighthouse (built into Chrome)
Right-click anywhere on a page → Inspect → Lighthouse → Accessibility. This gives you an accessibility score and a list of areas to improve. - Accessibility Insights
A tool from Microsoft that combines automated scans with guided manual checks. It’s especially useful if you want to go beyond basic tests. - Color Contract Checker
Lets you input text and background colours to see if they meet WCAG contrast ratios. Handy for designers and brand owners. - NCDA (NonVisual Desktop Access)
A free screen reader for Windows. Use it to test how blind users experience your website. - VoiceOver (Mac/iOS)
Apple’s free screen reader. Switch it on in your device settings and try navigating your site without looking at the screen.
👉 Tip: Automated tools will catch many issues, but not everything. For example, they can tell you if a button has no label, but only a person can confirm whether the label makes sense.
How to Start Improving Today
Accessibility can feel like a big task, but small steps add up quickly. You don’t have to do everything at once.
Here are five easy wins you can start with today:
- Add alt text to all your images so screen readers can describe them.
- Check colour contrast for text, buttons, and backgrounds.
- Test keyboard navigation – can you move through your site using only the Tab, Enter, and arrow keys?
- Add captions or transcripts to videos so people in noisy environments or with hearing difficulties can understand them.
- Use plain, clear content – shorter sentences and simple language help everyone.
These improvements alone can make a huge difference.
✅ Key Takeaways
- Accessibility = usability for everyone
- WCAG Levels: A (basic), AA (standard), AAA (advanced)
- EU law requires accessible websites from 2025/26
- Free tools: WAVE, axe, Lighthouse, Accessibility Insights
- Accessibility statements build trust and show compliance
- Benefits: wider audience, better SEO, reduced legal risk, more trust
Conclusion
Accessibility isn’t about scaring business owners with rules—it’s about building websites that are fair, functional, and future-proof. By aiming for WCAG Level AA and publishing an Accessibility Statement, you’ll not only comply with EU law but also make your site more enjoyable to use.
That means more visitors, more conversions, and more people who feel welcome when they land on your website.
Accessibility isn’t just a requirement—it’s good design, good business, and the right thing to do.
Please get in touch if you have questions or concerns on this topic.
