In This Blog

TL;DR

  • Website accessibility helps ensure all users can access and interact with your website.

  • Millions of people rely on accessibility features such as screen readers, keyboard navigation, and text resizing.

  • The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide standards for building accessible websites.

  • Accessibility improvements can benefit users, businesses, and search engine optimization efforts.

  • An accessibility audit can identify issues and create a roadmap for compliance and usability improvements.

What percentage of your customers can successfully use your website?

Most organizations would like the answer to be 100%, but accessibility barriers can prevent some users from interacting with your site.

People with visual, hearing, cognitive, learning, or mobility impairments may encounter challenges when using websites that are not designed with accessibility in mind.

These challenges can create frustration for users and potentially prevent them from completing important actions such as making purchases, submitting forms, accessing information, or contacting your business.

Creating an accessible website helps ensure every visitor has the opportunity to engage with your content and services.

What Is Website Accessibility?

Website accessibility refers to designing and developing websites that can be used by people of all abilities.

This includes ensuring compatibility with assistive technologies and supporting a wide range of user needs.

Examples of accessibility accommodations include:

  • Screen reader compatibility

  • Keyboard-only navigation

  • Text resizing and zoom functionality

  • High-contrast color options

  • Alternative text for images

  • Clear page structure and headings

Accessibility is not limited to a single disability or user group.

Instead, it focuses on creating experiences that are usable by the widest possible audience.

Why Accessibility Matters

An accessible website benefits both users and organizations.

For users, accessibility removes barriers that might otherwise prevent them from engaging with digital content.

For businesses, accessibility can:

  • Expand audience reach

  • Improve user experience

  • Support inclusion initiatives

  • Reduce legal risk

  • Strengthen brand reputation

Many accessibility best practices also improve overall website usability for all visitors, not just those using assistive technologies.

Simple improvements such as clearer navigation, better color contrast, and improved page structure often create a better experience for everyone.

If you'd like to learn more about accessibility, check out our article on What Is A11Y? Why Website Accessibility Matters.

What Are WCAG Standards?

The primary standards for website accessibility are the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

WCAG was developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), an international organization that helps define web standards.

These guidelines provide recommendations for making websites more accessible to users with disabilities.

WCAG addresses areas such as:

  • Screen reader compatibility

  • Keyboard accessibility

  • Color contrast requirements

  • Text readability

  • Navigation structure

  • Alternative content for multimedia

Many organizations use WCAG as the framework for evaluating and improving website accessibility.

Common Website Accessibility Features

Accessible websites often include features that support a wide variety of user needs.

Examples include:

  • Alternative text descriptions for images

  • Proper heading structures

  • Descriptive link text

  • Keyboard-friendly navigation

  • Accessible forms and form labels

  • Sufficient color contrast

  • Resizable text without loss of functionality

Implementing these features requires both thoughtful design and proper technical implementation.

Accessibility should be considered throughout the design, development, and quality assurance process.

Why Consider an Accessibility Audit?

Many organizations are unsure how accessible their website actually is.

An accessibility audit helps identify barriers that may affect users and provides recommendations for improvement.

An audit typically evaluates:

  • WCAG compliance

  • Screen reader compatibility

  • Keyboard navigation

  • Color contrast

  • Page structure

  • Forms and interactive elements

The result is a clearer understanding of your website's accessibility strengths and opportunities for improvement.

Organizations often use audit results to prioritize updates and create a roadmap toward greater accessibility compliance.

How Emergent Software Can Help

Emergent Software helps organizations evaluate, improve, and maintain website accessibility through accessibility audits, WCAG compliance assessments, website development, quality assurance testing, and ongoing website support services. Our team works closely with clients to identify accessibility gaps and implement solutions that create better digital experiences for all users. If this sounds familiar, we can help.

Final Thoughts

Website accessibility is about creating digital experiences that work for everyone.

By following accessibility best practices and WCAG guidelines, organizations can expand their reach, improve usability, and create more inclusive online experiences.

Whether you're building a new website or evaluating an existing one, accessibility should be an important part of your digital strategy.

If you're interested in understanding how accessible your website is today, contact us to discuss an accessibility audit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is website accessibility?

Website accessibility refers to designing and developing websites that can be used by people with a wide range of abilities and disabilities. This includes supporting assistive technologies such as screen readers and enabling features like keyboard navigation and text resizing. Accessibility aims to remove barriers that may prevent users from interacting with digital content. It benefits both users and organizations. Accessibility is an important component of modern web development.

What does WCAG stand for?

WCAG stands for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. These standards were developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to help organizations create accessible digital experiences. WCAG provides recommendations for design, development, content creation, and testing. Many accessibility audits are based on WCAG standards. The guidelines are widely recognized around the world.

Why is website accessibility important?

Accessibility helps ensure that all users can access and interact with your website regardless of their abilities. It improves user experience, supports inclusion, expands audience reach, and can reduce legal risks associated with inaccessible websites. Accessibility improvements often benefit all users, not just those with disabilities. Many organizations view accessibility as both a business and social responsibility. It is increasingly considered a best practice.

What is an accessibility audit?

An accessibility audit is a review of a website to identify barriers that may prevent users from accessing content or functionality. Audits typically evaluate WCAG compliance, screen reader compatibility, keyboard navigation, color contrast, forms, and page structure. The goal is to identify issues and provide recommendations for improvement. Audits help organizations prioritize accessibility initiatives. They often serve as the first step toward greater compliance.

Can accessibility improvements help SEO?

Many accessibility best practices overlap with search engine optimization best practices. Clear heading structures, descriptive links, image alternative text, and improved site organization can benefit both accessibility and search engine visibility. While accessibility and SEO are different disciplines, they often complement one another. Improving usability frequently creates benefits for both users and search engines. Accessibility should be viewed as part of a broader user experience strategy.

How do I know if my website is accessible?

The most reliable way to evaluate accessibility is through a professional accessibility audit combined with automated and manual testing. Automated tools can identify certain issues, but many accessibility concerns require human evaluation. A comprehensive audit provides a clearer understanding of compliance and usability challenges. Organizations often use audit findings to develop remediation plans. Regular reviews help maintain accessibility over time.

Author

Mike Allen