When people hear accessible web design, they often think it’s all about adding bigger buttons, darker text, or alt text. Those matter, sure, but they’re only small pieces of something much bigger.
The whole point is to remove all the stuff that gets in someone’s way so they can read, click, understand, buy, contact you, and complete tasks without struggling.
It’s making sure real people can actually use your site in everyday situations – good eyesight, bad eyesight, noisy room, quiet room, tiny phone, old laptop, you name it.
Accessible websites are just better websites, in my opinion. They load smoother, work for more people, and help search engines understand your content more clearly. That’s a win for everyone, including your business.
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Let’s talk about what accessibility actually looks like in practice, and why your future customers (and honestly, current ones, too) will appreciate you for doing it right.
So…What Is Accessible Web Design, Really?
Basically, it means building web pages that work for as many people as possible, including folks who use assistive technology like a screen reader, voice controls, or keyboard-only navigation.
It also follows the web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG), aka, the big technical rulebook everyone references when talking about web accessibility.
Don’t worry, you don’t need to memorize the whole thing. Basically, the guidelines exist to help you:
- Write clearer content
- Design pages that make sense
- Structure things so people with disabilities aren’t blocked
- Make websites easier to browse on any device, across different operating systems, web browsers, and user agents
Why You Should Give a Damn About Website Accessibility (Outside of Moral Reasons)
If you’re a business owner, you want customers to stick around long enough to buy, book, or reach out. But digital accessibility barriers make people bounce.
Ever tried filling out a form on your phone and the labels kept disappearing?
Or tapped a tiny link five times and hoped for the best?
Or landed on a page where the text blended into the background?
For people with disabilities, those problems don’t just slow them down, they stop them completely.
Fixing those trouble spots makes your site easier for everyone to use. And when your website feels effortless, people stay, take action, and trust you more.
What Good Web Accessibility Looks Like
Instead of thinking about “rules,” think about real visitors trying to get through your site. Good accessibility helps them do that with less effort. Here’s what that looks like.
Descriptive Headings
Your page title, headings, and subheads help people (and search engines) understand what your content is about. They create logical order so readers can skim, jump around, or go straight to the part they need.
Screen reader users rely on heading structure even more. If the order skips around or doesn’t follow a logical pattern, those users can easily get confused.
Text People Can Understand Instantly
You don’t have to “dumb things down,” but you do want your writing to be very clear.
Shorter sentences, direct wording, and simple explanations help everyone: especially for those with cognitive disabilities who can get overwhelmed by long, dense paragraphs.
If someone can understand what you’re saying on their first read, you’ve done it right!
Easy-to-Follow Page Layouts
When the important info jumps around or the page feels jumbled, people tap out fast. A simple structure (intro, helpful details, clear next step) makes it easier for visitors to move through your content.
While we’re on the topic, read my other blog to learn “Why Website Content & Design Have to Be Built Together”.
Colors People Can Actually See
You don’t need a “boring” website to make it accessible. You just need enough contrast that people can actually see things.
The contrast ratio between backgrounds and text should be strong enough that the words don’t vanish. You also want consistent styling for links, CTAs, buttons, and form elements so people instantly recognize what’s clickable.
These are the kinds of changes visitors don’t consciously notice. They just make your site easier to read and use.
Alternative Text
Alternative text (often called “alt text”) is a short description added to images. If someone can’t see the image, a screen reader reads the alt text out loud so they still get the important info. Always explain what each image is there to show.
Keyboard-Friendly Design
Not everyone uses a mouse. Some visitors move through the page with the Tab key. That means your buttons, menus, and form fields need proper keyboard accessibility and keyboard focus so no one gets stuck halfway down the page.
If something can be clicked, Tab should be able to reach it.
Screen-Reader-Friendly Structures
Screen readers read your site out loud, from top to bottom. To make that work well, your website needs a clean structure so the tool can tell where the menu is, where the main content begins, and which parts are clickable.
This is where good html elements pay off. A proper <nav> tells a screen reader that the menu is the menu. A <button> tells it something can be clicked.
Captioned & Audio-Described Videos
If you use video on your site, captions help people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or watching in a place where they can’t use sound. Audio descriptions help people who can’t see what’s happening in the video. Both are simple to add and make your content usable for more people.
Struggle-Free Forms
If your form labels disappear, error messages don’t make sense, or fields aren’t clearly marked, people give up. Good forms have clear labels, helpful instructions, and messages that tell someone exactly what went wrong (and how to fix it).
Digital Services Anyone Can Use
If your business uses online booking, logins, payments, or other digital tools, those also need to be accessible. People expect the whole experience (not just the homepage) to work perfectly for them.
A Thoughtful Accessibility Statement
An accessibility statement doesn’t have to be long or formal. A few clear points are all you need. Explain your goal (making the site usable for everyone), list the accessibility guidelines you follow, and include a way for visitors to contact you if they spot an accessibility problem.
Okay…So How Do You Make Your Site Accessible?
Get these main accessibility features covered first:
- Clean headings
- Readable text on every device
- Good color contrast
- Helpful alternative text
- Keyboard-friendly navigation
- Logical, easy-to-fill-out forms
- Labels that don’t disappear
- Simple, direct language
- Predictable layouts
- Smooth user interface
- A thoughtful accessibility statement
Once these basics are solid, you can move on to more advanced improvements using the full WCAG 2.1 checklist. But honestly, nailing these foundations already puts you far ahead of most websites on the internet!
Your website visitors won’t message you to say, “Thanks for your strong understanding of accessibility requirements!”
But they will stay longer, read more, and feel confident in your business.
Want Help Creating a More Accessible Design?
At the end of the day, an accessible site is simply a site that respects people’s time and needs. And that’s something every business should aim for.
If you’re building a new website, planning a redesign, or just want to make your current one easier for people to use, accessibility is a great place to start.
If you’d like me to take a look at your site and tell you what’s working, what’s confusing, and what’s holding users back, reach out anytime.
