Creating an Accessible Website for Users with Disabilities
Introduction: Why Accessibility Can No Longer Be Optional
Imagine trying to navigate a website without being able to see the screen, hear a video, or use a mouse. For more than 1 billion people worldwide—including over 61 million Americans with disabilities—this is not a thought experiment; it’s daily life. In 2025, digital accessibility has evolved from a recommendation to an expectation, influencing legal standards, user experience, brand reputation, and bottom-line business growth.
In today’s hyper-competitive digital landscape, creating a fully accessible website is not just a gesture of goodwill—it’s a business imperative. Whether you’re an entrepreneur launching your startup, a marketer optimizing a company’s online presence, or a business leader planning a site redesign, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about web accessibility.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
What web accessibility is and why it matters in 2025
Key guidelines and compliance standards like WCAG 2.2 and the ADA
Essential features that make websites accessible
Strategies to integrate accessibility from development to content publishing
Common mistakes businesses should avoid
Tools, platforms, and resources to help implement accessibility efficiently
Let’s explore how to unlock digital access for all.
Understanding the Concept: Definition and Key Concepts
What Is Web Accessibility?
Web accessibility refers to the inclusive practice of designing websites, tools, and technologies so that people with disabilities can use them effectively. This includes individuals with vision, hearing, motor, cognitive, or other challenges.
It ensures that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with web content. Accessibility also supports users with temporary impairments—like a broken arm or aging eyesight—and enhances the user experience for all demographics.
How Accessibility Has Evolved Over Time
Over the past two decades, web accessibility has transitioned from a specialized niche to a standard part of the web design process. Early efforts often relied on basic accommodations, like adding alt text or increasing font size. Today, modern standards like WCAG 2.2 reflect sophisticated approaches to inclusive design, emphasizing usability, operability, and consistency across devices.
Accessible web design is now considered a core component of user experience (UX) and is increasingly mandated by laws across the globe, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the European Accessibility Act.
Why Businesses Should Prioritize Accessibility
Accessible websites don’t just serve people with disabilities—they make digital experiences better for everyone. Faster loading times, simple navigation, clear CTAs, and well-structured content benefit all users.
Companies leading in accessibility report up to 20% higher engagement
Nearly 70% of customers in 2025 say they are more loyal to inclusive brands
Accessible websites reduce legal risk, boost brand reputation, and open new markets
👉 Learn more about accessibility ROI in our guide to essential site features for business success.
Why Accessibility Matters for Today’s Businesses
Legal Requirements and Risk Management
In 2025, ADA compliance is required for most U.S. businesses. Failure to comply can result in lawsuits, demand letters, penalties, and reputational damage. High-profile cases against Domino’s Pizza and other brands highlight the risks of neglecting accessibility.
Expanding Your Market
An accessible website opens the door to millions of prospective users. U.S. adults with disabilities control over $500 billion in disposable income. Making your website accessible means you improve reach, engagement, and loyalty.
Boosting SEO and Performance
Accessible content = better SEO. Using semantic HTML, descriptive links, alt text, and heading structures not only helps screen reader users but also boosts crawlability for search engines. This leads to higher rankings and visibility.
👉 Check out our SEO toolkit for modern websites to learn how accessibility and SEO go hand in hand.
Effective Strategies to Master the Concept
Step 1: Align with WCAG 2.2 Standards
The gold standard for accessibility is WCAG 2.2, built around the POUR principles:
Perceivable — All content must be presented in ways users can perceive
Operable — Navigation must work via keyboard and assistive tech
Understandable — Content should be clear and predictable
Robust — Content should work across devices and assistive technologies
Aim for Level AA compliance as a realistic and legally sound goal.
Step 2: Leverage the Right Tools and Platforms
Go HighLevel (GHL): Accessible sites, funnels, and forms for SMBs
Notion or ClickUp: Manage accessibility audits and team workflows
Namecheap: Domains with SSL and compliance support
Cloudflare: Boosts performance, uptime, and accessibility at scale
Google Products: Analytics + Search Console to track SEO and usability
Step 3: Design With Accessibility in Mind
High-contrast colors + scalable fonts
Responsive layouts for magnifiers and mobile devices
Keyboard-accessible navigation + skip links
Clear, consistent CTAs and simple page structure
Step 4: Provide Accessible Multimedia
Captions for videos
Transcripts for podcasts/tutorials
Audio descriptions where relevant
Step 5: Train Your Teams
Accessibility requires a culture shift. Train developers, designers, marketers, and content creators regularly to make accessibility a natural part of your workflows.
Common Mistakes Businesses Should Avoid
Ignoring Alt Text → Every image needs clear, concise, contextual alt text
Overlooking Keyboard Navigation → Ensure full site access via keyboard
Flashy UI Over Functionality → Avoid animations that harm usability
Missing Labels in Forms → Properly label all fields for screen readers
Treating Accessibility as a One-Time Fix → Accessibility is an ongoing process
👉 See our checklist of common website pitfalls and how to correct them.
Getting Started: Practical Steps to Improve Accessibility Today
Run an Accessibility Audit — Start with tools like WAVE, Axe, or Lighthouse + manual testing
Incorporate Fixes in Your CMS — Adjust templates, alt text, and contrast directly in GHL or your CMS
Track User Behavior — Monitor bounce rates, form completions, and time-on-page for accessibility signals
Engage Real Users — Test with people using assistive technologies like NVDA, VoiceOver, or JAWS
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is WCAG 2.2 and how does it affect my website?
A: WCAG 2.2 is the latest standard from W3C with new criteria for mobile and cognitive accessibility. Achieving Level AA compliance ensures ADA alignment.
Q: What tools can I use to test accessibility?
A: Popular tools include Google Lighthouse, Axe, WAVE, and Screen Reader testing with NVDA or JAWS.
Q: Is accessibility expensive to implement?
A: Not necessarily. Many fixes—like alt text, semantic HTML, and captions—are low-cost. Platforms like Go HighLevel simplify implementation for SMBs.
Q: Does accessibility help SEO?
A: Absolutely. Accessible websites are easier for search engines to crawl, leading to higher rankings, more traffic, and stronger brand authority.
