Website accessibility means making your site usable by everyone, including people with disabilities. It is both a legal requirement and a business advantage.
Why Accessibility Matters
- Legal compliance. WCAG is referenced in accessibility laws worldwide
- Larger audience. 15% of the world lives with a disability
- Better SEO. Accessible sites are easier for search engines to crawl
- Better UX for all. Captions help in noisy rooms, high contrast helps in sunlight
WCAG Principles (POUR)
- Perceivable. Content must be presentable in ways users can perceive
- Operable. Interface elements must be operable by all users
- Understandable. Content and operation must be understandable
- Robust. Content must work with assistive technologies
Key Requirements
Perceivable
- Add alt text to all meaningful images
- Provide captions and transcripts for video and audio
- Ensure sufficient color contrast (4.5:1 for normal text)
- Do not rely on color alone to convey information
Operable
- Full keyboard navigation. Every action possible without a mouse
- Focus visible. Users should see where they are
- No keyboard traps. Users must be able to exit any component
- Provide skip to content links
Understandable
- Clear, plain language
- Consistent navigation
- Error identification and suggestions
- Labels and instructions for forms
Robust
- Proper HTML semantics (use real buttons, not divs)
- ARIA labels where HTML is not enough
- Compatible with screen readers (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver)
Testing Your Site
- Automated tools: axe DevTools, Lighthouse, WAVE
- Manual keyboard testing
- Screen reader testing
- User testing with people with disabilities
How Switch 2 One Helps
We build accessible websites that meet WCAG standards. Book a free strategy session.