Many businesses and creators believe accessibility is “nice to have.” They see it as something to add later. It is often a box to check off the list when convenient.
The truth is, digital accessibility should be essential from day one.
It’s about respecting all users and removing barriers that exclude people with disabilities from accessing information, services, or community online.
Yet, when you look at the internet, you’ll find countless sites that fall short.
- Poor color contrast makes text hard to read.
- Navigation relies solely on clicking, leaving keyboard users stranded.
- Important images lack descriptions for screen readers.
- Videos have no captions.
These are just a few all-too-common barriers that make your site less inclusive and alienate a significant part of your audience.
Why Accessibility Matters
Making your site accessible means reaching more people.
Accessible sites perform better in search rankings since accessible content is often clearer and more structured.
Accessible design benefits not just disabled users but also older adults, people with temporary disabilities, and anyone navigating online spaces.
Accessibility reflects your brand values and signals that you care about inclusion, equity, and real-world impact.
True accessibility is more than just flashy statements or simple fixes added later.
It’s an ongoing commitment to thoughtful design and development that anticipates diverse user needs.
How to Check your Accessibility?
- Keyboard navigability: Can users navigate your whole site without a mouse?
- Screen reader compatibility: Does your content speak clearly for those hearing it rather than seeing it?
- Sufficient color contrast and scalable text: Are your colors easy to distinguish? Can text size be adjusted without breaking layout?
- Alternative texts on images: Do you describe visuals so users can understand context with assistive technology?
- Accessible forms and error messages: Are form inputs labeled clearly and errors communicated understandably?
- Captions and transcripts for multimedia: Do you provide captions on videos and transcripts for audio content?
The Accessibility Checklist Isn’t Enough
Many website owners rely on automated tools, widgets, 3rd party software or quick audits from unqualified and inexperienced people.
While these tools are valuable starting points, real accessibility requires human testing from qualifed disabled testers and continuous remediation.
Automated scans might flag missing alt text or contrast issues. But can’t evaluate if the reading order makes sense or if a screen reader experience is smooth.
Only user testing with people who have disabilities can reveal those deeper pain points. Because they live through access barriers everyday.
Taking Steps Toward True Accessibility
Making your website truly accessible isn’t a one-time project. It’s a continuous journey requiring planning, education, and commitment.
If you don’t commit to accessibility in your online presence, you will never do it successfully.
Take steps to start your accessibility journey:
Educate your team: Make sure everyone who creates or updates content understands basic accessibility principles.
Prioritize accessibility in design and development: Incorporate accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 or newer) from the start.
Test early and often: Combine automated tools with manual tests and user feedback.
Create an accessibility statement: Be transparent about your efforts, shortcomings, and plans to improve.
Engage your users: Invite feedback from disabled people to guide improvements.
Checkout this audit guide: How to Conduct a Website Accessibility Audit: Complete WCAG 2.2 Guide for Small Businesses (2025)
Tas The Artist 
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