Website accessibility is the inclusive practice of designing and developing websites so that all users—including those with disabilities such as visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, or neurological impairments—can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with web content effectively123. Accessibility also benefits people with situational or temporary disabilities, as well as those facing socio-economic restrictions like limited bandwidth or older technology13.

Key Principles of Website Accessibility

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), outline four main principles known as POUR:

• Perceivable: Information and user interface components must be presented in ways that users can perceive. This includes providing text alternatives for images, captions for videos, and ensuring content is adaptable to different formats (like large print or braille)243.

• Operable: Users must be able to operate the interface and navigate the site. This means ensuring keyboard accessibility, providing enough time to read and use content, avoiding content that causes seizures, and offering clear navigation aids243.

• Understandable: Information and operation of the user interface must be understandable. This includes making text readable and predictable, and helping users avoid and correct mistakes243.

• Robust: Content must be robust enough to be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies like screen readers243.

What You Need to Do to Be Compliant

To ensure your website is accessible and compliant with standards such as WCAG (and, in the U.S., the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA), you should:

• Provide text alternatives for images and non-text content (alt text)543.

• Ensure sufficient color contrast between text and background for readability, and do not rely on color alone to convey information53.

• Enable keyboard navigation so users do not need a mouse to interact with the site43.

• Add captions and transcripts for videos to support users who are deaf or hard of hearing53.

• Design forms with clear labels and instructions and ensure users are notified of errors in an accessible way53.

• Avoid flashing content that could trigger seizures14.

• Use semantic HTML and ARIA roles to help assistive technologies interpret your site3.

• Test your site with users who have disabilities to get real feedback26.

• Regularly audit and scan your site for accessibility issues and maintain ongoing compliance6.

Compliance Standards

• WCAG 2.2 is the current international standard for web accessibility, with three levels: A (minimum), AA (recommended for most sites), and AAA (highest)47.

• ADA compliance in the U.S. generally requires meeting WCAG 2.1 or 2.2 Level AA576.

Summary Checklist for Compliance

• Text alternatives for images and media

• Adequate color contrast

• Keyboard navigability

• Accessible forms and error messages

• Captions and transcripts for videos

• Avoidance of flashing content

• Semantic HTML and ARIA roles

• Regular accessibility audits and user testing

By following these guidelines, you create a more inclusive web experience and reduce legal risk while expanding your audience253.