Web accessibility means designing your site so people with disabilities — visual, motor, auditory or cognitive — can perceive, navigate and use it. It benefits every visitor, reduces legal risk and overlaps heavily with SEO and usability.
Accessibility ensures your website works with screen readers, keyboards and assistive technology. It is a legal expectation in many jurisdictions, a large market of users, and a set of practices that improve usability for everyone.
Check your website
See how your site handles web accessibility basics: building sites everyone can use — free, no account needed.
For business owners
Roughly one in five people has a disability. An inaccessible site turns them away and exposes you to legal complaints, which are increasingly common. The good news: most accessibility work — clear structure, good contrast, keyboard support, descriptive links — also improves SEO and usability for all visitors. It is one of the best-aligned investments you can make.
How it works (technical)
Accessibility rests on a few pillars: semantic HTML (proper headings, lists, buttons and landmarks), text alternatives for non-text content, keyboard operability (everything usable without a mouse), sufficient colour contrast, visible focus states, and correct use of ARIA only where native HTML is insufficient. The WCAG guidelines organise these under four principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable and Robust.
Real-world example
A charity discovered its donation form could not be completed with a keyboard — the custom date picker trapped focus. Rebuilding it with accessible components let screen-reader and keyboard users donate, and simplified the flow enough that overall completion rate rose.
Why it matters
Accessibility affects real users, legal compliance and SEO simultaneously. Automated scans catch a meaningful share of issues (missing alt text, poor contrast, unlabelled controls) even though full compliance also needs human testing.
How to fix it
Use semantic HTML: real headings in order, lists, buttons and landmarks.
Add descriptive alt text to meaningful images.
Ensure everything works with the keyboard, with a visible focus indicator.
Check colour contrast meets WCAG AA (4.5:1 for normal text).
Label form fields and test with a screen reader.
Best practices
Prefer native HTML elements over custom widgets.
Test with a keyboard and a screen reader, not just automated tools.
Include people with disabilities in testing where possible.
Common mistakes
Relying only on automated checks, which catch a minority of issues.
Low-contrast text that is hard to read.
Custom controls that cannot be reached or operated by keyboard.
Frequently asked questions
Is accessibility legally required?
In many countries, yes — public sector and often private sites must meet standards like WCAG. Even where not strictly mandated, complaints and lawsuits are increasingly common.
Can a scanner make my site fully accessible?
No. Automated tools catch common issues but real compliance needs manual and assistive-technology testing.
Put this into practice
See how your site scores with Plexa Trust — start with a free scan, then unlock the complete audit on Pro.
Scan your website free