To have a great website, it needs to look good, load quickly, and be accessible to everyone. For many people, browsing the web can be challenging if a site isn’t designed with accessibility in mind.
Think of it this way: if your shop had a door too narrow for wheelchairs or lights too dim to read, some customers wouldn’t be able to visit. It's the same online when a website isn’t accessible.
Creating an accessible website means that everyone can browse, learn, and make purchases with ease. It’s also great for business. Accessible websites reach more people, perform better in search engines, and help your brand stand out for the right reasons.
In this blog, we’ll explain what accessibility means, why it matters, and how your business can start building a more inclusive web presence.
What is website accessibility?
Website accessibility means designing and building websites that are accessible to everyone, regardless of ability or device. It includes people with visual, hearing, motor, or cognitive impairments, as well as those who use assistive tools like screen readers or voice navigation.
But accessibility isn’t just for people with permanent disabilities. Many of us benefit from it every day. For example:
Reading your phone screen in bright sunlight
Watching a video with subtitles in a noisy café
Using one hand to shop online while holding a baby or a coffee
When a site is accessible, it simply works better for everyone.
Understanding WCAG compliance
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the international standards for web accessibility, created by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
These guidelines are built around four key principles, known as POUR:
Perceivable: People must be able to see or hear your content (for example, by adding alt text to images or captions to videos).
Operable: Your website should be easy to use with different input methods, not just a mouse.
Understandable: The content and navigation should be clear, consistent, and easy to follow.
Robust: Your site should work well across browsers, devices, and assistive technologies.
WCAG has three levels of compliance:
Level A – the minimum standard
Level AA – the most common goal for businesses
Level AAA – the highest standard, often used for public sector or specialist websites
For most companies, aiming for WCAG 2.1 or 2.2 Level AA is the right approach. It strikes a balance between technical accessibility and practical business needs.
Why accessibility matters
1. Reach more customers
Over 1.3 billion people worldwide live with some form of disability - that’s about 16% of the global population. In the UK, that number is around 14 million. If your website isn’t accessible, you may be unintentionally excluding a large audience.
An accessible website welcomes everyone, from a visually impaired customer using a screen reader to an older visitor with limited mobility. It also shows that your business genuinely cares about its customers. The result is a more loyal customer base and a website that works for all.
2. It’s a legal requirement
In the UK, web accessibility isn’t just good practice - it’s the law. Under the Equality Act 2010, businesses must make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to make sure their services (including websites) are accessible to everyone.
Public sector organisations have additional obligations under the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018, which require compliance with the WCAG 2.1 Level AA standard.
Even if your business isn’t in the public sector, following these standards is the best way to avoid complaints, protect your reputation, and show responsibility as a brand.
3. Accessibility improves SEO
Good accessibility and good SEO go hand in hand. Many of the techniques that make a site accessible also help it rank better in search engines.
Start by adding alt text that provides context for both users and Google, and use clear headings and structured HTML, as this helps search engines crawl and understand your content.
Including transcripts and captions for videos boosts engagement and visibility, and optimising for mobile and page speed improves both usability and rankings.
By making your website accessible, you’re also helping it get discovered by more people online. It's a win-win.
4. Better user experience for everyone
Accessibility isn’t just about compliance - it’s about usability.
A site that’s easy to read, navigate, and understand is better for every visitor. Features such as straightforward navigation, readable fonts, logical page structures, strong colour contrast, and keyboard navigation all make your website smoother to use. When visitors can find what they need quickly and easily, they stay longer, engage more, and are far more likely to make a purchase or enquiry.
5. It shows your brand cares
An accessible website reflects your brand’s values. It demonstrates your commitment to inclusion, empathy, and equal access. In today’s world, customers want to buy from businesses that share their values.
By investing in accessibility, you’re sending a message that your business is professional, forward-thinking, and people-focused. That’s something customers remember.
Inclusive design: thinking beyond compliance
Accessibility is often about meeting specific technical standards, but inclusive design takes it a step further. Inclusive design is about considering the full range of human diversity - ability, background, age, and circumstance - right from the start. Instead of adding accessibility fixes later, it builds inclusion into the foundation of your website. Here are a few ways to apply inclusive design principles:
Use plain, straightforward language.
Offer multiple ways to navigate (mouse, keyboard, touch, or voice).
Choose colours with enough contrast for easy readability.
Provide helpful feedback when someone makes an error.
Test your site with real users, including those who use assistive tools.
When inclusivity is built in from the start, your website feels more natural, friendly, and user-centred - exactly what people want from a modern business.
How to make your website more accessible
Improving accessibility doesn’t have to be complicated - small, consistent steps make a big difference.
Begin by auditing your site using tools like WAVE or Axe to identify issues, and then address key barriers, such as missing alt text, poor contrast, or unclear links. Follow WCAG 2.1 or 2.2 Level AA as your checklist, test your site using a keyboard or screen reader, and keep accessibility part of your regular updates.
These simple actions will help you create a website that’s both compliant and welcoming to everyone.
Accessibility is good for business
Making your website accessible is also about creating connections. An accessible site allows everyone to explore, learn, and engage with your business online. It improves user experience, supports your SEO efforts, and shows that you value inclusivity and fairness.
Whether you’re improving your current site or planning a new one, now’s the ideal time to make accessibility part of your strategy.
If you’d like to build a truly accessible website in Cardiff or need friendly advice on inclusive web design, get in touch with our friendly team.
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