Web Accessibility Matters to Everyone
Why Accessibility Is Now a Discoverability Strategy
Prioritizing digital accessibility—equal access—benefits everyone, and has never been more important. The cost of not making the effort is growing. Why is it often overlooked?
So, what is Web Accessibility?
Wikipedia has a good definition, but in short, it means making your site accessible to everyone, regardless of their individual circumstances, abilities or bandwidth restrictions. Web accessibility enables sites to be used and understood by as many people as possible.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Accessible sites reach more people, perform better in search and AI, and reduce legal risk.
- Accessibility is a program, not a project. Start with high-impact fixes and plan for ongoing monitoring.
- The EU Accessibility Act is in force if you serve EU consumers.
There are two aspects to web accessibility, what you see and how it works. The W3C Web Accessibility Initiative is actively developing and establishing guidelines and standards (WCAG) for building accessible websites. Visual design is one part but, how the site is built has the lion’s share of the impact. In order to create a feature-rich experience without sacrificing accessibility, it is important to work with a partner who understands and implements the WCAG standards correctly.
The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect.
Tim Berners-Lee,
W3C Director and inventor of the World Wide Web
How will it help my organization?
By definition, accessible websites are easy to use by everyone in every circumstance. This translates to a better user experience for every visitor—which means more time spent on your site, lower bounce rates, and higher engagement. And, having an accessible site builds your digital credibility. It’s not a coincidence that many SEO-optimization techniques, and AI evaluation rubrics, are also accessibility best practices.
Where do I start?
Some organizations tackle accessibility problems incrementally, one at a time. Others address them as part of a larger redesign—a ground-up reimagining of your website is an excellent opportunity to ensure it’s accessible to everyone. Whatever your approach, the first step is to find the right partner (or partners) to support you in the rebuild or upgrades. These upgrades can take time, so focus on what has the greatest impact for your site visitors first.
And, be sure to craft a strategy for ongoing monitoring, because every new image, video, and article has the potential to knock you off track. There are great tools (AI-powered and more traditional) but manual testing remains essential. Add an Accessibility page to your website outlining your efforts, how you are measuring and a way to give feedback. Don’t forget your PDFs too.
What if I don’t do it?
Even in our “politically dynamic” US environment, accessibility laws are on the books and likely to be enforced. Litigation is commonplace, even if the federal government becomes slower to enforce. The European Accessibility Act is now in force. Any company serving EU consumers, including US companies, must meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA for websites, apps, and customer-facing digital documents. Penalties vary by country but reach €100,000 per violation in Germany and up to 10% of annual revenue in the Netherlands. The first enforcement cases are already moving through French courts. “Good enough” isn’t a strategy anymore.
Ideas On Purpose can help
Contemplating a website upgrade? Consider engaging an expert. Insight-backed digital communication is integral to the what we do. Ideas On Purpose has years of experience designing and developing sites that meet W3C standards, creating accessible PDFs and partnering with companies to create accessible communications.
Check out some of the accessible, stakeholder-pleasing websites, sustainability reports and branded impact communications IOP has created—and email us to get in touch if you need help with yours.
Photo by Alp Duran on Unsplash
Published 2022, last update April 2026