Having a website today isn’t enough, it needs to be accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. That’s where web accessibility standards come in. These standards help ensure that websites are usable by all, regardless of physical or cognitive abilities. But what are these standards, and why should your business care?
Whether you’re running a nonprofit, selling products online, or just maintaining an online presence, understanding accessibility isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s a smart move for SEO, user experience, and legal protection.
What Are Web Accessibility Standards?
Web accessibility standards are guidelines that help developers and designers build websites that can be easily used by people with disabilities. These standards cover a wide range of disabilities, including:
Visual impairments (blindness, color blindness, low vision)
Hearing impairments
Motor disabilities
Cognitive or neurological conditions
The most widely recognized set of accessibility standards is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), developed by the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium). WCAG is considered the international benchmark for accessibility.
A Quick Breakdown of WCAG Principles
WCAG is built on four main principles—often remembered by the acronym POUR:
Perceivable – Information and UI must be presented in ways users can perceive (e.g., alt text for images, transcripts for videos).
Operable – Navigation and interface must be usable via keyboard, not just mouse.
Understandable – Content must be clear and predictable, with readable text and consistent behavior.
Robust – Content must work reliably with assistive technologies like screen readers.
These principles ensure that users with a range of needs can access, navigate, and interact with your website successfully.
Accessibility Levels: A, AA, AAA
WCAG defines three levels of compliance:
Level A – The minimum level of accessibility.
Level AA – The most commonly required level (especially for legal compliance).
Level AAA – The highest level, offering enhanced accessibility.
Most businesses aim for Level AA compliance as it strikes the right balance between usability and feasibility.
Why Following Accessibility Standards Matters
Legal Protection
Many countries, including the U.S., have legal requirements under laws like the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and Section 508. Non-compliance can lead to lawsuits and penalties.Improved SEO
Search engines love accessible websites. Proper headings, image alt text, and clear navigation improve your SEO rankings.Better User Experience
Accessibility often leads to cleaner design and easier navigation, benefiting all users—not just those with disabilities.Expanded Audience Reach
Over 1 billion people globally live with a disability. Making your site accessible opens the door to a larger, often underserved audience.
How to Get Started with Accessibility
Getting compliant with accessibility standards doesn’t mean rebuilding your whole website overnight. Here are small steps you can begin with:
Add alt text to images
Ensure good color contrast for readability
Make all interactive elements keyboard accessible
Use headings properly (H1, H2, etc.) to structure content
Include labels for form fields
Add captions or transcripts to videos
Final Thoughts
Web accessibility isn’t just about compliance, it’s about inclusion, usability, and good digital citizenship. When you design your site to meet accessibility standards, you’re sending a powerful message: Everyone is welcome here.
At CliqAlly, we build modern, user-focused websites that look great, perform smoothly, and work for everyone. Whether you’re starting from scratch or rebuilding an existing site, we can help you get it right.
Need help with your next website project? Get in touch with us and let’s make your site work for everyone.