Accessibility Issues
Web accessibility ensures that your website is usable by everyone, including people with disabilities. Accessible websites are required for legal compliance, improve user experience for all visitors, and expand your potential audience.
Why Accessibility Matters
Legal Compliance
Legal Requirements:
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to websites
- Section 508 requires federal websites to be accessible
- WCAG 2.1 Level AA is the common legal standard
- Non-compliance can result in lawsuits and fines
International Standards:
- European Accessibility Act (EAA)
- UK Equality Act
- Canadian Accessibility Act
- Australian Disability Discrimination Act
Business Impact
Expanded Audience:
- 1 in 4 adults in the US has some type of disability
- 15% of global population experiences some form of disability
- Accessible sites reach more potential customers
- Inclusive design benefits everyone
SEO Benefits:
- Many accessibility fixes improve SEO
- Alt text helps image search rankings
- Semantic HTML improves content understanding
- Better user experience signals to search engines
Improved User Experience:
- Clear navigation helps all users
- Good color contrast benefits users in bright sunlight
- Keyboard navigation helps power users
- Accessible content is more maintainable
Accessibility Principles (WCAG)
Perceivable
Information and UI components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive:
- Provide text alternatives for non-text content
- Provide captions and alternatives for multimedia
- Create content that can be presented in different ways
- Make it easier for users to see and hear content
Operable
UI components and navigation must be operable:
- Make all functionality available from keyboard
- Give users enough time to read and use content
- Don't design content that causes seizures
- Help users navigate and find content
Understandable
Information and UI operation must be understandable:
- Make text readable and understandable
- Make content appear and operate in predictable ways
- Help users avoid and correct mistakes
Robust
Content must be robust enough for interpretation by assistive technologies:
- Maximize compatibility with current and future tools
- Use valid, semantic HTML
- Ensure compatibility with assistive technologies
Common Accessibility Issues
Visual Issues
- Missing or inadequate alt text for images
- Insufficient color contrast
- Text that can't be resized
- Information conveyed only through color
- Poor focus indicators
Interaction Issues
- Non-keyboard accessible functionality
- Missing or incorrect ARIA labels
- Forms without proper labels
- Unclear link text ("click here")
- Inaccessible modal dialogs
Content Issues
- Unclear page structure (heading hierarchy)
- Missing page titles
- Complex language without alternatives
- Auto-playing media
- Time-limited content without controls
Technical Issues
- Invalid HTML
- Missing language attribute
- Improper use of ARIA
- Inaccessible PDFs
- Flash or outdated technologies
Diagnostic Tools
Automated Testing Tools
Browser Extensions:
- WAVE - Visual feedback about accessibility
- axe DevTools - Comprehensive accessibility testing
- Lighthouse - Built into Chrome DevTools
- IBM Equal Access Checker - Automated testing
Online Tools:
- WAVE (WebAIM) - Free online accessibility checker
- AChecker - Comprehensive accessibility checker
- Pa11y - Automated testing tool
Manual Testing
Keyboard Testing:
- Unplug mouse or don't use trackpad
- Navigate site using only
Tab,Shift+Tab,Enter,Space,Arrowkeys - Verify all functionality is accessible
- Check visible focus indicators
Screen Reader Testing:
- NVDA (Windows, free)
- JAWS (Windows, commercial)
- VoiceOver (Mac, built-in)
- TalkBack (Android, built-in)
Color Contrast Checkers:
- Contrast Checker (WebAIM)
- Colorable
- Chrome DevTools (built-in contrast checker)
Issue Guides
Missing Alt Text
Issue: Images without alternative text descriptions
Impact: Screen reader users can't understand image content
Quick Fix: Add descriptive alt attributes to all images
Color Contrast
Issue: Insufficient contrast between text and background Impact: Users with low vision or color blindness can't read content Quick Fix: Ensure text meets WCAG contrast ratio requirements (4.5:1 for normal text)
Keyboard Navigation
Issue: Functionality not accessible via keyboard Impact: Users who can't use a mouse are excluded Quick Fix: Ensure all interactive elements are keyboard accessible with visible focus
Missing Skip Links
Issue: No skip navigation links for keyboard users Impact: Keyboard users must tab through entire navigation on every page Quick Fix: Add "Skip to main content" link as first focusable element
Improper Heading Structure
Issue: Heading hierarchy doesn't follow logical order (H1 → H2 → H3) Impact: Screen reader users can't navigate page structure effectively Quick Fix: Use sequential heading levels without skipping (no H1 → H3)
Ambiguous Link Text
Issue: Links with vague text like "click here" or "read more" Impact: Screen reader users can't determine link destination from link lists Quick Fix: Use descriptive link text that makes sense out of context
Missing Video Captions
Issue: Videos without captions or transcripts Impact: Deaf and hard-of-hearing users cannot access video content Quick Fix: Add WebVTT caption files or enable captions on video platform
Touch Target Size
Issue: Interactive elements too small for touch/motor accessibility Impact: Users with motor disabilities and mobile users struggle to tap accurately Quick Fix: Ensure all interactive elements are minimum 44×44 pixels
Accessibility Testing Checklist
Quick Accessibility Audit
Visual Check:
- All images have appropriate alt text
- Text has sufficient color contrast
- Content is readable when zoomed to 200%
- Focus indicators are visible
- Headings follow logical hierarchy (H1 → H2 → H3)
Keyboard Check:
- Can navigate entire site with keyboard only
- Tab order is logical
- All interactive elements are reachable
- Modals/dropdowns work with keyboard
- No keyboard traps
Screen Reader Check:
- Page title is descriptive
- Landmarks are properly labeled
- Forms have associated labels
- Error messages are announced
- Dynamic content updates are announced
Content Check:
- Links have descriptive text
- Videos have captions
- Audio has transcripts
- Content doesn't rely on color alone
- Language is set in HTML
Accessibility Standards
WCAG 2.1 Conformance Levels
Level A (Minimum):
- Basic accessibility features
- Addresses most critical barriers
- Not sufficient for legal compliance
Level AA (Recommended):
- Industry standard for legal compliance
- Balances accessibility with feasibility
- Required by most legislation
Level AAA (Enhanced):
- Highest level of accessibility
- Not required by law
- May not be achievable for all content
Common WCAG Success Criteria
Level A:
- 1.1.1 Non-text Content (alt text)
- 2.1.1 Keyboard accessibility
- 3.1.1 Language of page
- 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value
Level AA:
- 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) - 4.5:1 ratio
- 1.4.5 Images of text (avoid)
- 2.4.6 Headings and labels
- 3.2.3 Consistent navigation
Remediation Strategy
Priority Approach
High Priority (Fix First):
- Missing alt text on informative images
- Color contrast failures
- Keyboard accessibility issues
- Form label associations
- Heading hierarchy problems
Medium Priority: 2. Link text clarity 3. ARIA label improvements 4. Focus indicator visibility 5. Skip navigation links 6. Error message clarity
Lower Priority:
- Enhanced ARIA landmarks
- Additional descriptive text
- AAA level enhancements
- Multimedia transcripts (beyond captions)
Implementation Process
Audit Current State:
- Run automated tests
- Conduct manual testing
- Document all issues
Prioritize Issues:
- Focus on high-impact issues first
- Consider legal requirements
- Balance effort vs. impact
Implement Fixes:
- Follow issue-specific guides
- Test changes thoroughly
- Verify with assistive technologies
Maintain Accessibility:
- Include accessibility in development workflow
- Train content creators
- Regular accessibility audits
- Monitor user feedback