How can a business be more accessible with their website?

Z Yasin
January 21, 2025

Most businesses avoid this question or even start to make their site accessible because:

The complexity of knowing where to start making it accessible
What is the minimum level required to get by
Expensive costs
My business is small
My products or services are not designed for people with disabilities
I am not a brick-and-mortar business
I don’t have employees, or I have a small workforce

Busting the myths and the facts of website accessibility.

WCAG guidelines are extensive and yes unless you know about coding a website you will need someone to help you fix your site to be compliant.
Starting to change features for an accessible website really starts with the design and look and a lot of accessibility features can be addressed with design and applying some simple logic and consideration to your web traffic visitors.
Talk and connect with an accessibility specialist to understand where to start. Most offer free advice on how or where to get started. Connect with the WD. People working in this area advocate for inclusion for all and will share the correct route to take.
If a web developer suggests the solution is to add a free widget or plugin, be warned there is no free, easy solution to make a site 100% compliant. Many lawsuits are raised because these plugins offer limited options and sometimes hinder the users with a screen reader.
Only people with screen readers need to have a website accessible again a myth, although this group required additional coding to help navigate a website most lawsuits are raised on the basis that the free plugins are not screen reader compatible or the website is not readable or function to screen readers.
ADA law is only for users in USA, although these laws are for decimating for American users there are international laws that also can be considered
- Section 508 of the Rehabilitations Act
- EAA – European Accessibility Act
- EN301549 – European Accessibility Standard for digital practices
- ACA – Accessible Canda Act
- IS 5568 – Isreal Standard
- AODA – Canada Ontario
- Stanca Act Compliance – Italian Law
- Equality Act 2010 – UK Accessibility
- BITV, BGG, and BFSG (starting 2025) Germany’s accessibility laws (penalties of up to €100,000 for non-compliance after June 2025)

Tips for Improving Your Website Accessibility.

Many websites fall short on accessibility, which can result in legal risks and missed opportunities to engage with a broader audience. Here are some actionable tips to get you started and help avoid potential fines. A common question we hear is: Can you make my website 100% accessible? The answer isn’t straightforward. Achieving 100% compliance is nearly impossible due to rapidly evolving technology and the diverse needs of users. However, the more compliance you achieve—and the more effort you can demonstrate—the stronger your position will be in the eyes of the law.

Using WCAG 2.2 Level AA as your standard is a great place to start. Every website is unique, and not all users have the same tools or needs. The goal is to accommodate as many users as possible while continuously working to improve accessibility.

Accessibility Tips to Enhance Your Website

User Friendly Navigation– Test your site’s ease of navigation. Ask friends or individuals less familiar with technology, like grandparents or retirees, to explore it. If they find tasks confusing or difficult to complete, it’s time to rethink your site’s navigation and user experience.
Easy to Read Content– Keep your content simple and clear—think 8th-grade reading level. Complex language can drive users away, regardless of whether they have disabilities.
Clear Page Titles and Headings – Use descriptive page titles and break content into sections with headings and subheadings. This improves readability and helps users quickly find what they’re looking for.
Functional Links -Test your site for broken links or vague link text. Links should clearly explain their purpose, such as “Learn more about our services” instead of “Click here.”
Accessible Text Fonts and Sizes – Avoid small fonts (e.g., 10pt) and hard-to-read script fonts. Stick to clean, legible fonts with sufficient size to improve readability for all users.
Accessible Videos – Ensure your videos include subtitles and avoid auto-playing them, which can be disruptive.
Minimize Distracting Animations – Flashing elements and animations might look appealing but can be distracting or even harmful to users with certain disabilities, such as epilepsy or ADHD.
Publish a Web Accessibility Statement – Share your commitment to accessibility by publishing a statement on your website. Be honest: outline what improvements you’ve made and what you’re working on. Note that a statement alone won’t shield you from liability if your site has significant accessibility issues, so focus on tangible improvements.