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4 Things Web Designers Should Know About Website Accessibility

Published on June 23, 2025

 

In an era where websites are essential tools for communication, commerce, and community, ensuring they’re accessible to everyone isn’t just good practice—it’s essential. As a web designer, you're in a unique position to create digital experiences that include people of all abilities.

Accessibility goes beyond checking a legal box; it’s about reaching more users, improving site performance, and building inclusive, future-ready websites. Let’s explore the four important things you need to know to integrate accessibility into your design workflow and build better websites for everyone.



1. Accessibility Improves the Experience for Everyone

While accessibility is vital for users with disabilities, the benefits extend to all users—including seniors, mobile users, and people with temporary limitations (like a broken arm or a noisy environment). Here’s how:

 

• Improved readability helps people with vision challenges and mobile users on small screens.
 

• Simplified navigation benefits users who aren’t tech-savvy.
 

• Captions on videos assist both hearing-impaired users and people watching without sound.
 

When you design with accessibility in mind, you’re removing friction across the board. Your websites become easier to use, engage a wider audience, and often see lower bounce rates and higher conversions. Plus, many accessibility practices—such as using alt text, proper heading structures, and faster loading times—also enhance SEO performance.

 

Accessible design isn’t restrictive. It’s smart, user-focused design.

 


2. Know the Four Principles of Accessible Design (WCAG)

 

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide a global standard for accessibility. They’re built around four core principles—Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (POUR).

Here's what each means for your design process:


Perceivable
 

Content must be presented in ways that users can perceive:

 

• Provide alt text for all images so screen readers can describe them.
 

• Include captions and transcripts for video and audio content.
 

• Ensure text can be resized without breaking layout.
 

• Use color contrast that makes content easily distinguishable.
 

Operable


Users must be able to navigate and interact with the site:

 

• Ensure your site is keyboard-navigable.
 

• Avoid flashing elements that could trigger seizures.
 

• Make sure interactive elements (menus, buttons, forms) are easy to access for users with motor impairments.
 

Understandable
 

Information and interface must be clear:

 

• Use simple, consistent language.
 

• Keep navigation predictable and organized.
 

• Provide clear labels and error messages in forms.
 

Robust
 

Content must be compatible with different technologies:

 

• Use clean, semantic HTML to support screen readers and assistive tools.
 

• Ensure your site works well across various browsers and devices.
 

Following these principles ensures that your websites are more inclusive and ready for the future of digital access.

 


3. Small Changes Make a Big Impact

 

You don’t need to overhaul your design process to start making a difference. Even small accessibility improvements can greatly enhance usability. Here are a few key steps:

 

• Add Descriptive Alt Text: Every image should have alt text that explains what it shows. For example, instead of “image1.jpg,” use “Smiling barista handing a coffee to a customer.”
 

• Use Descriptive Link Text: Avoid “click here.” Instead, use links like “Download the event schedule” or “Learn about our services.”
 

• Enable Keyboard Navigation: Test your site using only the keyboard to ensure users can move through menus and forms.
 

• Ensure Color Contrast: Use tools like WebAIM’s contrast checker to confirm that text is legible for users with low vision.
 

• Label Form Fields Clearly: Every input should have an associated label that screen readers can detect.
 

• Make Videos Accessible: Include captions and transcripts for all video and audio content.
 

These adjustments don’t require advanced coding skills, but they dramatically improve inclusivity and usability.

 


4. Accessibility Adds Value to Your Design Services

 

Including accessibility in your web design offering doesn’t just benefit end users—it’s a strategic business move. Here’s how it adds value:

 

• Wider Reach: Over 1 billion people globally live with a disability. Making your sites accessible allows businesses to reach a much broader audience.
 

• Enhanced Reputation: Clients see you as a thoughtful, inclusive, and forward-thinking designer. Accessibility shows you care about quality, and that builds long-term trust.
 

• Enhanced SEO and Conversions: Accessible design often overlaps with SEO best practices. Proper use of headings, alt tags, and clean HTML can help your sites rank higher and convert better.
 

• Legal Readiness: While it’s not a legal requirement for a site to be ADA-compliant now, that may change in the future. Accessible design helps clients avoid lawsuits and stay ahead of evolving regulations.
 

• More Referrals: Businesses and nonprofits that value inclusivity may be more likely to recommend a designer who understands and builds accessible websites.
 

In short, accessibility is more than a “nice-to-have”—it’s a competitive advantage.

 


Conclusion

 

As a web designer, you have a unique power—and responsibility—to build websites that serve all users equally. By applying accessible design practices, you help bridge the digital divide, improve usability, and boost the success of the websites you create.


Fortunately, with SiteSwan, building accessible websites is not only possible—it’s simple. The platform supports third-party ADA compliance tools, making it easy to integrate accessibility widgets like UserWay and EqualWeb.
 

Start with small steps, stay informed, and make accessibility a natural part of your design process. It’s good for your users, great for your clients, and smart for your business.

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