Website accessibility basics for business owners
An accessible website is one that people can use whatever their eyesight, hearing, movement or device. You don't need to be an expert to check the basics. These five-minute tests catch the problems that affect the most visitors.
Can people read it?
Light grey text on white, or thin text on a busy photo, is hard to read for many people and almost everyone outdoors on a phone. Text needs enough contrast against its background; the WCAG guidelines set a minimum ratio, and free contrast checkers will tell you whether yours passes.
Quick check: read your site on your phone outside in daylight. If you squint, your customers do too.
Does it work when zoomed?
People with weaker eyesight enlarge text. A good site reflows so nothing overlaps or disappears.
Quick check: zoom your browser to 200% on a computer. Everything should still be readable and usable.
Can you use it without a mouse?
Some visitors use only a keyboard or a switch device. Every link, button, menu and form must be reachable with the Tab key, and you should always be able to see where you are.
Quick check: press Tab repeatedly from the top of a page. Can you see which item is selected? Can you open the menu and send the contact form?
Do images have descriptions?
Screen readers read out an image's alt text. Photos that carry meaning, such as a room, a product or a map, need a short description. Decorative images should have empty alt text so they're skipped.
Are forms labelled?
Every field needs a visible label, not just faint hint text inside the box that disappears when you type. Error messages should say what's wrong and how to fix it, not just turn the field red, because colour alone doesn't help everyone.
Are headings in order?
Screen reader users often jump from heading to heading. A page with one main heading and sections in a logical order is easy to navigate; headings chosen only for their size are not. The same structure also helps Google understand the page.
Avoid quick fixes that don't work
Accessibility toolbars and overlay widgets that claim to fix a site with one script often make things worse for people using assistive technology. The real fixes are in the site itself.
My website accessibility service checks sites against WCAG 2.2 AA and fixes what fails. For schools, clinics and public-facing organisations it's especially worth doing; see my school website checklist.