Accessibility in Website Design: What You Must Include
Accessibility isn’t just a technical requirement—it’s a commitment to making your website usable by everyone, including people with disabilities. In 2025, designing for accessibility is both ethically responsible and strategically smart. It helps you reach a wider audience, improves your SEO, and reduces legal risk. Best of all, it creates a better experience for every user.
The most important principle in accessible design is perceivability. Your content must be available to all users, regardless of how they access it. This means adding alt text to images so screen readers can describe them. It also means ensuring that videos have captions and that all content can be understood without relying solely on color cues.
Keyboard navigation is another essential feature. Many users with motor disabilities rely on keyboards or assistive devices to browse the web. Your site should allow users to navigate using the Tab key, with clear visual focus indicators showing where they are. All interactive elements—buttons, menus, forms—must be fully operable without a mouse.
Contrast and readability are critical for users with visual impairments. Your text must stand out clearly from the background, with a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for body text. Avoid low-contrast color schemes and make sure font sizes are adjustable. Stick to readable typefaces and maintain sufficient line spacing.
Use semantic HTML to give screen readers structure. Properly using header tags (H1, H2, etc.), labels for form fields, and ARIA attributes helps assistive technologies understand the content hierarchy. This improves both accessibility and SEO.
Avoid using auto-playing content or flashing animations, which can cause issues for users with sensory sensitivities or epilepsy. If you use motion or sound, always give users a way to pause or disable it.
Accessible forms should include clear labels, instructions, and error messages. Required fields should be indicated both visually and programmatically, and any form errors should be announced by screen readers. Always test your forms for both usability and compatibility with assistive tech.
Mobile accessibility is just as important as desktop. Ensure that tap targets are large enough, interactive elements are spaced properly, and text remains legible without zooming. Responsive design helps with this, but don’t assume your site is mobile-accessible without testing.
Accessibility also means content clarity. Use plain language, break text into short paragraphs, and include headings to help users scan the page. Avoid overly complex jargon or industry-specific language unless it’s necessary—and define it when you do use it.
Legal compliance is increasingly a factor. In the U.S., websites may fall under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and lawsuits related to inaccessible websites have been rising. Following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1 or higher) is the best way to ensure compliance and minimize legal exposure.
Tools like WAVE, Axe, and Lighthouse can help you audit your site for accessibility issues. But automated tools only catch about 30% of potential problems. Manual testing, user feedback, and working with accessibility experts are crucial for a truly inclusive site.
At Orbital Marketing Agency, accessibility isn’t an afterthought—it’s built into every design. We believe every user deserves an equal experience online, and we help our clients create sites that are usable, inclusive, and future-proof.
Schedule Your Free Custom Website Demonstration today and see how an accessible, user-friendly site can help your business reach more people—before you spend a penny.
The most important principle in accessible design is perceivability. Your content must be available to all users, regardless of how they access it. This means adding alt text to images so screen readers can describe them. It also means ensuring that videos have captions and that all content can be understood without relying solely on color cues.
Keyboard navigation is another essential feature. Many users with motor disabilities rely on keyboards or assistive devices to browse the web. Your site should allow users to navigate using the Tab key, with clear visual focus indicators showing where they are. All interactive elements—buttons, menus, forms—must be fully operable without a mouse.
Contrast and readability are critical for users with visual impairments. Your text must stand out clearly from the background, with a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for body text. Avoid low-contrast color schemes and make sure font sizes are adjustable. Stick to readable typefaces and maintain sufficient line spacing.
Use semantic HTML to give screen readers structure. Properly using header tags (H1, H2, etc.), labels for form fields, and ARIA attributes helps assistive technologies understand the content hierarchy. This improves both accessibility and SEO.
Avoid using auto-playing content or flashing animations, which can cause issues for users with sensory sensitivities or epilepsy. If you use motion or sound, always give users a way to pause or disable it.
Accessible forms should include clear labels, instructions, and error messages. Required fields should be indicated both visually and programmatically, and any form errors should be announced by screen readers. Always test your forms for both usability and compatibility with assistive tech.
Mobile accessibility is just as important as desktop. Ensure that tap targets are large enough, interactive elements are spaced properly, and text remains legible without zooming. Responsive design helps with this, but don’t assume your site is mobile-accessible without testing.
Accessibility also means content clarity. Use plain language, break text into short paragraphs, and include headings to help users scan the page. Avoid overly complex jargon or industry-specific language unless it’s necessary—and define it when you do use it.
Legal compliance is increasingly a factor. In the U.S., websites may fall under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and lawsuits related to inaccessible websites have been rising. Following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1 or higher) is the best way to ensure compliance and minimize legal exposure.
Tools like WAVE, Axe, and Lighthouse can help you audit your site for accessibility issues. But automated tools only catch about 30% of potential problems. Manual testing, user feedback, and working with accessibility experts are crucial for a truly inclusive site.
At Orbital Marketing Agency, accessibility isn’t an afterthought—it’s built into every design. We believe every user deserves an equal experience online, and we help our clients create sites that are usable, inclusive, and future-proof.
Schedule Your Free Custom Website Demonstration today and see how an accessible, user-friendly site can help your business reach more people—before you spend a penny.