Web Accessibility: Why It Matters and How to Get Started

One in five people has some form of disability. If your website isn’t accessible, you’re excluding 20% of potential customers. But accessibility isn’t just about disability — it improves the experience for everyone.

What is Web Accessibility?

Web accessibility means designing and developing websites that people with disabilities can use. This includes people who:

• Are blind or have low vision
• Are deaf or hard of hearing
• Have motor impairments
• Have cognitive disabilities
• Use assistive technologies

Why Accessibility Matters

1. It’s the Right Thing to Do

Everyone deserves equal access to information and services online. Full stop.

2. It’s Good for Business

• Larger audience — 15-20% of people have disabilities
• Better SEO — Accessible sites rank better
• Legal protection — Many countries require accessibility
• Improved UX — Accessibility improvements help everyone

3. It’s Often Required by Law

In the EU, public sector websites must meet accessibility standards. Many private sector requirements are coming too.

The WCAG Guidelines

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) define accessibility standards. There are three levels:

Most organizations aim for WCAG 2.1 AA compliance.

Quick Wins for Accessibility

1. Add Alt Text to Images

Screen readers can’t see images. Alt text describes what’s in the image.

<!-- Bad -->
<img src="team.jpg">

<!-- Good -->
<img src="team.jpg" alt="Our team meeting in the Tirana office">

2. Use Proper Heading Structure

Headings create a document outline. Screen reader users navigate by headings.

<!-- Bad: Skipping levels -->
<h1>Page Title</h1>
<h3>Section</h3>

<!-- Good: Proper hierarchy -->
<h1>Page Title</h1>
<h2>Section</h2>
<h3>Subsection</h3>

3. Ensure Sufficient Color Contrast

Text needs enough contrast against its background. The minimum ratios are:

• 4.5:1 for normal text
• 3:1 for large text (18pt+ or 14pt bold)

Use tools like WebAIM Contrast Checker .

4. Make Everything Keyboard Accessible

Many users can’t use a mouse. Ensure:

• All interactive elements are focusable
• Focus order is logical
• Focus is visible (don’t remove outlines!)

5. Add Proper Form Labels

Every form input needs a label that’s programmatically associated.

<!-- Bad -->
<input type="email" placeholder="Email">

<!-- Good -->
<label for="email">Email</label>
<input type="email" id="email">

Testing Your Site

Automated Tools

Start with these free tools:

• WAVE — Browser extension for quick checks
• Lighthouse — Built into Chrome DevTools
• axe DevTools — Comprehensive browser extension

Manual Testing

Automated tools catch about 30% of issues. Also test:

• Navigate with keyboard only
• Use a screen reader (VoiceOver, NVDA)
• Zoom to 200% and check layout
• Disable images and check comprehension

What We Do Differently

At ueb.al, accessibility is built in from the start:

• ✅ Semantic HTML structure
• ✅ ARIA labels where needed
• ✅ Skip links for keyboard users
• ✅ Sufficient color contrast
• ✅ Focus management
• ✅ Screen reader testing

Every site we build is tested with real assistive technologies.

Common Accessibility Mistakes

🚫 Images without alt text
🚫 Low color contrast
🚫 Missing form labels
🚫 Keyboard traps (can’t escape modals)
🚫 Auto-playing media
🚫 Removing focus outlines

Resources to Learn More

• WebAIM — Practical accessibility resources
• A11y Project — Community-driven guides
• WCAG Quick Reference — Official guidelines

Need an Accessibility Audit?

We can review your existing site and provide:

• Detailed report of accessibility issues
• Prioritized fixes by impact
• Implementation guidance

Contact us to discuss your accessibility needs.