Web accessibility: why it’s important and what you need to know
Discover the importance of web accessibility and learn practical tips to make your website inclusive for all users.
What is web accessibility? Learn the fundamentals of accessible web design, why it matters, and how it ensures inclusive digital experiences for all users, including those with disabilities.
Vladimir Dmitriev
Digital Accessibility Expert at Attico
Over the years, I’ve worked on projects aimed at improving web accessibility and helping businesses understand why it matters. No matter the size or industry, one thing keeps surfacing again and again: overlooked, underestimated, and often misunderstood accessibility.
Sometimes, I join a project that already looks “done.” The designs are sharp. The content is live. The client is excited. But within the first ten minutes of testing, I realize that large parts of the site are completely unusable for a portion of the audience.
“It’s working fine,” someone will say. But it’s not working for everyone, and that’s the whole point.
This article is a ground-up look at what web accessibility really means. Not just in terms of compliance or checklists, but in terms of real people trying to use your product. I’ll share practical advice, explain the most common failures, and walk you through what it takes to get it right.
Let’s begin by asking the question that many still hesitate to ask out loud: what is web accessibility?
It’s the practice of making websites and digital products usable by everyone, regardless of ability, technology, or environment. That includes users with:
When I explain web accessibility to clients, I don’t lead with legal obligations. I talk about the human side.
“Accessibility is about designing for reality,” I tell them. “And reality is messy.”
Not everyone uses a mouse. Not everyone sees color the same way. Not everyone understands layouts the same way. That’s why the goal of web accessibility is to build something resilient, something that works across all kinds of users, technologies, and conditions.
Here’s a number that surprises people: over 1.3 billion people globally (according to the World Health Organization) live with some form of disability.
But when we talk about web accessibility, we’re not only talking about permanent disabilities. Think about:
Elderly users with slower reflexes or deteriorating vision
Parents using phones while carrying their kids
Office workers in loud environments trying to read subtitles
Power users who navigate entirely by keyboard
“Everyone benefits from accessibility at some point,” I remind teams. “It’s not just about a minority — it’s about humanity.”
This is why web accessibility is a foundational part of good user experience. It isn’t a bolt-on. It’s not optional. It’s core.
Many businesses treat accessibility as a checkbox. But let’s talk about what happens when it’s missing and what it costs.
You’re legally vulnerable
The web accessibility standards outlined by WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) are increasingly tied to legal compliance. In the EU, the European Accessibility Act makes web accessibility mandatory for many digital services starting in June 2025. In the U.S., lawsuits under the Americans with Disabilities Act are increasing every year.
I’ve seen clients scramble to meet compliance deadlines, not because they were careless but because they were unaware.
“We had no idea we were non-compliant,” one product owner told me. “We just assumed modern frameworks handled it.”
They don’t. And by the time you realize it, it might already be too late — your product is live, users are excluded, and legal pressure is mounting.
You’re losing users
Here’s the thing: users with accessibility needs often don’t complain. They leave.
A missing label, a skipped heading, a broken form field — these may seem like small oversights, but for someone using assistive technology, they can make a service unusable. Instead of reaching out or submitting feedback, many users simply leave.
The result? You lose potential customers often without even knowing it.
You’re undermining your brand
Modern users expect inclusive design. If your site works well only for some, it sends a message: “This wasn’t built for you.” Inaccessible design isn’t just an oversight; it’s a form of exclusion. And in a competitive market, that can hurt more than you think.
The good news is that you can start fixing things right now. The first step is to use a web accessibility checker.
Here are a few tools I recommend:
Powerful, developer-friendly, and integrates with your browser.
Visualizes your heading hierarchy to spot structural problems.
Helps track tab navigation and focus traps.
These tools can catch a wide range of issues, from contrast problems to missing ARIA roles.
But here’s the key:
“No tool replaces human judgment,” I always say. “A web accessibility checker is a flashlight, not a map.”
Automated tools can get you part of the way. But a full web accessibility audit should also include:
For web development teams, especially those using Drupal, I recommend running these checks alongside a structured Drupal QA process. Many issues stem from view templates, dynamic blocks, or inconsistent content entry, and QA helps surface these problems in real-world flows.
Aligned with our commitment to promoting an accessible internet, we are now offering free accessibility audits.
Almost every regulation around the world references WCAG. But if you’ve ever opened the official docs, you know it can be overwhelming.
So here’s how I summarize the web accessibility standards for teams:
Can users perceive all information? (alt text, captions, logical structure)
Can users interact with everything using any input method?
Is the interface consistent, predictable, and clear?
Does it work reliably across devices and assistive technologies?
We convert this into a working web accessibility checklist that includes:
“Standards matter,” I tell devs, “but usability comes first. If it meets WCAG but still confuses users — it’s not accessible.”
After years of running web accessibility audits, I can tell you exactly where most teams fail. It’s rarely in advanced ARIA patterns or obscure edge cases.
It’s the basics.
with missing or duplicated labels
without accessible names (“Click here” isn’t enough)
that trap focus and never return it
with no controls or pause functionality
below WCAG thresholds
without proper <th> and <scope> usage
And yes, many of these are shipped by large companies with full QA teams. Why? Because no one tested them using a screen reader, with one hand, or under stress.
“I don’t need more tools,” one accessibility lead told me. “I need developers to slow down and think.”
A web accessibility consultant brings more than a list of errors. They bring perspective.
When I’m brought into a project, I simulate real-world experiences: keyboard-only use, screen magnification, slow internet, high-contrast mode. I test workflows end-to-end, not just components in isolation.
And I guide teams through practical fixes, not vague warnings.
“A consultant doesn’t just flag problems,” I explain. “We help build habits.”
We also help teams shift from “reactive” to “proactive.” Instead of scrambling to patch, you start designing with accessibility in mind from day one.
If there’s one thing I wish more teams understood, it’s this: web accessibility isn’t something you add after launch.
It has to be part of your workflow from the start.
Here’s how we help teams build a real process:
Use a web accessibility checker in your dev workflow.
Don’t just test after dev. Run audits on Figma files.
Add web accessibility testing to your test plans.
Use a shared web accessibility checklist.
Schedule full web accessibility audits every quarter.
Designers, devs, PMs — everyone needs to know the basics.
Someone needs to be accountable for accessibility outcomes.
And when you’re doing a major redesign or system migration? Bring in a team that provides web accessibility services from day one. You’ll save time, money, and headaches later.
We do this as part of our full-cycle Drupal consultancy, especially when accessibility is a legal or contractual requirement.
I’ve worked on large platforms with hundreds of components, multiple content creators, and third-party embeds. In these environments, the hard part isn’t just building accessible features — it’s making sure those features stay accessible as the system evolves. Every new change can accidentally break something that used to work, so a big part of the job is catching and preventing those regressions before they reach users.
That’s where web accessibility testing becomes essential. We use:
“At scale, accessibility is a moving target,” I tell clients. “But if it’s built into your QA and your values, you can keep up.”
Here’s a story I share often.
I once worked with a public health org. Their content team was excited to launch a new landing page for COVID resources. It was mobile-friendly, colorful, and packed with helpful info.
But when I ran a quick web accessibility audit, I found the page had no heading structure. Screen readers read it as one long blob. No anchors, no landmarks, no keyboard paths. It looked great. But for blind users, it was unusable.
“But no one complained,” someone said.
“That’s the problem,” I replied. “They couldn’t even get far enough to complain.”
That’s what inaccessible design does. It silences people. It shuts them out.
So, once again: what is web accessibility? It’s more than code. More than compliance. More than checklists.
It’s about empathy at scale. About recognizing the full diversity of your audience. About remembering that people use the web in different ways — and they all deserve access.
And why does web accessibility matter? Because inclusion isn’t a luxury. It’s a basic expectation.
You don’t need to fix everything today. But you do need to start.
Run a web accessibility checker. Use a web accessibility checklist. Do a proper web accessibility audit. Bring in a web accessibility consultant if needed. Make accessibility part of your QA, your planning, your design reviews.
Every small improvement you make opens the door wider. And that’s how we build a better web — one accessible page at a time.
