You wouldn’t deny someone service because of their disability in your physical store, so why would you deny them access to your website? Some businesses do it unintentionally by neglecting web accessibility guidelines. This article explores the what, why, and how behind making your digital presence accessible in the twenty-first century.

Everything Starts with the POUR Principles

How do you define accessibility? It’s a tough concept to put into words considering the diverse considerations and circumstances at play. Because just like how people with and without disabilities are unique from one another, different types of disabilities have their own barriers. A website can’t be truly accessible unless it’s equally usable by the blind, deaf, mobility-impaired, and neurodivergent alike.

That’s where the POUR principles come in – they provide a framework for addressing accessibility holistically. POUR stands for Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust. These four principles help ensure digital content works for everyone, regardless of how they interact with technology.
Let’s explore each principle in detail to understand how they work together to create truly inclusive digital experiences.

Perceivability

When content is Perceivable, users can identify and process it through their senses, whether that’s sight, sound, or touch. Take images for example – they say a thousand words to sighted users, but without proper accessibility features, those thousand words are lost on users who can’t see them. Alt text allows screen readers to describe visual information to those with visual impairments. Similarly, captions and transcripts make audio content perceivable to those who are deaf or hard of hearing. The fundamental idea behind perceivability is providing multiple ways to access the same information.

Operability

Operability means everyone can navigate and use an interface independently. Where perceivability is about ‘seeing’ content, this concept is about being able to engage with it. The majority of the population explores the internet with a mouse and keyboard.

However, someone with limited motor control might use voice commands or eye-tracking software. Others navigate exclusively by keyboard, using tab keys to move between elements. If websites aren’t designed with these different interaction methods in mind, they become inaccessible to a significant portion of users. Good operability means ensuring all functionality works through multiple input methods, not just the most common ones.

Understandability

Understandable content is clear and logical in how it works. That seems simple enough, but there’s more to it than just using plain language. Think about cognitive disabilities – what seems intuitive to most users might be confusing to others. One of the most common barriers to understanding is inconsistent behavior. When similar elements work differently across a site, it creates unnecessary confusion. Another challenge is information overload, where too much content is presented at once without clear organization or hierarchy. For users with attention deficit disorders or memory impairments, this can make content impossible to process effectively. Good understandability means designing interfaces that don’t require users to think too hard about how things work. Navigation is consistent and predictable across pages.All while maintaining the look, feel, and functionality that makes your website unique.

Robustness

The final principle, Robustness, focuses on ensuring content remains accessible as technologies evolve. A robust website works reliably across different browsers, devices, and assistive technologies – both current and future. This requires developers to use standard HTML elements properly and follow established coding practices rather than cut corners. Shortcuts breaking compatibility with assistive technologies. For example, custom-coded buttons might look fancy but fail to register properly with screen readers. Similarly, relying too heavily on JavaScript sometimes leaves content inaccessible when scripts fail to load. It’s only by fleshing out a robust foundation that a website can reliably maintain the three aforementioned principles of perceivability, operability, and understandability.

Implementing the POUR Principles Using Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are internationally recognized standards developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) that define how to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities. These guidelines serve as a comprehensive framework for digital accessibility, providing specific, testable criteria that help developers, designers, and content creators ensure their websites and applications are usable by people with various disabilities, including visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, language, learning, and neurological disabilities.

WCAG is regularly updated to address evolving digital technologies, with the current version being WCAG 2.2, released in 2023. These guidelines have become the de facto standard for digital accessibility worldwide and are referenced in many countries’ accessibility laws and regulations.

How WCAG Levels Work

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines are quite flexible in that there are three tiers of conformance: Level A (minimum), Level AA (mid-range), and Level AAA (highest). Each level builds upon the previous one, with Level AAA representing the most comprehensive accessibility standards. Organizations can choose which level best suits their needs and capabilities, though Level AA is often considered the standard target for most websites.
Here’s a more detailed overview of the expectations that come with each WCAG conformity level:

Level A

Level A conformance is the minimum level of accessibility that websites must meet to be considered accessible at all. This level addresses fundamental accessibility barriers and includes basic requirements that are generally achievable by most websites without significant technological or resource investments. Without these basic requirements, certain user groups would find it impossible to access web content.

Level A Examples:

• Providing text alternatives for non-text content (e.g., “Shopping cart icon” as alt text for a cart symbol)
• Ensuring all functionality works with a keyboard
• Allowing users to pause, stop, or hide any moving content
• Making sure no content flashes more than three times per second

Level AA

Level AA builds upon Level A requirements and represents what most organizations should strive for in their web accessibility efforts. This intermediate level strikes a balance between comprehensive accessibility and practical implementation. Level AA has become the de facto standard for many organizations, particularly since it’s often referenced in legal requirements and digital accessibility policies worldwide. Many governments and large organizations mandate Level AA compliance for their digital properties.

Level AA Examples:

• Ensuring text has sufficient contrast with its background (e.g., dark gray text on a white background with a 4.5:1 contrast ratio)
• Providing live captions for all live video content
• Making sure users can resize text up to 200% without loss of functionality
• Implementing consistent navigation across pages

Level AAA

Level AAA represents the highest and most rigorous level of accessibility conformance. This level includes additional requirements that, while beneficial, may not be achievable for all types of content or may require significant resources to implement. Level AAA compliance demonstrates an exceptional commitment to accessibility and provides the most inclusive user experience possible. However, it’s important to note that even the WCAG working group doesn’t recommend requiring Level AAA compliance for entire websites, as some content may not be able to satisfy all Level AAA requirements.

Level AAA Examples:

• Providing sign language interpretation for all prerecorded audio content
• Ensuring a contrast ratio of at least 7:1 for normal text
• Offering users the ability to extend any time limits or complete tasks without time constraints
• Including pronunciation guides for any words that are ambiguous without pronunciation information

WCAG Success Criteria

You may be wondering how exactly these success criteria are structured and evaluated. Each criterion is designed to be testable, meaning there’s a clear way to determine whether a website meets the requirement or not. These criteria are written to be technology-neutral, allowing them to remain relevant as web technologies evolve.

Each success criterion includes:

• A number and title for easy reference
• The level (A, AA, or AAA) it belongs to
• A clear intent explaining what problem it solves
• Specific examples of how to meet the criterion
• Common failures that would violate the criterion
• Sufficient and advisory techniques for implementation

How WACG Have Evolved Over Time

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines go way back to the Internet’s earliest days in 1999. It was then that the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) published the first version, which had been under development since 1995. WCAG 1.0 primarily focused on HTML, CSS, SMIL, and similar building blocks that now form the foundation of the online world. 14 initial guidelines gave early webmasters a sense of direction as they strived to make essential content accessible to all users. These guidelines emphasized techniques like providing text alternatives for images, ensuring proper contrast, and making content navigable through keyboard controls.

As the web evolved, so did accessibility standards. WCAG 2.0 was released in 2008, bringing a more technology-agnostic approach that could be applied to both current and future web technologies. The second version introduced the core principles of being Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (POUR), which we went over earlier.

Two successive iterations of WCAG – WCAG 2.1 and WCAG 2.2 – were respectively published in 2018 and 2023 to build upon over a decade’s worth of changes in development technology and consumer trends. It’s estimated that over five billion people around the world use the internet today. More frequent and broader scoped updates will become necessary as reliance on digital services continues to grow.

What You Need to Know About WACG 2.2

WACG 2.2 didn’t introduce any massive changes to the rules developers have used to guide their design practices for over two decades now. There are some updates from version 2.1, though, most notably the deprecation of Success Criterion 4.1.1 and the addition of nine new Success Criteria. These new criteria aim to improve user interface interactions through a focus on visibility, target sizes for clickable elements, and authentication processes. The new standards move away from CAPTCHA-style verification methods that can create barriers for users with disabilities – and tend to just confuse everyone in general.

Apart from rather technical changes, what every business needs to know about WACG 2.2 is largely the same as what it needed to know about WACG 2.1 and every version prior. Websites should conform to both the four POUR principles and the 13 guidelines underpinning the framework.

Governments from the U.S. to the U.K. have updated their guidance and published helpful resources on the latest version of WCAG. Because there’s no real international enforcement of these policies – but enforcement in those aforementioned countries and other nations – it’s best to refer to your local authority’s interpretation as a base guide.
Most organizations aim for AA compliance as a minimum standard, which covers essential accessibility requirements while remaining practically achievable.

Learn the Laws of Web Accessibility

Accessible web design isn’t just a best practice for businesses that want to reach more people across the internet – it’s becoming law in many jurisdictions. Governments have the responsibility of advocating for all of their citizens’ rights both online and offline. With everything from education to shopping to entertainment now digital as standard, there’s a need to ensure products and services remain equally accessible to everyone.

Why We Need Web Accessibility Laws

History proves not all companies treat this as an equal priority. Even before the advent of the internet, it took the establishment of enforceable laws for real-world accommodations like wheelchair ramps and Braille signage to become standard practice in public spaces.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the United States’ most influential policy on accessibility rights. Signed into law in 1990, it mandates equal access to physical locations and services for people with disabilities. While the ADA predates widespread internet use, courts have increasingly interpreted it to apply to websites and digital services as extensions of public accommodations.

According to a statement from the Department of Justice:
“A website with inaccessible features can limit the ability of people with disabilities to access a public accommodation’s goods, services, and privileges available through that website—for example, a veterans’ service organization event registration form.

For these reasons, the Department has consistently taken the position that the ADA’s requirements apply to all the goods, services, privileges, or activities offered by public accommodations, including those offered on the web.”

Similarly to several other prominent regulations of its kind around the world, the ADA draws heavily from Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). All qualifying entities under Section II – those open to the public – should configure their online presence with WCAG in mind.

Section 508

American government agencies are subject to another layer of scrutiny with respect to accessible web design. In addition to upholding equal access for members of the public, government organizations like the Department of the Interior and the Department of Health and Human Services must develop, procure, and maintain technology so that it remains accessible to employees of all abilities. Section 508, as it’s known, mirrors what’s expected of private companies under the ADA.

The European Accessibility Act (EAA)

The European Union has taken significant steps toward standardizing digital accessibility requirements across its member states through the European Accessibility Act (EAA). Enacted in 2019, this directive establishes comprehensive accessibility requirements for products and services, with a particular focus on digital interfaces and electronic commerce.

The EAA requires businesses operating in EU markets to ensure their digital products and services are accessible to people with disabilities. This includes everything from e-commerce platforms to banking services and transportation apps. Enforcement is on a national level, with each member state being responsible for reporting and enforcing compliance with the law. European Parliament passed the EAA in April 2019. It will go into full force on June 28th, 2025.

Web Accessibility Directive (WAD)

The Web Accessibility Directive (WAD) was conceived alongside the EAA in the mid-2010s. It actually received ascent and went into force earlier on December 22nd, 2016. Although the two aren’t exactly the same, this policy is comparable to the United States’ Section 508 in terms of scope and requirements. The WAD specifically targets public sector bodies, requiring them to make their websites and mobile applications accessible according to harmonized standards. This includes local and regional authorities, hospitals, universities, and libraries funded by public money. The directive established a baseline for digital accessibility across EU member states, though many have implemented even stricter requirements in their national legislation.

What’s at Stake When It Comes to Accessibility?

The stakes for web accessibility compliance extend far beyond moral obligations, carrying significant financial, legal, and reputational consequences. Organizations face mounting legal pressure through an increasing number of accessibility lawsuits, with over 4,600 cases filed in the United States in 2023 alone. These lawsuits can result in substantial penalties, with settlements often ranging from $10,000 to $50,000, and some high-profile cases reaching into millions.

Beyond direct legal costs, non-compliance can lead to lost business opportunities, particularly in government contracts where Section 508 compliance is mandatory. The reputational damage from accessibility failures can be equally costly – studies show that 71% of users with disabilities will leave a website that isn’t accessible, taking their business elsewhere. This represents a significant portion of the market, as approximately one in four adults in the United States has some type of disability.

In the European Union, under the EAA, organizations can face penalties of up to 5% of their annual turnover. The business case for accessibility is equally compelling on the positive side: accessible websites often demonstrate improved SEO performance, enhanced usability for all users, and broader market reach. Companies that prioritize digital accessibility typically see increased customer loyalty, improved brand perception, and better conversion rates. Furthermore, accessible design practices often lead to improved user experience for everyone, not just those with disabilities, resulting in higher engagement metrics and customer satisfaction scores.

How to Make Your Website Accessible In 2025

In most cases, implementing WCAG 2.2 standards doesn’t mean completely overhauling an existing website. Below, we’ve compiled a few simple steps capable of making a big difference in your pursuit of compliance.

Test Rigorously

Manual accessibility testing is the practice of systematically evaluating your website’s accessibility features through direct human interaction. This involves navigating through your site using various assistive technologies like screen readers, checking keyboard navigation, and verifying that all interactive elements function as intended.

Regular manual testing helps identify issues that automated tools might miss, particularly those related to user experience and logical content flow. Consider involving users with disabilities in your testing process to gain authentic feedback about real-world accessibility challenges.

Adopt ARIA In Your HTML

Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) is a set of attributes that can be added to HTML elements to provide additional information about their functionality and relationships to assistive technologies. It helps bridge gaps in HTML’s native accessibility features and makes complex web applications more usable for people who rely on screen readers and other assistive tools. ARIA implementation requires careful consideration of your website’s interactive elements and content structure. Start by auditing your site’s components that might need additional context for screen readers, such as custom widgets, dynamic content updates, and complex navigation menus. Common use cases include adding aria-label attributes to buttons that only contain icons, implementing aria-expanded to indicate collapsible sections, and using aria-live regions to announce dynamic content changes.

When implementing ARIA attributes, maintain a systematic approach:

• Review existing HTML structure first
• Identify elements requiring enhanced accessibility
• Apply appropriate ARIA roles and properties
• Validate implementation with screen readers
• Document ARIA usage for future maintenance

Remember that improper ARIA implementation can actually decrease accessibility rather than improve it. Developers should thoroughly understand each attribute’s purpose and test with actual assistive technologies before deployment.

Deploy a Web Accessibility Tool

Web accessibility tools automate the process of identifying and fixing accessibility issues across your digital properties. These solutions can scan your website continuously, flagging potential violations of WCAG guidelines and suggesting specific remediation steps.

UserA11y is just one example. It provides an out-of-the-box solution that monitors your website 24/7 for accessibility issues, provides detailed reports on WCAG compliance status, and offers actionable recommendations for improvements. The platform includes features like an accessibility widget, an accessibility scan and an accessibility statement generator. UserA11y offers automated scanning, manual testing tools, and comprehensive documentation to help maintain accessibility standards over time.

Web accessibility is a large hurdle we’ll all have to overcome heading further into the twenty-first century. But with the right knowledge and tools, you can make your website accessible to everyone. Consider UserA11y your partner in mastering best practices as they evolve with time. Our web accessibility tool helps you identify accessibility issues, implement solutions, and maintain compliance with evolving standards. Start your journey toward digital inclusion by subscribing today.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

These FAQs provide a foundation for understanding and implementing web accessibility effectively.