Common Website Accessibility Issues and How to Solve Them

The internet is the entry point to your business, but for many people with disabilities, accessing it becomes too challenging or even impossible. Digital accessibility makes websites, apps, and content understandable, navigable, and engaging for users with visual, motor, auditory, or cognitive disabilities. Yet its significance is often undervalued. Many businesses ignore that a large portion of the population faces barriers online, leading to missed chances, damaged reputation, and legal challenges. Users with disabilities may quickly leave an inaccessible site. To help, we’ve gathered common accessibility concerns, their impact, and practical steps for creating a more inclusive digital experience. Before solutions, let’s review the Web Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)

WCAG, established by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), is the international standard for digital accessibility, and based on the four principles of accessibility, that is Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (POUR). The guidelines are distributed into three conformance levels:

• Level A: Basic accessibility.
• Level AA: Standard accessibility (widely known as the benchmark).
• Level AAA: Strictest conformance, eliminating most difficulties.

Level AA is the standard used by laws like the ADA for compliance.

Common Digital Accessibility Issues and How to Fix Them

Here are the most frequent concerns found across websites and digital content, along with how to resolve them.

1. Low Color Contrast (1.4.3) | Level AA

Text that lacks adequate contrast against its context can be unreadable for users with low vision or color blindness. Normal-sized text should have a contrast ratio of 4.5:1 (3:1 for large text).

Fix: Use online contrast checkers to ensure your color ranges meet WCAG standards.

2. Missing Descriptive Labels (2.4.6) | Level AA

Forms and engaging elements without clear labels obscure users and delay screen reader functionality.

Fix: Label each input field, button, and control with noticeable text or use ARIA attributes such as aria-labelled to offer descriptive context.

3. Missing Alt Text (1.1.1) | Level A

Images and other non-text content must integrate alternative text so screen readers can label them to users.

Fix: Review all media elements and add precise, concise alt text that delivers their purpose.

4. Incorrect Use of Tables (1.3.1) | Level A

Tables are usually misused for layout instead of data. Without the right markup, assistive tech can’t understand table content.

Fix: Use semantic HTML (<table>, <tr>, <th>, <td>) for data tables, and contain headers and captions that clearly transfer structure.

5. No Keyboard Navigation (2.1.1) | Level A

Many users depend only on keyboards to browse. If a site needs a mouse, it’s unreachable to them.

Fix: Test navigation using the Tab key. Ensure all interactive elements, like menus, links, and forms, are accessible and usable without a mouse.

6. Lack of Focus Indicators (2.4.7) | Level AA

Users navigating through keyboard should always see which element is presently intensive.

Fix: Apply noticeable focus styles using CSS (focus pseudo-class) so it’s clear which element is active.

7. Incorrect Reading Order (1.3.2) | Level A

When content is read in the wrong sequence, it can puzzle users dependent on assistive technology.

Fix: Make sure that the DOM order aligns with the envisioned visual and logical reading order. Use semantic tags and proper heading structure.

8. Text Too Small to Resize (1.4.4) | Level AA

Users must be able to resize text up to 200% without losing content or functionality.

Fix: Use relative units (such as em or rem) instead of fixed pixels, and ensure the layout adjusts rapidly.

9. Lack of Semantic HTML (1.3.1) | Level A

Without semantic markup, screen readers can’t comprehend content order or structure.

Fix: Use semantic tags for headings (<h1>–<h6>), lists, navigation, and sections. Avoid depending on visual styles only for meaning.

10. No Captions on Videos (1.2.2) | Level AA

Videos without captions eliminate users who are deaf or face challenges while hearing.

Fix: Offer synchronized captions and transcripts for all video content. Make sure captions comprise non-verbal sounds and speaker identification.

11. Small Clickable Areas (2.5.8) | Level AA

Small buttons or links are difficult to tap, specifically on mobile or for users with motor impairments.

Fix: Make all interactive elements at least 24×24 CSS pixels. Space them out to avoid accidental taps.

12. Users Must Re-Enter Info (3.3.7) | Level A

Need from users to retype details across form steps adds cognitive load and maximizes errors.

Fix: Autofill known values or carry over inputs when possible. Allow users to review and confirm instead of re-entering data.

13. Inconsistent or Missing Help (3.2.6) | Level A

When users need help but can’t find it, they may unrestraint the task completely.

Fix: Offer consistent help options (e.g., FAQs, tooltips, contact links) throughout all pages, employed in anticipated locations such as headers or sidebars.

Final Thoughts

Accessibility is more than just compliance. It’s about creating inclusive user experiences for everyone. By addressing the common accessibility issues explained in this blog post, you can expand usability, reduce legal risks, and improve the overall engagement of your website. Just start with audits, prioritize fixes, and make users with disabilities a part of testing. 

However, to simplify the process, tools like WAC (Web Accessibility Checker) can help turn best practices into reality. With accessibility audits, real-time monitoring, and an all-in-one widget, WAC ensures ADA and WCAG compliance while improving usability. It delivers clear direction and continuing support, helping you avoid compliance gaps and creating a digital experience that is both user-friendly and lawfully secure.

Author: Amna

Amna Shahid is a skilled content writer at WAC who crafts clear and engaging content that bridges the gap between complex software solutions and user requirements. With splendid storytelling skills and great knowledge around technology, Amna is professional in transforming complex software ideas into understanding and compelling prose.

Reviewed By: admin