Website Accessibility: WCAG Compliance for Business Websites

Web accessibility is both a legal requirement and a business opportunity. ADA lawsuits against websites have increased significantly, and accessible websites serve a broader audience including the estimated 15 percent of the global population with disabilities.

WCAG 2.1 Level AA is the standard most businesses should target. It covers perceivability (can users see and hear content), operability (can users navigate and interact), understandability (can users comprehend content), and robustness (does content work with assistive technology).

Common accessibility failures include missing alt text on images, insufficient color contrast between text and background, missing form labels, keyboard navigation traps, and auto-playing media without controls.

Color contrast requirements specify minimum ratios: 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text against their backgrounds. Use contrast checking tools to verify every text and background combination on your site.

Keyboard navigation must work for all interactive elements. Every button, link, form field, and menu item must be reachable and operable using only a keyboard. Test by tabbing through your entire site without touching the mouse.

Screen reader compatibility requires proper heading hierarchy, descriptive link text (not click here), ARIA labels where needed, and semantic HTML elements. Test with actual screen readers — automated tools catch only about 30 percent of accessibility issues.