Accessibility Is Not Optional
For government agencies and mission-driven organizations, digital accessibility is both a legal requirement and a moral imperative. Your websites and digital properties must serve all users, including those with disabilities.
Beyond compliance, accessibility improves usability for everyone, strengthens your organization's credibility, reduces legal risk, and ensures you are fulfilling your mission to serve all stakeholders.
Understanding WCAG Standards
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide the internationally recognized framework for digital accessibility. Most organizations should target WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance as the standard for government and large commercial sites.
The guidelines are organized around four principles, often remembered as POUR:
Perceivable: Users must be able to perceive information and interface elements (proper contrast, text alternatives for images, captions for video).
Operable: Users must be able to navigate and interact with the interface (keyboard navigation, sufficient time to read content, no seizure-inducing content).
Understandable: Information and interface operation must be clear and consistent (readable text, predictable navigation, input assistance and error prevention).
Robust: Content must work with current and future assistive technologies (valid HTML, proper semantic markup, ARIA attributes when needed).
Start Accessibility Early
The most common and costly mistake is treating accessibility as a final testing phase. By then, fundamental design and development decisions have been made that create barriers requiring expensive remediation.
Instead, build accessibility into every phase: include users with disabilities in research and testing, evaluate color palettes and typography for sufficient contrast early in design, write semantic HTML and proper heading structure from the start, conduct accessibility reviews during development sprints, and perform comprehensive accessibility audits before launch.
Common Accessibility Issues
Watch for these frequent barriers in web projects:
**Insufficient color contrast** between text and backgrounds that makes content hard to read.
**Missing alternative text** for images, leaving screen reader users without context.
**Poor heading structure** that breaks logical document outline and navigation.
**Keyboard navigation failures** where interactive elements cannot be accessed without a mouse.
**Form fields without labels** that leave users guessing what information is required.
**Time-based content** that moves or changes too quickly for some users to process.
Most of these issues are preventable with awareness and proper implementation practices.
Tools and Testing Approaches
Combine automated scanning tools with manual testing for comprehensive accessibility evaluation. Automated checkers like axe DevTools, WAVE, or Lighthouse can catch common technical issues quickly. However, automated tools only catch about 30-40% of accessibility barriers.
Supplement with manual keyboard navigation testing, screen reader testing with tools like NVDA or VoiceOver, color contrast verification, content review for plain language and clarity, and ideally, testing with actual users who have disabilities.
Document findings in a prioritized remediation plan, addressing critical barriers first before moving to lower-severity issues.
Creating Accessible Content
Accessibility extends beyond code to content creation practices. Use clear, concise language, structure content with proper headings, provide descriptive link text rather than "click here," include text alternatives for all non-text content, ensure sufficient color contrast in graphics and charts, caption videos and provide transcripts, and create documents in accessible formats or HTML alternatives.
Train content creators on accessibility principles so accessible practices become standard operating procedure rather than special effort.
Maintaining Accessibility Over Time
Accessibility is not a one-time achievement but an ongoing responsibility. Establish governance processes including accessibility requirements in content guidelines and style guides, regular automated scanning of live sites, periodic comprehensive audits, training for anyone who creates or manages content, and a process for users to report accessibility barriers and request accommodations.
Build accessibility checkpoints into your web content management workflow so barriers are prevented rather than requiring later remediation.
Getting Help
If accessibility feels overwhelming, you do not have to tackle it alone. Many organizations benefit from accessibility consultants who can audit, train staff, and provide remediation guidance. Look for practitioners with actual accessibility expertise and certifications like IAAP CPACC or WAS.
The investment in accessibility expertise pays dividends in reduced risk, better user experience, and confidence that you are serving your full audience.