Website Accessibility

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Why Prioritizing Accessibility Is Important

People with Disabilities Spend Money

  • 28.7% of US population has a disability.
  • Globally, it’s estimated that people with disabilities have over $1.2 Trillion in disposable income.
  • One study showed 55% of users abandon purchases due to accessibility issues.
95%

Most Websites Have Accessibility Issues

  • 79.1% have low contrast
  • 55.5% have images missing alt text
  • 48% have missing form labels

These results only reflect errors that can be detected with automated testing tools. Many more errors can only be found with manual testing.

Over 4,000 Lawsuits Against Inaccessible Sites in 2024

  • 41% of those sued had been sued previously
  • 77% were against E-commerce sites
  • 25% were against sites with accessibility widgets/toolbars/overlays (ex. accessiBe, UserWay)

The Benefits of an Accessible Website

Your organization can benefit from having an accessible website in multiple ways

Reduced Legal Liability

Reduce your chances of demand letters, lawsuits and fines

More Customers

Increase your potential customer base by up to 25%

Improved Brand Reputation

Buyers tend to interact more with brands that value inclusion

Improved Search Engine Optimization

Accessibility best practices include basic SEO best practices

Elevage Digital Can Help

Accessibility Audits

Start with an audit to determine the extent and severity of the accessibility issues on your site.

Accessibility Remediation

Custom remediation, testing, and issue tracking for WordPress and Divi websites

Monitoring & Maintenance

Ongoing testing and updates to maintain accessibility and WCAG conformance.

Accessible Websites

Custom-built websites that incorporate modern best practices for accessibility

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – all public websites are subject to the ADA. State and local governments are required to meet WCAG 2.1 AA for all of their digital content starting in 2026.
  • Section 504 and Section 508 – If your business is subject to Section 504 or Section 508, your website must meet WCAG 2.1 AA
  • European Accessibility Act (EAA) – If your business sells to customers in European Union countries, your website must meet WCAG 2.1 AA starting in June 2025
  • Virginia Information Technology Standard (VITA) – All Virginia state agencies, colleges, universities, and other public organizations must meet WCAG 2.0 AA
  • Other states and countries may have additional laws and regulations that you need to meet. These laws apply based on where your customers are, not where your business is based.

It is estimated that up to 25% of the population has a disability. People with disabilities may not be using your website because you haven’t made it accessible. But if your competitors have done a better job, they are likely getting the sales you are missing out on.

Applying accessibility best practices also helps people who:

  • have trouble reading small text, especially in low light
  • have ADHD
  • find it hard to read their phone screen in bright outdoor sunlight
  • watch videos in noisy environments and prefer to read the captions
  • have broken or have had surgery on their dominant hand/arm, making it hard to use a computer mouse
  • have arthritis in their hands, making it painful or difficult to use a computer mouse
  • have conditions like vertigo, seizures, or migraines that can be triggered by motion or flashing lights
  • have dyslexia

Do any of these describe your current or target customers?

No! Approximately 25% of accessibility lawsuits are against sites that have these tools. Despite their marketing claims, these tools cannot make your site WCAG compliant. One such tool has even been fined by the FTC for these misleading claims.

People with sight-related disabilities typically have their own assistive technology tools that can be used across all websites. They don’t need you to provide special tools. In fact, these toolbars often get in the way of their assistive technologies, which is part of the reason for the high number of lawsuits against sites with these widgets.

Achieving accessibility is a journey and every journey starts with a step. Here are some steps you can consider:

  • Remove Accessibility Toolbars, Widgets and Overlays: The presence of these tools on your site can increase the risk of being sued and will interfere with testing and properly fixing issues on your site
  • Test your site: Use free tools and Chrome extensions to start identifying issues. Use only your keyboard to navigate and interact with your site. For more extensive testing, have a full accessibility audit conducted for your site.
  • Add an Accessibility Statement: Let your users know you are committed to finding and fixing accessibility issues on your site. Include contact information for the person heading your accessibility initiatives in case users have trouble using your site.
  • Here are some additional steps to consider

Ready to Get Started?

If you would like to talk about how Elevage Digital can address your specific needs, provide some details to start the conversation.

Let’s Go!

Selected Articles From Elevage Digital

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WCAG = Code + Design + Content

An accessible website that meets WCAG requirements combines good code, design, and content. A failure in any one of these areas is a failure for the whole site.

*LEGAL DISCLAIMER: Elevage Digital uses current WCAG standards as the guide for website accessibility best practices. However, following these best practices may not automatically result in an ADA-compliant website or compliance with any other laws. Elevage Digital cannot offer legal advice on compliance. Elevage Digital cannot guarantee protection against legal action related to compliance with ADA guidelines for Elevage Digitals’ potential and current customers. Elevage Digital will not be liable for any claims brought against potential or current clients related to ADA compliance; further, Elevage Digital will not be liable for claims related to code or content produced by you or any third party. If you are concerned about legal compliance with ADA guidelines or any other legalities related to your website, you must consult a licensed attorney.