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What web accessibility means, why it matters for every website, and what WCAG 2.1 AA requires — explained in plain English.

Web accessibility means making your website usable by as many people as possible — including people with disabilities. This covers people who are blind or have low vision, people who are deaf or hard of hearing, people with motor disabilities, and people with cognitive differences like ADHD or dyslexia.

Accessibility is both the right thing to do and, in many contexts, a legal requirement.

Quick summary

An accessible website can be used by everyone, regardless of disability. The international standard is WCAG 2.1 AA. Key requirements include alt text for images, sufficient color contrast, keyboard navigation, captions for video, and readable, well-structured content.

What is WCAG?

WCAG (pronounced "wick-ag") stands for the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. It is the international standard for web accessibility, published by the W3C (the World Wide Web Consortium — the organization that sets web standards).

The current version is WCAG 2.1. The target level most websites aim for is Level AA — this is the standard referenced in most accessibility laws worldwide, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the US and the Equality Act in the UK.

Level AA is achievable for most websites with careful planning.

Who does accessibility help?

More people than you might expect. Globally, about 15% of people have some form of disability. On a website, that includes:

People who use screen readers (software that reads content aloud)
People who navigate with a keyboard only (can't use a mouse)
People with color blindness
People with motor disabilities who use switch controls or eye-tracking
People with ADHD, dyslexia, or autism who benefit from clear, structured content
People in bright sunlight who struggle with low-contrast text
People with slow internet connections
People on small screens

Many accessibility improvements benefit everyone — not just people with diagnosed disabilities.

The four WCAG principles

WCAG 2.1 organizes all accessibility guidelines under four principles. An accessible site must be:

1. Perceivable

Information must be presentable in ways all users can perceive.

Images have alt text
Videos have captions or transcripts
Text has sufficient color contrast against its background
Content doesn't rely solely on color to convey meaning

2. Operable

Users must be able to interact with the interface.

All functionality is available from a keyboard (not mouse-only)
Nothing flashes more than three times per second (can trigger seizures)
Users have enough time to complete tasks
Navigation is consistent and predictable

3. Understandable

Users must be able to understand content and interface.

Language is identified in the page code (so screen readers use the right voice)
Error messages are helpful and specific
Navigation is consistent
Labels on forms are clear

4. Robust

Content must be interpreted reliably by assistive technologies.

HTML is valid and well-structured
Interface components are properly labeled for assistive technologies

What this means for your content

As a website owner, the accessibility areas most within your control are:

Alt text for all informational images — see Alt text explained
Color contrast — see Color contrast & readability
Captions for video — see Using video on your website
Clear, plain-language content — structured with proper headings and short paragraphs
Meaningful link text — not "click here" — describing what the link goes to
Accessible PDFs — see PDFs & documents on your site

The technical accessibility of your site's code — keyboard navigation, semantic HTML, ARIA labels — is something we handle when we build and maintain your site.

Is accessibility legally required?

In many cases, yes. The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) has been increasingly applied to websites, and court cases have established that many websites must be accessible. If you have a public-facing business, particularly in certain industries (healthcare, finance, retail, hospitality), the risk of an accessibility complaint is real.

We build sites to WCAG 2.1 AA standards. If you have specific compliance questions, speak with a legal professional familiar with digital accessibility law.

Common questions

Need a hand?

If you're stuck, email support@chykalophia.com and we'll help. Include your website address and a screenshot if you can.

Web accessibility basics