Web accessibility
Web accessibility is the practice of designing and building websites so that everyone can use them fully, including people with visual, hearing, motor, or cognitive disabilities. It follows the international WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) and includes support for assistive technologies such as screen readers, voice control, and alternative input devices. Since June 2025, accessibility has been a legal requirement in the EU under the European Accessibility Act (EAA).
Web accessibility isn’t just an ethical obligation—it’s a business necessity backed by hard data:
- 16% of the world’s population lives with a significant disability — roughly 1.3 billion people. And the share is growing as populations age and chronic diseases become more common (WHO – Disability and Health Fact Sheet, 2024)
- 94.8% of websites fail basic accessibility standards. WebAIM’s February 2025 analysis tested the 1,000,000 most visited websites and found an average of 51 accessibility errors per page. The most common issue is low text color contrast, found on 79.1% of pages (WebAIM – The WebAIM Million, 2025)
- Inaccessible websites lose customers. The Click-Away Pound survey (7,150 respondents, UK, 2019) found that 71% of users with disabilities leave a website they find difficult to use. Lost revenue in the UK alone amounted to £17.1 billion a year (Click-Away Pound Survey, 2019)
- Legal risk is growing. In 2024, 4,187 digital accessibility lawsuits were filed in the US. More than 25% of the companies sued had an automated accessibility widget installed on their website, and it did not protect them (UsableNet – Digital Accessibility Lawsuit Report, 2024)
- The European Accessibility Act (EAA) took effect on June 28, 2025, and applies to all companies in the EU with more than 10 employees. It covers websites, online stores, and mobile apps. Penalties for non-compliance can reach EUR 100,000 or 4% of annual turnover (European Accessibility Act, Directive 2019/882)
FAQ
Which WCAG level does my website need to meet?
Most legislation—including the European EAA and the US Section 508—requires WCAG 2.2 Level AA. It covers key areas such as sufficient text contrast, keyboard operability, and compatibility with screen readers. Level AAA is ideal, but no legislation currently requires it (W3C – WCAG 2.2).
Is an automated widget enough to make a website accessible?
No. UsableNet’s 2024 data shows that more than 1,000 companies were sued even though they had an accessibility overlay installed on their website—that’s more than 25% of all cases. Automated tools can detect only some of the issues. Real accessibility requires proper semantic code, a well-thought-out content structure, and testing with real users (UsableNet – Digital Accessibility Lawsuit Report, 2024).
Does investing in accessibility pay off commercially?
Yes. A Forrester Consulting study estimates the return on investment in accessibility and UX improvements at $100 for every $1 invested. An accessible website also reaches the 16% of the population that inaccessible websites ignore, and it improves usability for all users (Forrester – The Business Case for Digital Accessibility).
Sources:
- WebAIM – The WebAIM Million (2025) – accessibility analysis of the 1,000,000 most visited websites
- WHO – Disability and Health Fact Sheet (2024) – global disability statistics, 1.3 billion people
- Click-Away Pound Survey (2019) – survey of 7,150 users with disabilities (UK)
- UsableNet – Digital Accessibility Lawsuit Report (2024) – analysis of 4,187 lawsuits in the US
- W3C – Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2 – the international accessibility standard
- European Accessibility Act (EAA) – EU Directive 2019/882, in effect since June 2025
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