What is web accessibility?

What it means

Web accessibility means everyone can use your website, including people who see, hear, move or think differently. A blind visitor might use a screen reader that reads the page aloud. Someone with a hand injury might use only a keyboard. Someone with low vision might zoom the page way up.

An accessible site works for all of them. Most of the fixes also make the site easier for everyone else.

How it works

The common standard is WCAG, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. It has three levels: A (the basics), AA (the usual target) and AAA (the strictest). In practice, AA covers things like:

• Alt text: a short written description of each meaningful image, which screen readers read aloud.
• Color contrast: text dark or light enough to read against its background.
• Keyboard use: every menu, button and form works with the Tab and Enter keys, with a visible focus outline.
• Captions on videos, and transcripts for audio.
• Form labels that stay visible, plus clear error messages.
• Headings in order, so screen-reader users can skim the page.
• Reflow: a layout that still works when zoomed in, which is where responsive design helps.

Why it matters when you build a site

Government sites have a firm rule. The Department of Justice’s ADA Title II rule (April 2024) requires state and local governments to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA. An interim final rule dated April 20, 2026 pushed the deadlines back a year: April 26, 2027 for public entities with 50,000 or more people, and April 26, 2028 for smaller entities and special districts.

Private businesses have guidance, not a technical rule. Title II applies to governments. For businesses open to the public (ADA Title III), the DOJ’s March 2022 guidance says websites must be accessible, gives businesses flexibility in how, and points to WCAG as helpful guidance.

Lawsuits are common. A count by the law firm Seyfarth Shaw found 3,117 website accessibility lawsuits filed in US federal court in 2025, up 27% from 2,452 in 2024. That figure leaves out state-court cases and demand letters.

Selling into Europe? The European Accessibility Act has applied since June 28, 2025 to covered products and services, including ecommerce sold to EU consumers, which can include US companies. Microenterprises providing services are exempt.

For the wider picture, read our guide to US website laws.

How the big builders handle it

No builder can make your site accessible for you. Templates and themes give you a starting point, but your images, colors, videos, forms and PDFs are your content and your responsibility.

• Squarespace. Its AI SEO Scanner, added in September 2025, suggests image alt text along with titles and descriptions.
• Wix, Squarespace and Hostinger. Template-led builders set the base structure. Check contrast and keyboard use after you change fonts and colors.
• Webflow and Framer. Design-first tools give you fine control, which also means more ways to skip headings, labels or focus styles. Build them in on purpose.
• WordPress (self-hosted). Accessibility varies by theme and plugin. With full access to the code, any issue can be fixed. Our advice from building on WordPress every week: start from a lean, well-coded theme rather than patching a heavy one later.
• AI app builders. Lovable, Bolt and v0 write real code. Ask for labeled form fields, proper headings and alt text, then check the result yourself.

Common mistakes

• Relying on an overlay widget alone. A toolbar added on top does not fix missing labels or alt text underneath.
• Missing or useless alt text, such as “image123.jpg.”
• Light gray text on white or brand colors with low contrast.
• Text inside images, like a menu or flyer posted as a picture or scanned PDF.
• Videos with no captions.
• Placeholder text as the only form label. It disappears as soon as someone types.

Quick self-check: unplug your mouse and tab through your site, zoom the browser in, and try your phone’s built-in screen reader.

Related terms

• SEO: alt text and clear headings help search engines too.
• Template vs theme: your starting design sets the base structure.