Web accessibility is about far more than compliance—it’s about ensuring the digital world is open and usable for all. Every person, at some point in their life, will experience some form of disability, whether it’s permanent, temporary, or situational.
Disabilities can be visible, such as mobility or vision impairments, or invisible, like cognitive differences, hearing loss, or chronic health conditions. In fact, nearly everyone knows someone—family, friends, colleagues, or even themselves—who benefits from accessible design, whether they realize it or not.
Accessible websites empower people with disabilities to participate fully in society, from shopping and learning to working and socializing online. By making your website accessible, you’re not only supporting legal and ethical standards but also fostering a more inclusive digital environment that benefits everyone, including older adults, people with temporary injuries, and users in challenging environments.
“Accessibility is not just for a small group—it’s for all of us, at different times and in different ways.” — ADA.gov
Top 10 Accessibility Strategies Every Website Needs
1. Use Semantic HTML
Structure your content with proper tags: Use headings (<h1>, <h2>, etc.), lists, and landmarks (<nav>, <main>, <footer>) to give meaning and structure for screen readers and assistive technologies.
ARIA roles and labels: Where semantic tags aren’t available, use ARIA attributes to clarify the purpose of elements.
2. Ensure Keyboard Accessibility
All interactive elements must be operable via keyboard: Users should be able to navigate menus, forms, and buttons using only the keyboard (Tab, Enter, Space, etc.).
Logical tab order: The navigation order should match the visual flow of the page and avoid skipping or trapping users.
Visible focus states: Ensure links and buttons show a clear outline or style when focused.
3. Provide Text Alternatives
Alt text for images: Every meaningful image must have a concise, descriptive alt attribute so screen readers can convey its purpose.
Transcripts and captions: Videos and audio content should include transcripts and synchronized captions, benefiting users who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Why Choose Lookit® Over DIY Solutions?
| Feature | Lookit® Accessibility | Do It Yourself |
|---|---|---|
|
Compliance Level |
Minimum: WCAG 2.1 AA
Current ADA Standards specify WCAG 2.0. Our solution starts at the current WCAG 2.1 specification. WCAG 2.2 is in development. |
Depends on project scope of programming |
|
Language Support |
Native Language Support: English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, Hungarian, Czech, Slovakian, Slovenian, Hebrew, Arabic, Japanese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Turkish, and Russian. The system removes the language barrier for people. |
Depends on project scope of programming |
|
Compatibility |
Works on all CMS (Content Management Systems) without affecting functionality. The list includes:
And FullStack custom-built systems. |
Coding required to alter CSS and Javascript within CMS to maintain functionality |
|
Design and Brand Integrity |
No design changes required except the addition of a widget button which matches the brand and color scheme of the existing website. Site visitors that are not affected by disabilities will see the website without any changes. Disabled visitors will access the website through the widget. |
Redesign of website elements must be done to meet WCAG 2.1 standards. |
|
Time To Implement |
Within 24 hours Each site is rescanned every 24 hours to update new content and changes to website pages. |
Re-programming projects take between 6-26 weeks |
|
Maintenance |
The solution requires no maintenance. Software updates for new features, standards updates, and compliance scanning occur in the cloud-based system and do not require any programming interaction or manual coding. |
All changes must be manually programmed. This includes any new requirements per the WCAG standards, or any new features and capabilities. |
|
PDF Document Support |
Lookit Accessibility will provide PDF remediation services on a per-document basis, using a hybrid approach of AI-Assisted technology and manual document tagging. Turnaround time is typically 5 business days. |
PDF documents need to be manually tagged and managed to meet WCAG compliance. |
|
ALT-Tags |
Lookit Accessibility uses AI-Assisted Technology (Artificial Intelligence) to scan images and automatically assign appropriate ALT tags and ARIA tags |
ALT Tags must be manually added for each image contained on the website. |
4. Maintain Sufficient Color Contrast
Contrast ratio: Text and interactive elements should have a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 against their background, as per WCAG 2.2.
Don’t rely on color alone: Use text cues (e.g., “required” in addition to red text) to communicate important information.
5. Design Accessible Forms
Explicit labels: Every form field must have a visible label that’s programmatically associated with its input.
Clear instructions and error messages: Provide guidance and feedback that are easy to understand and accessible to screen readers.
Keyboard navigation: Forms should be fully navigable and usable without a mouse.
6. Use Descriptive Link Text
Contextual links: Avoid generic text like “Click here.” Instead, describe the link’s destination or purpose (e.g., “Download the accessibility guide”).
7. Optimize for Screen Readers
Test with real assistive technology: Automated tools only catch about 30% of issues. Test your site using screen readers (e.g., NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver) to uncover real-world barriers.
Announce dynamic content: Use ARIA live regions to notify screen readers of changes in content without page reloads.
8. Responsive and Mobile-Friendly Design
Scalable content: Use relative units (rem/em) for fonts and ensure layouts adapt to zoom up to 200% without horizontal scrolling.
Large touch targets: Interactive elements should be at least 44×44 pixels for easy use on touch devices.
9. Allow User Customization
Adjustable text size and contrast: Let users increase font size, change font types, and adjust color contrast to suit their needs.
Pause animations: Provide controls to stop or pause moving content, which can be distracting or harmful for some users.
10. Ongoing Testing and Audits
Automated and manual testing: Use tools like accessiBe’s accessScan, Google Lighthouse, or WAVE for regular automated checks, but always supplement with manual and user testing.
Schedule regular audits: Accessibility is an ongoing process—review your site quarterly or after major updates.
The Lookit® Accessibility Solution: Inclusive Web Experiences for All
Why Accessibility Matters
Web accessibility is essential to ensure everyone—regardless of ability—can fully engage with your website. Disabilities can be visible or invisible, permanent or temporary, and nearly everyone knows someone who benefits from accessible design. By making your website accessible, you’re not only supporting legal and ethical standards but also expanding your reach, improving user experience, and building brand loyalty.
Introducing the Lookit® Accessibility Solution
The Lookit® Accessibility Solution is a fully managed, cloud-based platform that empowers every website visitor to personalize their online experience. While powered by the proven technology of the accessiBe plugin, Lookit Design has white-labeled and enhanced this solution, delivering a seamless, branded experience for your business and your users.
How the Lookit® Accessibility Solution Works
- Easy Installation: Lookit’s team handles the setup, customization, and branding, so you can focus on your business.
- User-Friendly Interface: Website visitors access an accessibility menu, allowing them to tailor their experience in real time—no technical knowledge required.
- No Disruption: The solution integrates without affecting your site’s existing design, content, or performance.
- Continuous Protection: Automated AI scans and remediates accessibility issues, ensuring ongoing compliance and reducing the risk of lawsuits.
The Lookit® Accessibility Solution offers a powerful, branded, and fully managed approach to web accessibility. By combining the advanced technology of accessiBe with Lookit’s expertise and white-labeled experience, your website becomes more inclusive, compliant, and future-ready—delivering a better digital experience for everyone
Sources
- University of Washington, “30 Web Accessibility Tips”
- AskEARN, “Ten Tips for an Accessible Website”
- ADA.gov, “Guidance on Web Accessibility and the ADA”
- Eduarda P., “Building Accessible Websites: Best Practices and Techniques”
- ADA Site Compliance, “20 Ways To Improve Web Accessibility”
- Hostinger, “The ultimate guide to web accessibility in 2025”
- accessiBe, “How To Make Your Website Accessible In 2025”
- accessiBe, “accessiBe’s Best Practices and Accessibility Recommendations”
- accessiBe, “How to test a website for accessibility”
- Accessibility-test.org, “2025 Web Accessibility Checklist”
