Picture this: a customer clicks on your site, eager to buy. But the text is too faint to read, the buttons can’t be reached without a mouse, and the product video has no captions. They leave in frustration—and you never even know they were there.
That’s what happens when your website isn’t accessible. You’re not just losing sales—you’re silently closing the door on people who want to do business with you. Website accessibility isn’t about checking boxes for compliance; it’s about making sure every potential customer can actually use your site, no matter how they access it.
What “Accessible” Actually Means
An accessible website can be used by anyone, regardless of disabilities, device limitations, or environmental factors. That includes:
- Someone with limited vision using a screen reader
- A customer who can’t use a mouse and navigates entirely by keyboard
- A mobile user in bright sunlight who struggles with low-contrast colors
Accessibility is about removing barriers so everyone can get to your content, complete tasks, and buy from you without unnecessary frustration.
The Risks of Ignoring Accessibility
Many businesses still see website accessibility as optional. Here’s the reality:
- Legal Exposure—In the U.S., website accessibility is tied to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and WCAG guidelines. Ignoring them can lead to lawsuits and settlements. Check the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines:
- Lost Revenue – Over a billion people worldwide have some form of disability. If your site can’t be used by them, they will take their business elsewhere.
- Damaged Reputation—A single negative review about inaccessibility can outweigh dozens of positive ones.
Accessibility Is Good for Everyone (Including You)
When you improve your website accessibility, you’re also improving your site’s usability for people without disabilities:
- Clear navigation helps all users find what they need faster.
- Captions benefit viewers in noisy environments.
- High-contrast text is easier to read on mobile devices in bright light.
- Structured content boosts your SEO performance
Where Most Websites Go Wrong
In our audits at Saltech Systems, we see common website accessibility issues that are easy to avoid if you know what to look for:
- No alt text or meaningless “image123.jpg” descriptions
- Buttons and links that can’t be reached by keyboard
- Color schemes with poor contrast ratios
- Videos without captions or transcripts
- Forms that are impossible to complete without a mouse
How to Start Making Your Website Accessible Today
You don’t need to rebuild your entire site overnight. Start with these steps:
- Run an Accessibility Scan—Use free tools like Google’s Lighthouse Accessibility Audit to see where you stand.
- Fix Image Alt Text—Make descriptions meaningful and accurate.
- Check Contrast Ratios—Ensure text stands out from the background.
- Enable Keyboard Navigation—Test your site without a mouse.
- Add Captions to Videos – Don’t rely on auto-generated captions without reviewing them.
Common Myths About Website Accessibility
Even though website accessibility has been around for decades, misinformation still keeps many businesses from taking it seriously. Let’s clear up a few of the most common myths:
- “Accessibility is only for people with disabilities.”
Accessibility benefits everyone. Clear navigation, readable text, and fast-loading pages help all users — not just those with permanent disabilities. Someone browsing on a cracked phone screen or in bright sunlight also benefits from these improvements. - “It’s too expensive to make a site accessible.”
Accessibility fixes don’t have to break the budget. Many improvements, like adding alt text or fixing heading structures, are quick, low-cost changes. And compared to the potential cost of lawsuits or lost sales, accessibility is a smart investment. - “I’ll worry about accessibility later.”
Waiting until the end of a project is a mistake. Accessibility is easier and cheaper when it’s built into your site from the start. Retrofitting an inaccessible site is always more expensive than doing it right the first time. - “My audience doesn’t need it.”
You can’t assume your audience doesn’t include people with disabilities. Disabilities can be permanent, temporary, or situational. Even if you think your customers are all tech-savvy, there will always be someone who needs better contrast, captions, or easier navigation.
The ROI of Accessibility
Website accessibility is an investment that pays for itself:
- Wider audience reach
- Lower bounce rates
- Improved SEO rankings
- Legal risk reduction
- Stronger brand trust
Your Next Step
Website accessibility isn’t about ticking a compliance box — it’s about building a site that works for real people in the real world. At Saltech, we design with accessibility baked in from day one. Whether you need a new build, a detailed audit, or targeted fixes, we can help you make your website usable for everyone.