Web accessibility: why it is important and how to apply it to your site

Web accessibility is a vital consideration for anyone involved in digital spaces, whether you manage a personal blog, a corporate website, or a complex platform. Making your site accessible is not just a social responsibility but also a strategic investment. In this article, we’ll explain what web accessibility is, why it matters, and how you can make your site more inclusive. Let’s dive in!

Web accessibility involves designing and developing digital websites and applications so they are usable by everyone, including individuals with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments. In practice, it’s about eliminating barriers that might prevent some users from accessing content or interacting with your site.

Why Is It Important?

1. Inclusiveness and social responsibility
   Ensuring access to the web for all embodies the principle of inclusiveness, transcending mere legal compliance. Approximately 15% of the global population lives with some form of disability. Overlooking this reality means excluding millions of people.
2. Legal compliance
   Many countries, including Italy, enforce laws requiring website accessibility, particularly for public sector sites. For instance, Italy’s Stanca Law (L. 4/2004) is one such regulation. For private companies, adopting accessibility standards can help avoid potential legal penalties and safeguard their reputation.
3. SEO and usability benefits
   An accessible site is often better optimized overall. Search engines like Google favor sites with strong structures, alternative text for images, and well-organized content, leading to higher rankings. Additionally, what enhances accessibility for people with disabilities often improves usability for all users.

Following the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is a good starting point. These internationally recognised guidelines are based on four fundamental principles:

• Perceptible: information should be presented in a way that everyone can access it.
• Usable: navigation and functionality must be easy to use.
• Understandable: the content and interface must be clear and easy to understand.
• Robust: the site must work on various devices and technologies, including assistive tools.

Let’s get practical: here are some steps you can take to make your site accessible to a wider audience.

#1 Use alternative text for images
Make sure that each image has a descriptive alternative text. This will help screen readers interpret the content for blind or visually impaired people.

#2 Keyboard navigability
Ensure that all functions on your site are keyboard-accessible. Many users with motor disabilities do not use a mouse and rely exclusively on this tool.

#3 Offer subtitles and transcripts
For multimedia content, add subtitles to videos and transcripts for audio. Not only will you improve accessibility for people with hearing disabilities, but also overall engagement.

#4 Ensure adequate contrast
Text must be clearly readable against the background. Use online tools to check contrast and make sure it meets standards.

#5 Avoid unnecessary animations
Animations can be distracting or, in some cases, cause problems (e.g. for those with photosensitive epilepsy). Offer the possibility of deactivating them.

#6 Conduct accessibility testing
Use tools such as Wave, Lighthouse or other online platforms to test the accessibility of your site. These tools will help you identify errors and suggest improvements.

Investing in web accessibility is a decision that reflects care, sensitivity and foresight. It is not only about doing the right thing for those with difficulties, but also about providing a better experience for all users. In addition, an accessible site becomes more competitive and visible, reaching a wider audience and giving you a strategic advantage.

Start with small steps: implementing even one or two of the tips we have given you can make a big difference. Making the web more accessible is a responsibility we all share, and today you have the tools to do your part!