7 Common Website Accessibility Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)
Website accessibility can feel overwhelming, especially when you begin testing your website and discover that every page may have its own set of issues. The good news is that improving accessibility doesn’t have to happen all at once. Understanding the most common problems gives you a practical place to begin.
Most accessibility barriers develop gradually as new pages, images, forms, videos, and downloadable documents are added to a website. While a site may look polished and function perfectly for many visitors, it can still create unnecessary obstacles for someone using a screen reader, keyboard navigation, screen magnification, or other assistive technology.
If you’re new to website accessibility, begin with our companion article, ADA Website Compliance: What Businesses Need to Know. It explains why accessibility matters, who benefits from it, and why it should be part of every organization’s long-term website strategy.
The following seven issues are among the most common accessibility problems found on business, educational, nonprofit, and government websites.
1. Missing or Inaccurate Alternative Text
Alternative text, commonly called alt text, provides a written description of an image for visitors using screen readers. Without it, important visual information may never be communicated.
Good alt text should describe the purpose of the image, not every visual detail. Think about what information a visitor gains from the image and write your description accordingly.
- Describe the purpose of the image.
- Keep the description concise.
- Avoid keyword stuffing.
- Skip decorative images when appropriate.
Adding meaningful alt text each time an image is uploaded is much easier than trying to correct hundreds of images later.
2. Poor Color Contrast
Low color contrast is one of the most common accessibility issues. Light gray text on a white background may look attractive, but it can be difficult to read for people with low vision or age-related vision changes.
Review the contrast of your headings, body text, buttons, links, forms, and navigation. Improving readability benefits every visitor, not just those with disabilities.
3. Improper Heading Structure
Headings organize your content and help screen readers understand the structure of a page. They should follow a logical hierarchy rather than being selected simply because they look attractive.
Avoid skipping heading levels or using bold paragraphs where proper heading tags should be used.
4. Keyboard Navigation Problems
Many visitors navigate websites using only a keyboard. Every menu, button, form, and interactive feature should be accessible without requiring a mouse.
Try navigating your own website using only the Tab key. If you cannot reach an important feature or determine where keyboard focus is located, visitors may experience the same problem.
5. Inaccessible Forms
Forms should be easy to understand and complete. Missing labels, confusing instructions, and vague error messages often create unnecessary barriers.
Every required field should be identified clearly, and error messages should explain exactly what needs to be corrected.
- Use descriptive field labels.
- Identify required fields.
- Provide meaningful error messages.
- Ensure forms work with keyboard navigation.
6. Inaccessible PDF Documents
Website accessibility extends beyond web pages. Downloadable PDFs should also be reviewed to ensure they can be read by screen readers and navigated with a keyboard.
Applications, brochures, annual reports, meeting agendas, and forms are frequently overlooked, yet they often contain some of the most important information on a website.
7. Treating Accessibility as a One-Time Project
Perhaps the biggest mistake is assuming accessibility is finished after one audit. Websites constantly evolve as new content is added.
Accessibility should become part of your regular website maintenance process. Review new pages, images, forms, and documents before publishing them whenever possible.
Start With the Most Important Pages
If your accessibility report contains dozens or even hundreds of issues, don’t panic. Begin with the pages visitors use most often, including your homepage, contact page, service pages, forms, and downloadable documents.
Addressing the highest-priority areas first creates the greatest improvement while giving you a manageable plan for the rest of your website.
RPM Pro Tip
While improving our own website, we learned that accessibility is an ongoing process rather than a one-time project. Every new page, image, document, and form should be reviewed before it goes live. Making accessibility part of your normal workflow saves time and helps provide a better experience for every visitor.
Continue Learning About Website Accessibility
If you’re just beginning your accessibility journey, we encourage you to read our companion article, ADA Website Compliance: What Businesses Need to Know. It explains the fundamentals of website accessibility and why it matters for organizations of every size.
Ready to Improve Your Website?
Whether you’re updating an existing website or planning a new one, RPM Design Pro can help you create a website that is more accessible, easier to navigate, and designed with every visitor in mind.
Contact Us to learn more about our ADA website accessibility and remediation services.
