Web Development

What is Accessibility (WCAG)?

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are internationally recognized standards that define how to make web content accessible to people with disabilities.

Definition

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines or WCAG are internationally recognized standards developed by the W3C that define how to make web content accessible to people with disabilities, including those with visual, auditory, cognitive, and motor impairments. Accessibility features include proper image alt text, sufficient color contrast, keyboard navigability, logical heading structure, and captions for video content. In many regions accessibility compliance is also a legal requirement for businesses with public-facing websites.

Why It Matters for Small Businesses

Web accessibility is not just a legal consideration, it is good business practice. Approximately 1 in 4 adults in the US has some form of disability, representing a significant portion of potential customers. An inaccessible website excludes those customers and exposes your business to legal risk. Beyond the ethical and legal dimensions, accessibility improvements often overlap directly with SEO best practices.

Example

A local nonprofit website has no alt text on images, poor color contrast, and a navigation structure that cannot be used with a keyboard. A visually impaired user attempting to access their services is completely unable to use the site. After an accessibility audit and remediation, the site meets WCAG 2.1 AA standards, serving their entire community, improving SEO, and removing legal exposure.

Related Terms

Mobile-First DesignShares many best practices with accessibility-focused design

Core Web VitalsPerformance and accessibility are complementary UX goals

SEOAccessibility improvements frequently improve search performance simultaneously

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