Why accessibility matters

The essential idea

Accessibility is designing web experiences that work for everyone—including users with disabilities. It's not charity; it's inclusion. ~1 in 4 adults in the US have disabilities. When you build accessible sites, you also improve usability for everyone: better keyboard support helps power users, captions help in noisy environments, and clear language aids comprehension.

Common disabilities online

Visual: blindness, low vision, color blindness. Motor: paralysis, arthritis, tremors—users navigate with voice, switches, or keyboard only. Hearing: deafness, hard of hearing—need captions, transcripts. Cognitive: dyslexia, ADHD, autism—need clear design, simple language, extra time.

The business case

Accessible sites reach more users, improve SEO, reduce legal risk, and boost brand reputation. 61% of web users with disabilities will abandon a site that's not accessible.

Global statistics

Over 1.3 billion people globally have disabilities (16% of world population). In developed countries, accessibility compliance (WCAG AA) is often required by law (ADA in US, AODA in Canada, EN 301 549 in EU).

Quick check

Quick check: Which benefit does accessibility provide to everyone?

• Better keyboard navigation for power users
• Captions help in noisy environments
• Clear language aids comprehension
• All of the above

Legal requirements

US: ADA applies to websites. EU: EN 301 549. UK: Equality Act 2010. Canada: AODA. Many countries require WCAG 2.1 AA compliance.