In our increasingly connected world, every business has a responsibility to make their online presence usable for everyone, including people with disabilities. The ADA applies to many businesses, and courts often look to WCAG when websites are involved. Understanding common barriers—and how to find and fix them—helps more people use your site and supports work toward WCAG 2.2 AA.
Common accessibility barriers
- Inaccessible websites. Many sites block people with missing alternative text for images, improper heading structures, and poor color contrast. When people with disabilities can’t navigate your site, it limits access to your products or services and leaves visitors feeling excluded.
- Lack of accessible features. Many businesses overlook essentials such as keyboard navigation and screen reader compatibility. If your website doesn’t support these, people can get stuck. Imagine someone with a visual impairment trying to browse your site and not reaching the information they need—that experience shapes how they see your brand.
- Inadequate mobile accessibility. With more people using phones and tablets, a mobile-friendly site matters. If the mobile layout isn’t built with accessibility in mind, people hit the same walls—buttons too small to activate, or text that’s hard to read—and leave without finishing what they came to do.
- Inaccessible customer service. Accessibility doesn’t stop at your website. Customer service channels—phone support, live chat, contact forms—need clear paths too. Someone who is hard of hearing should be able to reach your team without fighting the channel itself.
How to find and fix barriers
- Conduct an accessibility audit. Start by reviewing your website for accessibility issues. A free one-page scan at webmax.co/audit identifies common issues software can detect on one public page. For a deeper look, a manual audit by real people finds what automation misses. Neither step guarantees a legal outcome; both help you prioritize real fixes.
- Implement accessible design practices. Make accessibility a priority in your design process. Use clear headings, descriptive alt text for images, and color contrast that stays readable. Focusing on these elements makes the site clearer for more visitors.
- Optimize for mobile devices. Check that key flows work on mobile devices. Test on various screen sizes and identify barriers in forms, menus, and buttons. A mobile-friendly site helps more people reach your services, whatever device they use.
- Share accessibility habits with your team. Make sure staff know why accessibility matters and how to help when a customer hits a barrier—on the site or in support. An informed team improves day-to-day experiences.
- Stay current on standards. Digital accessibility guidance changes over time. Stay current on ADA Title III expectations and WCAG—today the practical target is WCAG 2.2 AA. Recheck when your site changes so new barriers don’t pile up.
Conclusion
Accessibility work is practical: find barriers, fix the code, and recheck when the site changes. It’s also an opportunity to connect with more people and foster a sense of belonging. A visitor toolbar helps visitors. It doesn’t replace fixing your site. Start with a free one-page scan at webmax.co/audit, or ask our team about a manual audit, remediation, and ongoing support. Plans start at $19 a month (Starter $19, Business $49, Pro $99).