Website Accessibility Talk: Why it’s not optional!

At WPLDN, our founder, Louise Towler, who is also MD of Indigo Tree Digital Ltd, delivered an eye-opening website accessibility talk about the importance of accessibility and how businesses can integrate it into their workflows.

Website accessibility isn’t just an optional feature; it’s a necessity. Whether you’re a web developer, business owner, or content creator, ensuring your site is accessible means making it usable for everyone, including people with disabilities.

Why accessibility is a business advantage, not a burden

Many people think accessibility is just another box to check off, but in reality, it’s a powerful business advantage.

This website accessibility talk emphasises that accessibility shouldn’t be optional but rather a fundamental aspect of all web development.

Louise highlighted that in the UK alone, there are 16 million disabled people – approximately 1 in 4 of the population. This makes website accessibility not just an ethical consideration but a significant business opportunity.

What is accessibility?

Web accessibility ensures that websites and digital content can be used by everyone, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. This includes considerations for people with:

• Visual impairments
• Physical limitations
• Hearing impairments
• Cognitive disabilities

The presentation outlined the POUR principles that guide accessible design:

• Perceivable: Content available through multiple senses
• Operable: Functional with various input methods
• Understandable: Clear content and consistent navigation
• Robust: Works with current and future technologies

Legal frameworks

The talk referenced key regulations governing accessibility:

• UK: Equality Act 2010 and Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018
• Europe: European Accessibility Act 2025
• USA: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Standard: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA

Common accessibility issues (and how to fix them)

Despite best intentions, many websites still fall short in accessibility:

• Missing alt text for Images –-Screen readers rely on alternative text to describe images. Always add descriptive alt text to improve accessibility.
• Poor colour contrast – Low contrast makes reading content difficult for users with visual impairments. Use tools like WebAIM Contrast Checker to ensure readability.
• Keyboard navigation issues – Some users rely on keyboards instead of a mouse. Test your site by navigating with only the Tab key – if you get stuck, it’s time for some fixes!

Process for creating an accessible website

The presentation included an accessibility-focused process:

1. Discovery: Educating clients about accessibility benefits
2. Design: Ensuring accessible colour choices and typography
3. Development: Building themes and components with accessibility in mind
4. QA and Content: Testing with automated tools plus manual checks
5. Launch and monitoring: Ongoing accessibility monitoring

Practical tools for testing WordPress accessibility

Want to ensure your site meets accessibility standards? Here are some tools to help:

• WordPress Accessibility Checker plugin – free plugin with a premium version too
• Wave Web Accessibility tool – Free and easy-to-use tool for spotting accessibility issues.
• Lighthouse (Google Chrome) – A built-in tool that evaluates website accessibility.
• Axe Accessibility Checker – Ideal for developers looking for in-depth insights.

Website accessibility business benefits

Louise’s website accessibility talk concluded that accessibility is not merely a compliance checkbox but a commitment to inclusive design that benefits both users and businesses.

“You cannot manage what you cannot measure.”

Louise Towler

Making WordPress websites accessible offers numerous advantages:

• Reaches wider audience: Serves all potential visitors regardless of ability
• Enhances user experience: Clear navigation and content benefits everyone
• Demonstrates inclusive values: Shows organisational commitment to equity and inclusion
• Improves grant and tender eligibility: Procurement and funders often require accessibility compliance
• Legal compliance: Reduces risk of WCAG violations
• Cost-effective investment: Prevention costs less than remediation
• Boosts SEO performance: Accessible sites can rank higher in Google as content is indexed more easily
• Reduces carbon footprint: Accessible sites often load faster and use less bandwidth and data

The real question isn’t “Why should we make our websites accessible?” but rather “Why wouldn’t we?”. Accessibility benefits everyone – users, businesses, and society as a whole.

Why not start measuring your website’s carbon footprint?

Before you improve your website’s performance, start by measuring the carbon footprint – then you can report on the carbon footprint savings as you speed up your site.

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