The internet is a powerful tool. It connects us, informs us, helps us work, learn, bank, shop, and build community. But for millions of people, using the web can still be frustrating, limiting, or even impossible because many websites are not designed with accessibility in mind.
Accessible web design means creating digital spaces that are inclusive and usable for everyone, including people with disabilities. Itโs about ensuring your content can be understood, navigated, and interacted with regardless of how someone sees, hears, moves, or thinks.
Itโs also becoming a legal requirement in many parts of the world, with legislation like the European Accessibility Act putting clear expectations on organisations to provide equal access to digital products and services.
But perhaps most importantly: accessibility is about our value to put people first.
In this post, weโll explore what accessible web design really means, why it matters, and how it can help you create better, more inclusive experiences for everyone who visits your site.
What Is Accessible Web Design?
Accessible web design means creating websites and online experiences that work for everyone. This includes those who are blind, have low vision, are deaf or hard of hearing, have motor impairments, or cognitive differences. But accessibility also benefits users facing situational or temporary challenges, like a broken wrist or being in a loud environment.
Accessible web design isnโt just a legal or moral obligation, it leads to clearer communication, smoother navigation, and more usable digital spaces for all.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are built around four core principles, known as POUR:
1. Perceivable
Content must be presented in ways users can perceive whether visually, by sound, or by touch.
- Use alt text for images and transcripts for audio
- Ensure text has high contrast and can be resized
- Make visual content distinguishable from its background
2. Operable
Users must be able to navigate and interact with the website, no matter how they access it.
- Support keyboard navigation
- Avoid content that flashes quickly or auto-plays
- Provide clear, consistent navigation
3. Understandable
Information and interface elements must be easy to understand.
- Use plain, concise language
- Maintain consistent page structure
- Offer clear error messages and guidance
4. Robust
Content must work reliably across current and future technologies, including assistive tools.
- Use clean, semantic HTML
- Ensure compatibility with screen readers and other assistive software
POUR helps us design with real people in mind, whether theyโre using a keyboard instead of a mouse, need captions on a video, or rely on a screen reader to access content.
Why Accessible Web Design Matters
1. Itโs About Inclusion
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 1 in 6 people globally live with a disability. That number grows when you include temporary and situational limitations.
For example:
- A person with a broken arm may temporarily be unable to use a mouse
- A parent holding a baby may struggle to fill out a form within a time limit
- Someone using a phone in bright sunlight may struggle with low contrast text
The Microsoft Inclusive Design Toolkit illustrates this in their graphic showing multiple examples of permanent, temporary and situational disability related to touch, sight, hearing and speech:
Accessible design is inclusive design. It empowers users and reflects real-world diversity.
2. Itโs the Law
On 28 June 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) came into effect. This directive introduces a unified set of accessibility requirements across the EU, affecting:
- Websites and apps
- Banking services
- E-commerce platforms
- Transport providers, and more!
If your organisation operates in the EU, accessibility is a legal requirement. But itโs not just about ticking boxes, itโs about creating digital spaces that respect every userโs right to access information and services.
3. It Improves Usability for Everyone
Accessibility isnโt just about a specific group of users. Accessible design often leads to a better user experience for all:
- Video captions benefit non-native speakers, people with ADHD or autism, and anyone watching without sound
- High contrast text helps people with low vision and users reading outdoors in bright light
- Clear form labels improve comprehension and completion rates for everyone
These are examples of whatโs often called universal design: where features that assist one group also make things easier for others.
4. It Strengthens Your Brand & Reach
For purpose-led organisations, like nonprofits, charities, and social enterprises, accessibility aligns deeply with your values.
It shows you care about inclusion, equality, and dignity. But it also extends your reach: the more people who can access and navigate your site, the more impact you make.
Accessible websites perform better in search, increase conversions, and build trust with your audience.
Get Started With Accessibility Today
Accessibility is not just a compliance checkbox, itโs a commitment to people. Digital spaces shape so many aspects of modern life and everyone deserves equal access. From someone using a screen reader to browse a website, to a commuter watching a captioned video on a noisy train, to an older person trying to read low-contrast textโaccessible design removes barriers and improves experiences across the board.
At Circular Design, we embed accessibility into every stage of our design and development process. Whether you’re building from scratch or auditing an existing site, we can help you make accessibility a core part of your digital strategy. Reach out to us today to learn more.
