Accessibility is about whether people can obtain information and complete tasks using different abilities, devices and interaction methods. Begin with the most important journeys, then identify and fix barriers systematically. An automated score can help find issues, but it cannot establish that the whole website is usable.
This guide covers priority journeys, accessibility barriers, shared components and a scoped remediation plan. Discuss the relevant requirements through ITZ’s Website Development service.
Structure and navigation
Use meaningful headings and descriptive links to communicate page organisation. Provide a way to move past repeated navigation and maintain a logical focus order for keyboard users.
Review the page structure, meaningful headings and navigation order. Try reaching key services and contact controls using only a keyboard. Look for visible focus, sensible movement and a way to close overlays. W3C's preliminary checks provide an initial review framework; a full assessment requires a defined scope and more detailed testing.
Readable presentation
Check colour contrast, text enlargement and responsive layout. Avoid using colour alone to convey information. Interface controls need clear labels and visible focus indicators.
Check readable text, contrast, resizing and information conveyed by colour. Test actual pages rather than a component sample alone. A form error should explain what is wrong without requiring someone to distinguish red from green. Long text and translated labels should be able to expand instead of disappearing behind fixed-height containers.
Plan Your Website Accessibility Review to discuss priority journeys, accessibility barriers, shared components and a scoped remediation plan.
Forms and media
Associate labels with inputs and provide understandable error and success messages. Use alternative text for meaningful images and suitable text alternatives for audio or video where required.
Use descriptive labels and clear instructions for inputs, then examine errors and confirmation messages. Meaningful images need appropriate alternatives; decorative images should not create unnecessary announcements. Review documents, video and third-party widgets as part of the journey. A site can have an accessible main navigation while its booking or payment step remains unusable.
Assessment and maintenance
Combine automated checks with manual review of representative journeys. A formal accessibility assessment needs a defined standard, scope and method; installing a widget alone does not establish accessibility.
Create an issue register with the affected task, reproduction steps, severity and owner. Fix shared components where possible and retest the task after changes. Avoid claiming complete compliance from a plugin installation or a one-off scan. State the standard, pages, methods and limitations of any formal assessment so the result can be interpreted correctly.
A practical example
Illustrative example: a keyboard user opens the mobile navigation but focus stays on content hidden behind the overlay. The menu looks normal in a screenshot, yet the interaction is confusing. Reproducing that complete open-and-close journey is more informative than checking whether the menu button has an accessibility label.
Your review checklist
- Test priority tasks with keyboard input and enlarged text.
- Review headings, labels, contrast and meaningful alternatives.
- Include third-party steps and important downloadable documents.
- Record scope, issues and retest evidence without overstating coverage.
Frequently asked questions
Can an automated scan confirm complete accessibility?
No. Automated checks identify certain issues, but human assessment is needed for content meaning, usability and interactions that tools cannot fully evaluate.
References and further reading
Related services and guides
- Website Design
- Premium Website Design: Typography, Imagery and Performance
- Colour and Typography for Arabic and English Websites
Discuss the next step
Plan Your Website Accessibility Review. Use the form below to discuss priority journeys, accessibility barriers, shared components and a scoped remediation plan. Share the relevant goals and existing arrangements; do not include passwords, private records or access tokens.
Plan Your Website Accessibility Review ↗
Reviewed and expanded on 15 October 2026. Examples are illustrative; the appropriate approach depends on your business requirements and existing systems.
