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Journal · The Clarity Series · The basics

What is web accessibility?

By Nicholas Cabel The 60-second version lives on Instagram

Web accessibility means your website can actually be used by someone with a disability. If it cannot, you may be breaking the law, and courts are increasingly paying attention.

In plain English

It spans vision, meaning screen readers, contrast, and text alternatives; motor, meaning keyboard navigation and tap size; and cognitive, meaning clear language and consistent layout.

Three checks

01

Keyboard access

Tab through every function on your site without ever touching a mouse.

02

Screen reader

Confirm your content reads aloud in the right order, not a scrambled one.

03

Color contrast

Make sure low-vision users can actually read your text against its background.

Worth remembering

In 2024, plaintiffs filed 4,187 ADA digital-accessibility lawsuits, over eleven a day and rising.

That is not a niche legal risk anymore, it is a daily occurrence across the country. Small businesses get named in these suits just as often as large ones.

What to do about it

Most accessibility gaps are quiet until someone hits one. Get a free website audit and I will show you where your site falls short.

About the author

  • Nicholas Cabel

    Written by

    Nicholas Cabel

    Founder of MakeAndUpdate, a one-person web studio in West Chester, PA. Hand-codes fast websites for local businesses and builds in public.

    @makeandupdate