what website accessibility is and why it matters

Who needs a web accessibility audit?

If Your Organization Has a Website, This Applies to You.

Web accessibility requirements essentially apply to any business, organization, or non-profit that has a public-facing website.


And any organization with a public-facing website has a responsibility — and increasingly, a legal obligation — to ensure that the site is usable by people with disabilities. A disability can range from vision and dexterity issues, auditory disability, and even something short-term, like a broken hand or eye surgery.


That said, the urgency and specific obligations will vary depending on your organization's type. 

Small Businesses and E-Commerce

You built your website to attract customers, generate leads, and support your business. If a portion of your visitors can't navigate it, complete a form, or read your content, you're losing business — and potentially exposing yourself to legal risk.


ADA Title III covers businesses that serve the public. Federal courts have applied this to websites, and demand letters and lawsuits targeting small business websites have increased steadily.


Most of these cases involve straightforward accessibility failures that could have been resolved for a fraction of the cost of litigation, or even by the website owner with a few minor changes. You can learn more about the ADA's Guidance on their website here.


A professional accessibility audit gives you a clear picture of where your website stands and what should be addressed, as outlined in your Accessibility Statement.


A strong Accessibility Statement is a practical, proactive step — not a guarantee of perfection, but a meaningful demonstration of good-faith effort toward compliance.


Common issues we find on small-business websites include:


  • Missing image alternative text that describes the image for users of screenreaders.
  • Unlabeled form fields to ensure the visitor can complete them
  • Poor color contrast between fonts and backgrounds
  • PDF or image restaurant menus
  • Documents that aren't accessible, such as graphics that display important information


To learn more about these and other accessibility WCAG guidelines, visit their website here.

Nonprofit Organizations

Nonprofits serve everyone in their communities — including people with disabilities. If your mission is centered on inclusion, equity, or community service, your website should reflect those values.


Many nonprofits receive federal or state funding, which can trigger specific accessibility requirements under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act or, for government grantees, Section 508. Even without those requirements, donors, board members, and the communities you serve increasingly expect digital accessibility as a baseline.


Verified 501(c)(3) organizations receive a reduced rate because we understand that nonprofit budgets are limited. Accessibility shouldn't be out of reach for organizations doing important work.


Common issues we find on nonprofit websites:


  • Event flyers posted as images (with text that can't be read by assistive technology)
  • Inaccessible donation forms
  • Video content without captions

Government Agencies and Municipalities

State and local government entities are subject to clear and enforceable federal requirements. The Department of Justice's 2024 final rule under ADA Title II mandates that state and local government websites conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA. Deadlines vary by population size, but the requirement is mandatory.


Cities, counties, school districts, special districts, and other public entities need to understand where their websites currently stand, what remediation is needed, and how to maintain conformance over time. An audit report provides the documentation and roadmap to meet that requirement.


We have specific experience with the types of websites common in local government — including sites for parks and recreation, public utilities, planning and zoning, and municipal court — and understand the platform constraints these organizations often work within.


Common issues we find on government websites:


  • PDFs that aren't properly tagged for screen readers
  • Inaccessible online forms
  • Poor keyboard navigation
  • Pages that don't meet color contrast requirements


Learn more about these issues at the Deque University website here.

Schools and Educational Institutions

K-12 schools, community colleges, and educational nonprofits that receive federal funding are subject to both Section 504 and, in many cases, Section 508 requirements. Beyond compliance, schools have a particular responsibility to ensure students, parents, and community members with disabilities can access information.

Professional Service Firms

Attorneys, accountants, healthcare providers, financial advisors, and other professionals often assume their websites are too simple to have accessibility issues.


In practice, even a basic five-page website can have multiple failures — and professional liability adds an additional layer of consideration for firms in regulated industries.