Accessible Web Design: 10 Practical Tips for Owners

Updated: 29 October, 2026

Accessible web design means building a website that people can use whatever their abilities, devices or circumstances. That includes people who are blind or have low vision, people who are deaf or hard of hearing, people who cannot use a mouse, and people with dyslexia or other cognitive differences. It also helps anyone using a phone in bright sunlight, or reading a page in a noisy room.

This guide is written for owners in Liverpool and Merseyside who commission or manage a website and want to know what to ask for. You do not need to be technical. The ten tips below follow the quick checks the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) publishes for a first review of a site, plus a few practical points from the main guidelines. They are a starting point, not a full audit, and nobody can promise a particular result in search or sales from them. They do make your site easier to use.

The standard behind it: WCAG

The benchmark most people use is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). The W3C says the current version is WCAG 2.2, and it organises the guidelines under four principles: content should be perceivable, operable, understandable and robust. Each success criterion sits at level A, AA or AAA.

1. Describe your images

Images that carry meaning need a short text alternative, so people using a screen reader know what they show. The W3C's easy checks say it should describe the purpose of the image, not just list what is in it. Decorative images can be left with no description so they are skipped.

2. Give every page a clear title

The page title appears in the browser tab and is one of the first things a screen reader reads out. Make it specific, such as "Opening hours and prices | Your business name", rather than the same title on every page.

3. Use headings properly

Headings should show the structure of the page, with one main heading and subheadings beneath it. Screen reader users often move around a page by jumping between headings, so choose them for meaning, not because they look the right size. Our guide to what makes a great website covers how clear structure helps every visitor.

4. Check colour contrast

Text and buttons need enough contrast against their background. Pale grey text on white may look elegant on a designer's screen but is hard to read for many people. Free contrast checkers will test your brand colours, and a good designer will check them as part of the design.

5. Make it work with a keyboard

Some people cannot use a mouse and rely on the Tab key or other devices. Try it yourself: can you reach every link, menu and button using only the keyboard? The W3C also lists a visible keyboard focus as a quick check, meaning you can always see where you are on the page. A "skip link" at the top lets keyboard users jump past the menu to the main content.

6. Label your forms

Every form field needs a visible label telling people what to enter, and required fields should be marked. A contact form with only faint placeholder text inside the boxes is harder to use, especially with a screen reader or when the text disappears as you type.

7. Make text readable and resizable

Visitors should be able to zoom in or enlarge text and still read and use the page. Plain language and short paragraphs help everyone. A site built to be responsive generally copes better with zoom and small screens.

8. Set the page language

Telling the browser the page is in English helps screen readers pronounce words correctly. It is a one-line setting that your developer can check.

9. Caption and transcribe video and audio

The W3C's checks say video needs captions, and audio needs a transcript, so people who cannot hear it can still follow. Some videos also need audio description for important visual information. If you embed videos on your site, check that captions are switched on.

10. Do not rely on colour alone

If an error message is only shown in red, people who cannot see colour may miss it. Add words or icons so the message does not depend on colour alone.

Do you have to do this? A note on the law

Official guidance on this differs by type of organisation, so treat this as a summary and not legal advice. GOV.UK says that public sector websites and apps must meet the WCAG 2.2 AA standard and publish an accessibility statement. That guidance is aimed at the public sector, not private businesses. Separately, the Equality Act 2010 legally protects people from discrimination in wider society. If you are unsure how it applies to your website, speak to a solicitor. Even where no rule names your site, WCAG remains a sensible benchmark.

How to check your own site

Work through the ten points on a few key pages, such as your home page, contact page and any booking or checkout. Then try navigating with the keyboard only. The W3C is clear that its checks are quick and not exhaustive, so a page can pass them and still have barriers, but they are a useful first look. For a new build, include accessibility in your brief. Our post on how much a website costs explains what affects the price, and you can see our web design services or get in touch to talk it through.

Frequently asked questions

What is accessible web design?

It is designing and building a website so that as many people as possible can use it, including disabled people and people using assistive technology such as screen readers. It covers things like text alternatives for images, clear headings, enough colour contrast, keyboard use and labelled forms.

What is WCAG?

WCAG stands for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, published by the W3C. The current version is WCAG 2.2. Its success criteria are graded A, AA and AAA, and it is the standard most often used to judge whether a site is accessible.

Does my small business website have to be accessible by law?

GOV.UK sets out requirements for public sector websites and apps. Private businesses are not covered by that guidance, but the Equality Act 2010 protects people from discrimination, and how it applies to your site depends on your situation. Check with a solicitor if you are unsure.

Can I check my website's accessibility myself?

Yes, as a first step. The W3C's easy checks cover images, headings, contrast, keyboard use, forms, zoom and captions. They will not find everything, so for important sites ask your developer or a specialist for a fuller review.

Does accessibility make a website look worse?

No. Good accessible design is usually clear, uncluttered and easy to read, which helps all visitors. Most of the work is in choosing colours, structure and wording sensibly from the start.

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