Why is this so important?
At first glance, many websites appear to function well. Everything looks neat, buttons do what they are supposed to do, and the site loads quickly. However, in practice, accessibility often falls short. Not because of major errors, but because of small details that together pose a significant problem for some users.
Since the introduction of the European Accessibility Act, accessibility has become increasingly important. But regardless of legislation, it is primarily a matter of quality. Below, we discuss a number of common mistakes that we often encounter in practice.
This law prevents countries from applying different rules, making it easier for companies to operate internationally. At the same time, millions of people within the EU are gaining better access to digital services. A win-win, right?
Insufficient color contrast
One of the most common problems is insufficient contrast between text and background. Text may look visually appealing, but still be difficult to read for people with visual impairments or color blindness.
Think of light gray text on a white background or colored text on a busy image. What is perfectly legible for one user may be unusable for another.
Good contrast ratios are not a design limitation, but a basic requirement for legibility.
Forms without clear labels
Forms are often a crucial part of a website. Contacting someone, requesting a quote, or placing an order. Yet we regularly see forms without clear labels or with only placeholders.
This is a major problem for screen reader users. Once the placeholder disappears, it is no longer clear what needs to be filled in. This also causes confusion for users without assistive technology.
A good form is always clear, even without visual context.
Navigation that does not work with the keyboard
Not everyone uses a mouse. Some users navigate entirely with the keyboard. However, many websites are not designed for this.
Menus that cannot be tabbed, dropdowns that do not open, or focus that disappears completely. This makes a website practically unusable for a large group of people.
Keyboard navigation is not an extra feature, but an essential part of accessibility.
Missing or incorrect alt texts
Images without alt text are invisible to screen readers. This means that important information is lost. At the same time, we also see the opposite: alt texts that are too long or do not contain relevant information.
A good alt text describes what is needed to understand the content. No more and no less.
Decorative images may be empty, but informative images should not be.
No visible focus states
When navigating a website with the keyboard, it should always be clear where you are. However, focus states are often completely missing or so subtle that they are barely noticeable.
This causes confusion and makes navigation unnecessarily difficult. Clear focus indicators not only improve accessibility, but also the overall user experience.
Accessibility is in the details
Many accessibility issues are not major interventions, but small choices made during design and development. That is precisely why accessibility is something that must be taken into account from the outset.
It is possible to resolve issues retrospectively, but this often takes more time and effort.
What can you do now?
If you want to know how your website is doing, an initial check is a good first step. This will give you insight into where the biggest bottlenecks are and what the priorities are.
Accessibility is not a one-off action, but an ongoing process. Regular testing, improvement, and adjustment are part of this.
Websites that work well for everyone are not only more accessible, but also more user-friendly, reliable, and future-proof.
Want to know if your website meets current accessibility requirements? Then now is a good time to take a serious look at it.
Jesse Kramer
As a web developer, I am always working to improve my work and explore new technologies. My focus is on creating accessible digital experiences that can be used by everyone, regardless of their situation. I draw inspiration from the technology behind websites and the way people interact with them.
Questions about this topic?
jesse@sumix.nl