Let’s Talk About Website Accessibility (And Let’s Be Honest About It)
At Rebellion Websites, we talk a lot about website accessibility, not just because it’s a buzzword.
It’s because the internet is still a hostile place for millions of users who rely on assistive technology to browse, work, learn, and live online.
And too often, the solution businesses are sold?
A plugin.
- Not training.
- Not thoughtful design.
- Not structured code.
Just a plugin.
And here’s the truth: that’s not accessibility.
Website Accessibility Isn’t Just About How It Looks
Accessibility doesn’t just mean “bigger fonts” or “toggle dark mode.”
It means:
- Properly structured headings
- Keyboard navigation
- Descriptive alt text
- Logical page flow
- Meaningful ARIA roles
- Labelled form fields
- Focus indicators
- Compatibility with screen readers, not confusion
You can’t fix that with a WordPress plugin.
You have to build it in.
Most People with Disabilities Already Have Their Own Tools
This is a key point that often gets missed:
Most users with disabilities already use their own assistive tech.
That includes:
- Screen readers (JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver)
- Screen magnifiers
- Speech recognition software
- Browser or system-level accessibility settings
So what do they need from you?
A website that works properly with their tools.
If your website is built poorly—if your code is a mess, your headings are out of order, and your buttons aren’t labelled—no screen reader in the world can save it.
Real-World Contrast: What Works vs. What Fails
Poor contrast is one of the most common accessibility fails. It might look “stylish” to the designer, but to someone with visual impairments, it’s unreadable.
- ❌ Contrast fail: Light grey text on a white background
- ✅ Contrast win: Dark text on a light background with clear visual hierarchy
Accessible design isn’t less beautiful. It’s more thoughtful.
The Proof: Accessibility in Numbers
Here are the facts:
Over 2.5 billion people worldwide need one or more assistive products. But nearly 1 billion still don’t have access to them.
Souce: WHO
In high-income countries, up to 90% of people who need assistive tools have access to them.
Source: WHO Fact Sheet
Plugins Aren’t the Fix
We’ve seen the industry’s go-to solution: free plugins, overlays, and accessibility badges with no real backbone.
And we’ve tested them ourselves.
Most just add a floating toolbar with a few token features—font size buttons, contrast toggles, and maybe a “skip to content” link. Some don’t do anything helpful. Some actually slow the site down.
But worst of all? They don’t fix the actual problems:
- ❌ Missing semantic HTML
- ❌ Incorrect heading hierarchy
- ❌ Inaccessible navigation menus
- ❌ Poor focus states
- ❌ Lack of ARIA roles
- ❌ No label-to-input association on forms
That’s not inclusion. That’s performance art.
And on the flip side…
We tested one plugin that swung so far in the other direction, it practically shouted at us the moment we landed on the page.
Every link, every menu item—read aloud, loudly and immediately. It was chaotic, overwhelming, and ironically made the site harder to use for everyone.
In trying to solve the problem with a single overengineered add-on, it became the problem.
The harsh truth? Many web designers still don’t understand what accessibility really means—and worse, they’re not building for users.
They’re building for clients. For sales pages. For checkboxes.
The European Accessibility Act: Change Is Coming
Starting 28 June 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) comes into force.
What it means:
- All businesses offering digital services to EU users, including e-commerce sites, mobile apps, and more, must comply with accessibility standards
- This includes WCAG 2.1 AA and EN 301 549 compliance
- Micro-enterprises may be partially exempt, but the direction is clear: accessibility is becoming law
“The aim is to improve the functioning of the internal market for accessible products and services by removing barriers created by divergent rules.”
Source: European Commission
If your site isn’t compliant, you’re not just excluding people—you may also be breaking the law.
🇬🇧 What About the UK?
While the UK is no longer part of the EU, the EAA’s impact still resonates:
- UK businesses trading in the EU must comply with the EAA to continue offering products and services within EU markets.
Source: AbilityNet - Domestically, the UK relies on the Equality Act 2010, which mandates “reasonable adjustments” for individuals with disabilities.
Source: Hogan Lovells - The UK has not yet adopted the EAA into its legislation, and there are currently no official plans to do so.
However, with the EAA setting a new standard across the EU, it’s plausible that the UK may consider aligning its laws in the future to maintain consistency and competitiveness. While we can’t provide a definitive timeline, businesses should stay informed and proactive in adopting website accessibility best practices.
Big Budgets, Big Pressure — But What About Everyone Else?
Government websites, councils, and tech giants have the budget to chase full compliance—and in some cases, to show off that they are.
But what about small businesses? Local trades? Independent brands?
How many of those sites have accessibility built in?
Not many.
Not because they don’t care, but because no one’s told them it’s their responsibility. Or they’ve been handed a plugin and told, “This’ll do.”
And it’s costing them.
These aren’t just vanity metrics. These are real users, potentially spending real, hard-earned money, and if your site shuts them out from the start, you’ve lost them before they ever clicked “Contact Us.”
The State of Web Accessibility: A Wake-Up Call
Accessibility is not just a “nice-to-have” feature; it’s an essential part of building inclusive websites. According to WebAIM’s Million Project, which analyzes the accessibility of the top 1 million websites, the results are shocking:
- 98% of websites have accessibility errors, with issues like missing alternative text, poor contrast, and non-functional form labels.
- Contrast issues are one of the most common accessibility problems, preventing people with visual impairments from fully engaging with websites.
- Semantic HTML is often neglected, making it difficult for screen readers to interpret content properly.
These findings highlight the need for businesses to take accessibility seriously. WebAIM’s Million Project serves as a wake-up call for website owners, showing that most sites are falling short when it comes to meeting the needs of all users.
Read the full findings here: WebAIM Million
The Rebellion Way: Website Accessibility Built In
At Rebellion Websites, we don’t slap on a plugin and call it a day.
We:
- Follow WCAG 2.1 standards from the ground up
- Structure every page logically with proper heading hierarchies
- Ensure keyboard navigation works everywhere
- Add ARIA roles, landmarks, and labels where needed
- Avoid traps that confuse screen readers
- Design and test for clarity, not just looks
Because you can’t claim to care about your customers if you’re ignoring the ones who can’t use your site.
Final Thought: Call It What It Is
Accessibility isn’t a feature.
It’s not a checkbox.
It’s not a plugin.
And it’s definitely not optional.
It’s how you prove your website is for everyone.
It’s how you show your business isn’t just talking about values—you’re building them into the foundation.
And if your web designer doesn’t understand that, you need a new one.
💬 Want to make your website actually accessible—not just for show?
Contact Us