What is Accessibility (a11y)?
Making your site usable for everyone — regardless of ability. Often a legal requirement, and simply the right thing to do.
Accessibility (often shortened to a11y — the eleven letters between a and y) means that everyone should be able to use your website or app, regardless of ability. That includes people with low vision, blindness, limited mobility, colour blindness, or those who use assistive tools like a screen reader (software that reads content aloud).
A good analogy is a wheelchair ramp outside a building. The ramp does not remove the stairs for people who can walk, but it opens the door for those who otherwise could not get in at all. Digital accessibility works the same way: clear contrast, text that can be enlarged, images with descriptions, and pages that work with a keyboard — all of that lets more people in.
And the upside is that accessibility often makes the site better for everyone. Clear text and logical structure is appreciated by all visitors, not just those with specific needs.
Why is accessibility important for your business?
In many countries, accessibility is legally required — including the EU's European Accessibility Act and similar laws in the UK, US, and elsewhere. Building accessibly is partly about staying compliant and avoiding problems.
But it is also plain business sense. A large group of people have some form of disability, and an inaccessible site simply shuts out potential customers. Accessibility brings you more visitors, a better reputation, and simply feels right.
Accessibility in practice
Imagine someone with low vision who wants to book an appointment with your business using a screen reader. On an accessible site, buttons and fields are correctly labelled, so the screen reader can announce "Book appointment, button" and the person can complete the booking entirely on their own.
On an inaccessible site, the screen reader might hit unlabelled buttons read aloud as "button, button, button" — and the person gives up. We build with accessibility in mind so you both stay compliant and reach all your customers.
Common questions about Accessibility (a11y)
What does accessibility (a11y) mean?
Accessibility means everyone should be able to use a website or app regardless of ability. The abbreviation a11y stands for the eleven letters between a and y in the word accessibility.
Is accessibility a legal requirement?
In many places, yes. The EU's European Accessibility Act and laws like the UK's Equality Act and the US ADA set requirements for digital accessibility. Building accessibly helps you stay compliant and avoid problems.
What makes a site accessible?
Clear colour contrast, text that can be enlarged, image descriptions, correctly labelled buttons, and everything working with a keyboard and screen reader. Much of this also makes the site better for all visitors.
Related terms
Web Design
The art of making a site both look good and work well. Like interior design — except the furniture also has to be easy to find.
A/B Test
Show different versions to different users and see which wins. Stop guessing — start measuring.
Dark Mode
Dark theme — easier on the eyes, can save battery, and makes everything look noticeably sharper. We build it in by default.
Design System
A library of reusable design components and rules. Keeps everything looking and feeling consistent.
Mockup
Wireframe + visual design = mockup. A static image of how it will look. Clickable? Then it is a prototype.
Prototype
A clickable version of the design. Test flows before a single line of code is written. Saves weeks of work.