Website accessibility: Top tips

Ever wondered where to begin with web accessibility? You're not alone.

Ensuring your website is accessible can be a long and expensive process, especially if accessibility isn't considered from the start.

This Global Accessibility Awareness Day, we're sharing info on changes to accessibility regulations, how you can get started and the real results of creating accessible experiences. 👇

Short on time? Here's 12 web accessibility tips in this 3 min video.

Accessibility has always been important for websites, but now governments worldwide are taking it more seriously than ever. Regulations like the European Accessibility Act (EAA) coming in June 2025 demonstrate a significant shift – with legal ramifications and penalties for non-compliance.

🎧 Listen in about the changes 🎧

Whether or not your organization operates in Europe, understanding this heightened focus on accessibility is crucial, as similar requirements are likely to quickly emerge in other regions.

What will you need to check on your website?

1. Content: Add alt text for images, provide captions for videos, ensure content works across different devices
2. Navigation: Create clear heading structures (H1, H2, H3), ensure keyboard accessibility for all features
3. Design: Maintain proper color contrast (at least 4.5:1 for normal text), avoid flashing content, allow text resizing
4. Forms: Use clear labels for form fields, provide helpful error messages, make corrections easy

How can you get started? Take a look at these six practical steps.

Serving 36,000 students across Scotland's remote Highlands and Islands, UHI faced unique challenges in making its digital presence accessible to all. 

However, built-in accessibility auditing tools transformed their approach.

"The content and accessibility auditing tools offered us tremendous added value," says Llewelyn Bailey, UHI Web Officer.

By identifying duplicate content, fixing document issues, and using accessibility reporting, UHI achieved remarkable results:

• 83% reduction in accessibility-related issues
• Faster-loading web pages
• Improved search accuracy

Today, Squiz Optimization tools remain "central to UHI's ongoing governance," helping them track compliance and prioritize improvements.