Website Design Accessibility: Why It Matters and What It Costs

When we talk about website design, we usually talk about things like colors, fonts, layouts, photography, strategy, SEO—the fun stuff. Website accessibility doesn't always make that list.

Mostly because the word accessibility can sound a little technical. And, I don't know about you, but my brain has a bad habit of translating technical into boring. But accessibility is really just about making sure the people who visit your website can actually use it, understand it, and comfortably move through it.

And yes, we can do that without making your website boring. In fact, a website that's accessible and full of personality? That's the sweet spot.

What Does Website Accessibility Actually Mean?

At its simplest, website accessibility means designing your site so that people with different abilities and needs can still interact with your content. That includes thinking about visitors who are visually impaired, but it can go beyond that too.

• Can someone clearly read the text against the background?

• Are the fonts easy to read?

• Does the layout make sense as you move down the page?

• Are buttons and forms obvious and functional?

• Does the mobile version feel just as easy to navigate as the desktop version?

• And are all those cool animations helping the experience—or making it harder for someone to use the website?

There are established Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) that cover things like color contrast, readable content, navigation, motion, keyboard accessibility, and much more.

But as a designer, I also think accessibility requires something guidelines can't completely replace: actually thinking about the human being using the website.

One Client Completely Changed How I Think About Website Animation

I had a therapist client whose website included a scrolling movement effect. It looked good. I liked it.

Then she asked me to remove it because the movement could potentially be overstimulating for some of the people in her audience.

And I loved that feedback.

It was something I hadn't really considered before that project, and it completely changed the way I think about movement on websites. Accessibility guidance does address unnecessary or distracting motion, including giving users ways to avoid certain animation effects.

But that client helped me understand the why behind it in a way a checklist never could.

Ever since then, I've been much more mindful about how I use scrolling effects and animation—unless, of course, a client specifically wants a highly animated experience. It also made me especially conscious of accessibility when I'm designing for businesses in the health and

wellness space. Those websites can serve such a broad audience when it comes to age, abilities, sensitivities, and individual needs. You don't always know who is going to land on your website.

That's kind of the point.

Your Brand Colors May Need a Tiny Adjustment

This is probably the accessibility issue I encounter most often.

A client comes to me with their established brand colors, and one or more of the color combinations don't have enough contrast when they're used on a website.

That doesn't mean we're throwing your entire brand guide into the trash. Nobody panic.

Usually, I create a slightly lighter or darker version of the color—or sometimes both—that we can use strategically throughout the website.

Your original brand color can still exist. We just need to be thoughtful about where and how we use it. WCAG includes minimum contrast recommendations specifically because adequate contrast makes text easier to read for people with low vision and other visual impairments.

This is one of those things most business owners simply don't know about. And why would you?

If you aren't working in web design every day, there's no reason you should automatically know whether your dusty mauve passes a contrast test against cream.

That's part of my job.

I would much rather explain why I'm making a small adjustment than quietly make the change or tell a client that something in their branding is "wrong."

I've also never really had clients push back on it. Once I explain the reason, most people want the same

thing I do:

A website that everyone can actually use.

Accessibility Doesn't Have to Kill the Personality of Your Website

I think this is where people sometimes get nervous.

They've finally found the perfect color.

They've fallen in love with a font.

They saw a really cool website animation on Pinterest.

And now here comes accessibility telling us we can't have nice things.

Except…not really.

Most of the time we're talking about relatively minor adjustments.

Maybe the pink needs to be slightly darker when there's white text on top of it.

Maybe your decorative font works beautifully for large headings but isn't the best choice for paragraphs.

Maybe we use that fun animation once instead of having every section fly, spin, bounce and somersault onto the screen.

Creative design and accessibility don't have to compete with each other.

At the end of the day, your website needs to work for you, not against you.

A beautiful website someone struggles to read isn't doing its job.

What I Check During a Website Project

Accessibility isn't something I suddenly remember the night before launch and start frantically checking. It's built into my design and development process.

Before I even start building, I'm already looking at things like color contrast and font readability. Then throughout the build I'm continually checking how the website translates to mobile, whether the layout makes sense, whether the navigation feels intuitive and whether buttons and forms work the way they're supposed to.

Before the website goes live, those things are checked again. It doesn't mean every small-business website needs an enormous accessibility audit or a dozen specialized tools.

It means accessibility should be part of making thoughtful design decisions from the beginning.

So, Does Making a Website Accessible Cost More?

This is where there's an important distinction.

For a standard professionally designed website, basic accessibility considerations should already be part of the designer's process.

I don't think readable typography, appropriate color contrast, logical layouts, working buttons, usable forms and mobile readability should be treated like premium upgrades. Those are part of building a good website.

There can, however, be situations where a project has accessibility needs beyond the typical scope.

A business might need specialized functionality, additional accessibility testing, custom development or a

paid third-party tool or plugin. In those cases, additional work or software could increase the cost of the project.

But for the average small-business website? A lot of accessibility simply comes down to good, intentional web design.

Your Website Can Be Accessible AND Feel Like You

You don't have to choose between a website that represents your business and one that's accessible. We can have both.

We can use the beautiful colors, thoughtful typography, personality-filled imagery and creative details that make your website feel uniquely yours while still being intentional about how people experience it.

And that's ultimately the goal.

Not checking a technical box just for the sake of checking it.

Not stripping every ounce of creativity out of your website.

But creating something that looks good, feels like your business and works for the people you built it for.

Because accessibility isn't something we should overlook.

It's simply part of creating a better website.