FAQ about Website Accessibility

As the internet becomes an essential part of everyday life - whether for work, education, or entertainment - creating accessible websites is not just a best practice; it's a legal and ethical obligation.

This FAQ answers common questions about website accessibility, including what it means, why it matters, and how to make your website more accessible. Whether you're a web developer, content creator, business owner, or just curious about accessibility, this guide will help you understand the essentials and point you toward helpful resources.

Note: At one.com, we do our best to provide the tools needed to ensure that you can build and maintain a website that adheres to accessibility requirements. However, you are ultimately responsible for full compliance. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you familiarise yourself with your local or regional laws for accessibility, as there might be requirements for you that are not addressed in this article. 

What does it mean to have an accessible website?

An "accessible website" ensures that all or most users, including those with permanent or temporary disabilities or conditions, can navigate and interact with its content on desktop and mobile devices.

Although the exact requirements vary by country or region, most adhere to the guidelines laid out by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) international standard, which states that the following features define an accessible website:

 

  • Perceivable - Website content must be presented in a way that makes it perceivable to the user, i.e. not invisible to all their other senses if one cannot be used. Practical examples include providing alt-texts for images, video captions, or audio transcripts.
  • Operable - Everyone should be able to navigate the website. This could mean ensuring that all functionality is available via keyboard.
  • Understandable - The way the website works must be understandable. For instance, pages must have predictable and consistent behaviour, and text should be rendered in clear language.
  • Robust - The website and its content must be updated and compatible with assistive technologies (such as screen readers).

Why is it important to have an accessible website?

Disabilities vary widely and impact many people and how they interact with online content. Some disabilities are present from birth, while others - such as age-related vision or hearing loss - develop over time. Temporary conditions, like those caused by surgery, injury, or concussion, can also affect digital access during recovery.

It is estimated that in the European Union alone, around 100 million people at any moment live with some form of disability. In short, a large number of people could be permanently or temporarily excluded from using your website if it's not made accessible.

Moreover, having an accessible website benefits everyone, not just people with disabilities. Even something as simple as being able to switch on subtitles for a video if a person in it is speaking in a dialect that you struggle to understand can decide whether you'll be able to interact with the content.

In many cases, minor adjustments to your website are all that are needed to make it more accessible. This, in turn, makes life easier for many and ensures more people can visit and enjoy your website.

Is it required by law to have an accessible website?

Yes, in many countries, websites are legally required to be accessible, especially if they are associated with the public sector or otherwise serving the public.

The exact legal framework is region—and country-specific. We strongly recommend that you check the local laws of your jurisdiction to determine which requirements apply to your website.

Below, you'll find links to resources that apply to the European Union, the UK and the US:

European Union:

US:

UK: 

Do these accessibility requirements extend to mobile apps?

It depends on regional laws and regulations, but in many areas, such as the European Union and the UK, accessibility requirements also apply to mobile apps.

We recommend that you check your region's accessibility laws to be sure. You can find some of the most frequently sought-after resources here.

How do I know if my website is accessible or not?

There are several tools available online that you can use to check your site's accessibility. For example, you can try these:
 

Although we cannot check your website's accessibility, our support can help you if you have a specific question about accessibility or how to adjust specific aspects of your website if it was built with our Website Builder tool.

Do I have to make extensive changes to make my website accessible?

Not necessarily. Many websites built with template-based builders already incorporate key accessibility best practices, such as using semantic headings and appropriate colour contrast. Ensuring your site remains accessible may simply involve making a few minor adjustments or becoming familiar with best practices when editing the site or adding new content.

If you have a Website Builder site, you can find a checklist of items that may need to be added or adjusted in our guide: How can I make my Website Builder site more accessible?

I have a Website Builder site. Are there particular features that support accessibility?

Yes, and we've made a separate guide with tips and recommendations for improving accessibility on your Website Builder site: How can I make my Website Builder site more accessible?

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