The Most Common Accessibility Issues in Web Design: How to Fix Them and Improve User Experience in 2024

The Most Common Accessibility Issues in Web Design: How to Fix Them and Improve User Experience in 2024

Evenness Evenness

Evenness

Enhancing digital accessibility for people's diverse health needs in work, learning, shopping, creating, and connecting.

发布日期: 2024年10月14日
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Did you know that the most common web accessibility issue in 2024 is low-contrast text? This seemingly simple problem was found on 81% of home pages. For people with low vision, color blindness, or cognitive difficulties, poor text contrast can make reading difficult, if not impossible, which leads to a frustrating and inaccessible web experience.

With technology moving at lightning speed, ensuring that websites are accessible to everyone—regardless of their abilities—should be a top priority. However, a staggering 95.9% of website home pages in 2024 still do not comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), the international standards designed to make digital content more accessible.

Why Accessibility Matters More Than Ever

In today’s fast-paced, tech-driven world, digital accessibility isn’t just about inclusivity—it’s about ensuring usability for everyone. Think of it as designing a ramp to make a building accessible to all. Just like physical spaces, the digital world should be easy for everyone to navigate. 

Users with health impairments represent a growing demographic that businesses and organizations cannot afford to ignore. As the demand for online services grows, so does the expectation that these services will be accessible. Whether it’s a retail website, an educational platform, or an immersive experience, ensuring that users of all abilities can easily engage with your content will soon be table stakes in web design.

The Most Common Web Accessibility Errors

Accessibility is about more than text contrast. Many websites are riddled with issues that make them difficult for users with diverse health profiles to navigate. On average, websites tested in 2024 had 56.8 accessibility errors per page, with some of the most common issues including:

  1. Low-Contrast Text: Found on 81% of websites, low-contrast text can make reading difficult for visual-impaired users. The Bureau of Internet Accessibility provides the free a11y? Color Contrast Validator , which can scan web content for potential WCAG failures. Designers can also input hex codes to test specific color combinations.

Here is an example of low-contrast text on a dark background that is hard to read.

An example of low-contrast blue text on a dark background that is hard to read

  1. Missing Alternative Text for Images: Found on 54.5% of websites, missing alt text for images is a major accessibility issue, especially for screen reader users who rely on these descriptions to understand visual content. While writing alt text isn’t difficult, it’s crucial to follow best practices. For more guidance, check out this article: What Is the Best Way to Write Alternative Text? Also, try ChatGPT

Also, you can try generating Alt Text with ChatGPT's help. Just be sure that the suggested description matches and describes the image correctly.

a screenshot of the ChatGPT screen showing an image. A request says "Write Alt text for this image". The system provides a description of the image after conducting analysis.

  1. Missing Form Input Labels: Found on 48.6% of websites, missing input labels make forms inaccessible to people using assistive technology. Luckily, input labels are easy to add, and automated accessibility testing tools can quickly detect when they’re missing. For example, you can try WAVE , a free Web Accessibility evaluation tool. For detailed instructions, read: Missing Input Labels: How to Fix a Common Accessibility Issue.
  2. Empty Hyperlinks: Found on 44.6% of websites, empty hyperlinks confuse users who rely on screen readers. These links lead to nowhere, disrupting the user experience. Fixing them is simple—appropriate tools, such as the Dead Link Checker , can automatically detect and address this issue.
  3. Missing Document Language: Found on 17.1% of websites, missing language tags can make a site difficult for screen readers to interpret, especially in multilingual contexts. Adding a single line of HTML code specifying the language of the page can fix this easily. See this article: Missing Language Tags Are Bad for Accessibility — And Easy to Fix . Code example (English language):

<html lang="en">

The changes may be small, but they can have a big impact on your users—and on your business.

Why Achieving an Accessible Internet is Still a Slow Path

Despite growing awareness of web accessibility, many organizations still face significant challenges in achieving compliance:

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  • Accessibility is often an afterthought: Most websites are designed with aesthetics or performance in mind first, and accessibility is bolted on later. When design decisions are made without considering users with disabilities, retrofitting accessibility into a completed website becomes more complicated and costly. Keep in mind that, on average, the estimated total cost of a 6-page website redesign is between $4,000 and $22,000, depending on complexity.
  • Limited budgets and resources: According to a 2024 study by WebAIM , over 70% of organizations cited budget constraints as a key barrier to implementing accessibility features. Smaller organizations, in particular, often lack the resources to invest in thorough accessibility audits or to train staff on best practices.
  • Inconsistent commitment from leadership: Although awareness of accessibility is rising, decision-makers often prioritize other business goals, such as increasing revenue or market share. In a 2023 survey by Level Access , 58% of businesses acknowledged that accessibility was a priority, but fewer than 30% had fully implemented accessibility programs. This gap reflects the competing priorities many organizations face.
  • Technical complexity and fast-changing web technologies: 

As of 2024, over 40% of websites rely on third-party content management systems (CMS) like WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal, which frequently update their core frameworks and plugins, potentially disrupting accessibility features. Writing code manually to implement accessibility standards, such as WCAG and ADA, is complex and requires a deep understanding of semantic HTML, ARIA attributes, and proper testing with assistive technologies. Moreover, when using website generator platforms like Squarespace and Wix, the process can become cumbersome due to limited customization options and the need to find suitable third-party apps, which often entails extensive research and additional costs. 

Emerging technologies like augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and AI-powered web experiences add further complexity. As of 2024, the immersive technology market is growing at an annual rate of 27.8%, with applications in e-commerce, education, and healthcare. However, AR and VR environments face unique accessibility challenges. For instance, creating inclusive VR experiences for people with visual impairments or those with limited mobility requires both hardware and software innovations that are still developing. Currently, fewer than 5% of VR applications meet the basic accessibility standards outlined by the W3C Immersive Web Working Group. 

Also, automated features like chatbots or dynamic content can sometimes bypass accessibility protocols, making it harder for screen readers or keyboard-only navigation to function properly. Studies show that 42% of AI-based web applications require additional accessibility customization to meet standards. If you are part of Salesforce Agentforce, there shouldn't be any issue as Salesforce prioritizes web accessible and sustainable design.

  • High cost and time commitment for manual audits: Manual accessibility audits are time-consuming and require specialized knowledge. For larger organizations with multiple web apps, platforms, and regions to manage, conducting comprehensive audits is expensive and labor-intensive. A manual audit can take up to 26 weeks and cost anywhere between $3,000 to $50,000, depending on the complexity of the site, which is a major obstacle for many businesses.

On the bright side, AI-powered accessibility solutions, like Evenness' real-time accessibility auditing tools, are emerging to help alleviate these challenges. This, along with growing government pressure and public demand, gives hope that the web will become more accessible in the near future.

Regulatory Push: Key Web Accessibility Standards Across Geographies

Web accessibility is regulated through various laws and standards around the world. Here are some of the key guidelines and regulations that businesses should be aware of:

  • Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) : Developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), WCAG outlines the global standards for making web content more accessible to people with disabilities. The latest version, WCAG 2.1, was published in 2018, with WCAG 2.2 expected to be finalized in 2024. Adhering to these guidelines is essential for organizations aiming to enhance web accessibility.
  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) : In the United States, the ADA mandates that all public accommodations, including websites, must be accessible to individuals with disabilities. Although the law does not explicitly mention web accessibility, many courts have interpreted it to include digital content.
  • Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act: This U.S. law requires federal agencies and organizations receiving federal funds to ensure that their electronic and information technology is accessible to people with disabilities. Compliance with WCAG is often seen as a best practice for meeting these requirements.

* European Accessibility Act (EAA): Effective from June 2025, the EAA aims to improve the accessibility of products and services across the European Union. This legislation extends to websites and mobile applications, requiring public and private sector organizations to ensure their digital services are accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. By establishing common accessibility requirements, the EAA enhances the rights of individuals with disabilities to access digital content and fosters a more inclusive online environment across member states.

--> Link to the European Accessibility Act 2025

  • EN 301 549 : This European standard sets out accessibility requirements for public procurement of ICT products and services. It aligns with WCAG and provides guidelines for ensuring that digital technologies are accessible in the public sector.
  • UK Equality Act 2010 : In the UK, this law requires that organizations do not discriminate against individuals with disabilities, including in their online presence. While not specifically focused on web accessibility, it has led to increased awareness and compliance with WCAG.
  • Canada's Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) : This legislation mandates that organizations in Ontario ensure their websites meet specified accessibility standards by 2025. The act emphasizes the importance of accessibility in digital content and services.

These laws and standards vary in their enforcement and application, but they all share a common goal: ensuring that digital experiences are accessible to everyone. Businesses that fail to comply risk legal action, financial penalties, and damage to their reputation.


A man with multiple injuries, including a neck brace, bandaged head, and arm in a cast, sits in a wheelchair during a meeting with a woman at a desk. The woman, who appears to be a professional, possibly a doctor, listens attentively with a laptop in front of her. The setting is a well-lit office with large windows.
A man with multiple injuries sits in a wheelchair during a meeting with a woman professional, possibly a doctor, at a desk. The setting is a well-lit office with large windows.

The Business Case for Web Accessibility

Aside from legal obligations, web accessibility is essential to building a user-friendly digital experience for anyone, whether they are healthy, have life-long health impairments, or are recovering from injuries. By removing accessibility barriers, you can attract a broader audience, improve customer satisfaction, and enhance your site’s overall usability. Not only that, accessible websites often perform better in search engine (SEO) rankings, which can lead to more traffic and better conversion rates.

Beyond compliance, making your website accessible is a smart business move. Enhancing readability with proper contrast, adding meaningful alt text for images, and ensuring clear navigation benefits all users, not just those with health impairments. Addressing these issues can significantly improve how users engage with your content, driving both user experience and business growth.
So, what accessibility feature do you plan to start working on today?


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