Website accessibility is often misunderstood, leading to many misconceptions about the effort required and the impact it can have on a business. Some organisations assume that accessibility compliance is only about adding alt text, while others see it as too costly or not relevant to their business.
In reality, it is about creating digital experiences that everyone can use, whether they have a disability or not. In this article, we debunk the most common accessibility myths and explain why they’re wrong, helping you make informed decisions about the inclusivity of your website.
Myth 1: “Website accessibility is only for people with disabilities”
The Truth: Accessibility is not just about helping people with disabilities; it’s about improving the user experience for everyone. Accessible websites are easier to navigate and interact with, regardless of the user’s abilities or accessibility needs. Mobile users, elderly individuals, and people in noisy or distracting environments all benefit from inclusive design too.
By focusing solely on people with disabilities, you overlook the wider group of users who benefit from accessible design. Accessibility is a core part of good design that helps all users, not just those who rely on assistive technologies.
Why it’s wrong: Accessibility isn’t just about meeting the needs of disabled users; it’s about creating an easier, more enjoyable experience for all visitors. Users with temporary impairments, like a broken arm or a child in a pram, as well as those in challenging environments (like bright sunlight), will also benefit from accessible websites.
Myth 2: “Accessibility is only about adding alt text to images”
The Truth: Whilst writing effective alt text is an important component, accessibility involves much more than just describing images. It includes ensuring that your website is fully navigable with a keyboard, that it works well with screen readers, and that all interactive elements are clearly identifiable.
Comprehensive accessibility means making sure that every aspect of your site, from colour contrast to form inputs, is optimised for all users in line with web compliance standards. Focusing on just one part of the accessibility equation means you’re missing out on improving the overall user experience for everyone, not just people using screen readers.
Why it’s wrong: Accessibility isn’t limited to visual content. It extends to interactive features, navigability, and usability for all users, including those with cognitive or motor disabilities. Improving accessibility goes beyond simply adding text to images; it’s about ensuring that your entire website is inclusive.
Myth 3: “My website is fine as long as it passes automated tests”
The Truth: Automated tests are useful for identifying certain issues, but they can’t detect all accessibility barriers, especially those that affect user experience. Manual testing, such as using screen readers, keyboard-only navigation, or real-world user feedback, is necessary to catch the issues that automated tools might miss.
Accessibility requires a holistic approach, not just a quick scan. Automated tools are helpful but are not a substitute for real-world testing. They can only find a limited range of issues, so relying on them exclusively means you’re missing out on potentially crucial accessibility problems that manual or inclusive user testing would reveal.
Why it’s wrong: Automated tools can only flag certain issues, such as missing alt text or broken links, but they can’t assess the overall usability of your site for people with disabilities. Many accessibility barriers, such as issues with screen readers or keyboard accessibility, can only be detected through manual testing or real-world user feedback.
Myth 4: “Accessibility is too expensive and time-consuming”
The Truth
The Truth: While accessibility improvements might require an initial investment, the long-term benefits far outweigh the costs. Strong website accessibility makes websites more user-friendly, increases customer satisfaction, and can boost your SEO performance. Additionally, addressing accessibility early in the design and development process is more cost-effective than retrofitting a site later. Investing in accessibility up front is a smart business decision. The costs of retrofitting a site later to become compliant are usually higher than addressing accessibility during the design phase.
Check out our guide on why accessibility is a strategic investment, which explores how taking action early creates long-term value through customer retention, expanded market reach and improved SEO.
Why it’s wrong: Addressing accessibility issues early on saves money in the long run. Retrofitting an inaccessible website can be costly and time-consuming, especially if accessibility problems are widespread. By making your site accessible from the outset, you ensure that your website serves a wider audience without needing costly fixes later.
Myth 5: “We’re not legally required to make our website accessible”
The Truth: In many regions, including the UK, the EU, and the US, there are legal requirements for digital accessibility, especially for public sector organisations or businesses with more than a certain number of employees. Failing to comply with accessibility laws can result in lawsuits, fines, or reputational damage. The accessibility of your website is not just a moral obligation; it can also be a legal one. Accessibility laws are increasingly becoming a legal requirement in many jurisdictions, and businesses that fail to comply are at risk of legal action.
Learn more in our article on the first European web accessibility lawsuits, which highlights how non-compliance is already leading to costly consequences for businesses.
Why it’s wrong: Legal obligations are becoming more common, and accessibility is increasingly seen as a human right. Ignoring accessibility could lead to costly legal battles and lawsuits, as well as damage to your reputation and loss of trust from customers. Staying ahead of accessibility regulations can protect your business and prevent costly fines.
Myth 6: “Only government and large organisations need accessible websites”
The Truth: Digital accessibility is important for organisations of all sizes, including small businesses and start-ups. In fact, making your website accessible can differentiate you from competitors and increase your market reach. Small businesses that cater to people with disabilities may gain a loyal customer base that values inclusivity. Accessibility isn’t just for big companies or government bodies; it benefits all businesses. A website that is accessible to everyone will help you stand out in the marketplace, build trust with customers, and create a better user experience for everyone, regardless of company size.
Why it’s wrong: Accessibility benefits businesses of all sizes. Many small businesses serve communities with disabilities, and by making their websites accessible, they show they care about all customers. In fact, small businesses may gain a competitive edge by being the first in their sector to offer a fully accessible website.
Myth 7: “Accessibility is only about visual impairments”
The Truth: Accessibility is much broader than just visual impairments. It also covers a wide range of disabilities, including hearing, motor, and cognitive impairments. Accessibility features such as captioning, clear navigation, and keyboard-only functionality benefit users with various needs and abilities. Designing with all impairments in mind ensures that no one is excluded and helps create an inclusive website that works for everyone, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing, have cognitive disabilities, or have motor impairments.
Why it’s wrong: Focusing only on visual impairments means ignoring users with different disabilities, such as those who rely on auditory cues or need assistance with motor tasks. Accessibility encompasses a variety of needs, and designing for a broad range of disabilities improves the user experience for all.
Myth 8: “Website accessibility only matters for users with permanent disabilities”
The Truth: Temporary disabilities (e.g., a broken arm or a short-term illness), situational impairments (e.g., using a mobile device in bright sunlight), and older users who experience changes in their physical or cognitive abilities can all benefit from accessible design. Designing for accessibility makes your site usable for a much broader audience than you might initially think. Accessibility benefits far more than just people with permanent disabilities. Anyone can face situational or temporary impairments, and accessible design ensures that all users, regardless of their circumstances, can use your site effectively.
Why it’s wrong: People with temporary impairments or those in specific situations, like using a phone in bright sunlight or holding their device with one hand, can face significant challenges on websites that aren’t designed with accessibility in mind. Accessibility is about creating an experience that works for everyone, no matter their current situation.
Myth 9: “This is a B2B website, there’s no demand for accessibility”
The Truth: Website accessibility is important for all websites, whether they are business-to-business (B2B) or business-to-consumer (B2C). Many businesses in the B2B sector are subject to the same accessibility laws and standards as consumer-facing websites. Additionally, many of your clients, partners, and employees may have disabilities, so ensuring that your website is accessible to them is just as crucial as attracting customers.
A business client may employ disabled people in critical roles, such as procurement, who need to interact with your website to do their job effectively. If your website isn’t accessible, you could be excluding employees who are vital to your client’s operations, potentially damaging your relationship with them and missing out on the benefits of digital accessibility for your business.
Why it’s wrong: Accessibility applies to all users, including employees, contractors, and partners in the B2B space. Many businesses are legally obligated to make their websites accessible, and you could be cutting yourself off from potential clients, partners, or even employees by ignoring accessibility.
Myth 10: “Website accessibility is just about compliance, not about user experience”
The Truth: Whilst compliance with accessibility guidelines (like WCAG) is important, the ultimate goal of accessibility is to provide a better user experience for everyone. Accessibility is about ensuring that people with disabilities can interact with your website as effectively as others. By focusing on creating an inclusive experience, you also improve usability for all users, which benefits your business in the long run. Compliance is only the starting point. Focusing on accessibility isn’t just about meeting legal or regulatory standards—it’s about creating a better, more inclusive experience for all users. A great user experience leads to increased engagement, higher retention, and ultimately, a more successful website.
Why it’s wrong: Accessibility is about more than ticking boxes. It’s about improving usability for everyone, not just meeting the minimum legal requirements. Accessible design makes websites easier to navigate, more enjoyable to use, and more functional for people with a variety of needs and abilities.
Myth 11: “Accessibility is just a ‘woke’ obligation for inclusion purposes”
The Truth: Accessibility is not about adhering to a “woke” agenda—it’s about ensuring that everyone can access the information, services, and products you offer. Designing accessible websites is a business decision that broadens your reach, boosts customer satisfaction, and ensures compliance with legal standards. In fact, making your website accessible can increase your customer base, drive more conversions, and improve your SEO. It’s a way of making your business more efficient, inclusive, and ready for the future, not a political or social statement. Accessibility is a vital part of digital innovation and user-centred design, not a “trend” to satisfy any particular social movement.
Why it’s wrong: Accessibility is not a passing trend or social obligation—it’s a fundamental part of creating an inclusive and functional online environment for everyone. It’s about ethical business practices, customer satisfaction, and legal compliance, not political correctness.
Final Thoughts
Debunking these common accessibility myths makes one thing clear: creating inclusive experiences is no longer a “nice to have” but an essential part of building a successful online presence. When it is treated as a core design principle rather than an afterthought, businesses see tangible benefits in usability, customer retention, SEO, and long-term growth.
Ready to join the many organisations stepping up their accessibility game? Work with our digital accessibility agency arc inclusion to build inclusive digital experiences that work for everyone and keep your business accessible for the future.