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The World Wide Web is often celebrated as one of humanity’s greatest inventions, offering unprecedented access to information, services, and communication. Yet for many people with disabilities, the web has not always been as empowering or inclusive as it could be.
Studies indicate that around 99% of websites remain inaccessible to people with a wide range of needs, from visual and hearing impairments to cognitive and motor disabilities. This reality highlights the persistence of digital barriers, which limit opportunities and perpetuate inequality online.
So how did we get here? And more importantly, what can be done to ensure the web fulfils its promise of inclusivity?
The Early Web and the First Accessibility Barriers
When the web first emerged in the early 1990s, websites were basic. They consisted mainly of text-based pages with a few hyperlinks. This simplicity meant that many early websites were easier for people using assistive technologies, such as screen readers, to navigate.
As the internet grew, however, so did its complexity. Websites became more interactive, integrating images, videos, forms, and multimedia features designed to enrich user experience. While exciting, these advancements also introduced accessibility barriers. Without careful design, a single feature such as an unlabelled image or a poorly structured form could render an entire website unusable for someone with a disability.
Life Before Digital Access and Challenges for Blind Users
To appreciate the impact of digital inclusion, consider what life was like for blind users before the internet. Accessing information often meant waiting weeks or months for materials to be transcribed into Braille or audio. Newspapers, textbooks, and even basic public information were difficult to obtain in accessible formats.
The arrival of digital content changed everything. Assistive technologies like screen readers allowed blind users to interact with information in real-time, alongside everyone else. For many, this represented a turning point, removing longstanding barriers to education, employment, and daily life.
But while the internet promised equality, reality has often fallen short. Despite technological advances, many inaccessible websites still force people back into a world of waiting or exclusion.
The Tools Have Always Been There
What makes this issue particularly striking is that the tools to overcome digital barriers have existed for decades.
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Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). First introduced in the late 1990s, WCAG offers clear guidance for making web content usable by everyone.
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Semantic HTML. Properly structured code helps screen readers and other technologies interpret content accurately.
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Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA). Designed to make complex web applications more inclusive, ARIA ensures that dynamic content can be understood by assistive technologies.
Despite these resources, many organisations either fail to apply them correctly or ignore them entirely. This gap between knowledge and action has left countless users facing inaccessibility in their daily digital interactions.
Why Accessibility Is Still Overlooked by Businesses
There are several reasons why businesses and developers continue to neglect accessibility:
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Lack of awareness. Many designers are not trained in accessibility principles, so inclusivity is not considered from the start. Investing in accessibility role-based training can help close this knowledge gap.
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Accessibility as an afterthought. Instead of building with inclusivity in mind, some organisations attempt quick fixes late in the development process, which is less effective.
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Tight deadlines. When speed is prioritised, accessibility often slips down the list of requirements.
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Perception issues. Some companies view accessibility as optional, rather than a core element of user experience and legal compliance.
The irony is that failing to address these challenges results in greater cost and risk over time.
The Real-World Consequences of Inaccessibility
The consequences of ignoring accessibility are far-reaching.
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Exclusion. Around 15% of the global population lives with some form of disability. Excluding them through inaccessible websites means denying access to education, healthcare, shopping, and civic engagement.
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Legal exposure. In many jurisdictions, digital accessibility is no longer optional. Businesses can face lawsuits, fines, or reputational damage if they fail to comply with regulations. The number of accessibility-related lawsuits has risen steadily in recent years.
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Lost revenue. Beyond compliance, the business case for accessibility is strong. By removing digital barriers, companies expand their customer base and build brand loyalty among communities that are too often overlooked.
Consider retail. A user who cannot complete an online checkout because the form fields are not labelled properly is likely to abandon their purchase. Multiply that by thousands of potential customers, and the financial cost of inaccessibility becomes clear.
Examples of Progress in Overcoming Accessibility Barriers
Some organisations have demonstrated what is possible when accessibility is taken seriously. For instance:
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Government websites in the UK and Canada have adopted WCAG standards across all digital services, ensuring citizens can access vital information without unnecessary hurdles.
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Large e-commerce platforms like Apple and Amazon have invested heavily in inclusive design. Features such as screen reader-friendly product descriptions and keyboard-accessible navigation have made online shopping significantly more inclusive.
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Education platforms that implement accessibility from the ground up have enabled students with disabilities to engage in online learning on equal terms, especially important during the pandemic.
These examples prove that overcoming digital barriers is achievable with the right mindset and investment. If you’d like to see how we’ve supported organisations in doing this, visit our Work page.
A Path Forward to Breaking Digital Barriers
So, how can we move toward a more accessible internet?
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Adopt semantic HTML. Use proper structural elements like headings and landmarks, so assistive technologies can interpret content accurately.
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Follow WCAG guidelines consistently. Treat them as essential standards rather than optional advice.
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Leverage ARIA thoughtfully. Use it to enhance dynamic content, but only where necessary.
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Prioritise accessibility from the start. Build inclusivity into every project phase, from design to deployment.
This proactive approach reduces costs, improves user experience, and ensures compliance with legal frameworks.
Final Thoughts
The internet has the potential to be the most inclusive space humanity has ever created. Yet millions still face digital barriers every day because organisations fail to take accessibility seriously. The knowledge, tools, and standards already exist. What is missing is the consistent will to apply them.
Accessibility should never be viewed as an optional extra. It is a fundamental part of digital design, a driver of innovation, and a vital means of ensuring equality online. Businesses that embrace accessibility not only avoid legal risks, they also unlock opportunities to serve broader audiences and demonstrate genuine social responsibility.
If your organisation wants to identify and fix accessibility barriers, the first step is knowing where the problems lie. Tools like the Accessibility Scanner Tool provide clear insights into how inclusive your website really is. By using these resources, you can start removing digital barriers and create an online experience that works for everyone.
The time to act is now: build a web that is open, inclusive, and accessible to all.