Why Accessibility in Web Design is a Must for Today’s Businesses

Why do we build websites? It’s a simple question with equally simple answers—most of the time. To connect with people. To sell products. To share stories. To provide services. At its heart, every website has a single core goal: to communicate. But here’s a truth that many businesses overlook: communication is only meaningful if it’s inclusive. And inclusivity is impossible without considering accessibility.

Now, some might feel this is a small or niche concern, the kind of thing that gets relegated to the “nice to have” list in the grand competition for time, budget, and resources. But what if we told you that accessibility is not a feature, not an afterthought, but an imperative? A non-negotiable component of design that every business should prioritise, not just because it’s the right thing to do but because it actively shapes the future of connection, impact, and growth.

Think of it this way. Imagine hosting a dinner party but only inviting some friends while deliberately ignoring others. Seems rude, doesn’t it? Now, imagine hosting the same dinner party but forgetting to account for guests who are vegetarian, lactose-intolerant, or have dietary restrictions. Suddenly, the evening feels less like an oversight and more like a cold declaration: “This space isn’t for you.”

This is the quiet message sent by inaccessible websites. Whether intentional or not, it says to some users: “You don’t belong here.”

Understanding Who Accessibility is For

When people hear the word accessibility, their first thought often goes to individuals with disabilities. While this is absolutely at the heart of why accessibility is important, it’s far from the whole picture. Accessibility isn’t about helping a small “special” group of people—it’s about unlocking ease and opportunity for everyone.

Consider the parents juggling toddlers while browsing a website on their phone with one hand. The forty-something getting tired of tiny fonts. The twenty-year-old international student whose native language isn’t English. The office worker in a crowded café where they can’t hear a video. Yes, accessibility serves people with disabilities, but it also serves friends, colleagues, neighbours, customers—people just like you. It’s as much for the human race as it is for humanity as individuals.

Accessible design acknowledges something we often forget: human beings are remarkably diverse. Our abilities, needs, and situations can vary dramatically based on where we are, what tools we have, or what stage of life we’re in. And all of these people are potential customers, collaborators or audiences for your website.

Addressing the Business Case

Some businesses resist making their websites more inclusive because they assume it’s unnecessarily costly or time-consuming. But let’s pause here for a moment and weigh the true cost of ignoring accessibility.

Firstly, there’s legal risk. Increasingly, countries around the world are enforcing laws that require websites to meet accessibility standards. In the United Kingdom, the Equality Act 2010 already makes it unlawful to discriminate against people with disabilities, and this extends to digital platforms. Non-compliance could lead to legal action, fines, and damage to your brand’s reputation.

But let’s look at what’s arguably more important than legal consequences—business growth. Can you afford to block millions of potential customers? Globally, over one billion people live with some form of disability. That’s an audience you’re cutting out before you even get started. And when you make your website difficult for them to use, you’re also alienating anyone else who experiences barriers, whether temporarily or situationally.

Think of it like constructing a shop with no wheelchair ramp or putting your checkout counter out of reach. It’s an unnecessary obstacle between you and your customer’s attention, trust, and money.

Moreover, inclusive websites actually function better for everyone—and that tends to translate into real, measurable business benefits. They load faster. They’re easier to navigate. They work better across devices and platforms. Search engines like Google also favour these optimised, user-friendly sites, which means better rankings and more organic traffic. Accessibility isn’t a burden for businesses; it’s a competitive advantage.

Keeping Empathy at the Core

Still, there’s an even larger, less tangible reason to prioritise inclusivity in web design: it’s a reflection of who you are as a business. Inaccessible design is a choice to turn away, to say, “I only care about this specific type of customer.” Inclusive design, on the other hand, says something powerful. It says, “We see you. We value all of you.”

Letting empathy shape your design isn’t just ethical. It’s human. It creates deeper trust and relationships. People remember when a company goes above and beyond to make them feel seen, respected and heard. And in today’s era of hyper-awareness, modern consumers don’t just want to invest in products or organisations—they want to invest in brands whose values align with their own.

Accessible design is optimistic. It holds the belief that every voice, every mind, every contribution matters. And that, when we make space for inclusion, we make space for innovation, creativity, and connection.

A Personal Reflection

Imagine losing something so integral to your everyday life that you hardly even think about it—your ability to see, or to hear, or to use your hands easily. Now, imagine navigating the world under these circumstances.

It’s hard, isn’t it? If you’ve never experienced disability, you might not even know where to start. But the truth is that for some of life’s most basic tasks—getting information, asking for help, paying a bill—websites are becoming lifelines. Personalized, intuitive spaces for convenience, independence and connection.

Some years ago, I was helping my elderly grandfather set up a utility payment online. At 85, his mobility was limited, and he couldn’t drive downtown to speak with someone in person. The website he needed to use, however, was unintuitive. The font was small and the buttons were tricky to navigate without precise hand movements. We spent nearly an hour fumbling together, frustrated and irritated that something meant to save time only wasted it.

What hit me in that moment was one clear thought: this didn’t need to be hard. If someone had considered another perspective during the website’s design, it could have been seamless. That human connection—the effort to make my grandfather’s life easier—was missing. Something clicked for me then. People don’t just need functionality; they need thoughtfulness. They need to feel included.

Looking to the Future

The web was created to democratise information, breaking down walls and building bridges. Today, we’re given the responsibility to refine that vision. This isn’t charity, nor obligation. It’s an investment in possibility.

When we see access as a baseline instead of an option, everyone wins. Customers get better experiences. Businesses get stronger relationships and larger audiences. And society moves one step closer to being just a little fairer, kinder.

Change happens incrementally, choice by choice. Will yours be to open more doors? Or to keep some locked?

Sarah Wu
Digital Strategist & Web Designer
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