Inclusive Accessibility – Does it matter?

Website design is only part of the story. A beautiful website that some people are not able to use is not serving its purpose.

Inclusive accessibility is about people, whether it is a student navigating a website entirely with a keyboard, a busy parent zooming in on their phone, or someone visually impaired using a screen reader to scan through a page – everyone should get a smooth, frustration-free experience.

When it comes to building inclusive websites, it is the behind-the-scenes details that make the biggest difference. Recent improvements in how content is structured show how subtle adjustments can have a huge impact on accessibility, without altering the visual design.

Testimonials as Quotes


Testimonials are now being marked up using blockquotes, helping users understand that the words are a quotation from someone else, not part of the main content. Although a small tweak, it makes the reading experience far clearer for those using assistive technology.

Blog Posts as Lists


On blog and archive pages, posts are now structured using semantic list markup, allowing screen readers to announce how many items are in the list. This makes navigation more predictable and helps users get a better sense of where they are on the page.

More Than Just Colour for Links


Users with low vision or colour vision deficiencies may not notice the change of a links colour on hover. To meet WCAG guidelines, hover states now include additional indicators, like underlines or subtle styling shifts, so it is clear that a link is interactive, no matter how you see the page.

Pause Options

By rethinking elements like sliders, we can keep the design engaging and ensure the experience works for everyone. Autoplaying slides that move too fast make it hard for people with visual or cognitive impairments to keep up. Website visitors should have a choice, be in control and take all the time needed to read, listen or interact with content at their own pace. In addition the navigation of slides should allow users to access content of a particular slide or navigate through the slides easily.

Link Handling in Blog Posts

A single post in most blog layouts can include several links that all go to the same place, from the featured image, the post title and the “read more” button. So anyone browsing with a screen reader will hear the same destination announced multiple times in a row, slowing down navigation massively – especially if you have long blog URLs. Screen readers will now only announce the link once, while the post title, image, and “read more” still behave as expected visually. Reducing repetition makes it easier for assistive technology users to move through content quickly and efficiently, without the extra clutter.

Accessible Forms

Website forms now include an error summary at the top, listing all issues as links that take users directly to the corresponding field. This helps screen reader users quickly understand what needs attention and navigate the form efficiently.

Colour Contrast

Strong contrast makes content easier to read for everyone, especially users with low vision or those viewing your website in less-than-ideal lighting. Sticking to brand colours does not have to limit accessibility, a good design can still achieve strong contrast and readability.

ARIA Roles

When website user interacts with elements like a search modal or a pop-up menu, the accessibility depends on how the website manages the focus. Without careful setup, users can easily lose their place or get “stuck” in the wrong part of the page. By defining ARIA roles properly and ensuring focus returns to the right spot interactions feel smooth and predictable for both screen readers and keyboard users.

Consistency Across Devices

An inclusive website should work just as well on mobile devices. That means essential features like search, shopping carts, or navigation need to be just as easy to find and use on a phone as they are on a large screen. When these elements are accessible, website users can easily do what they came for, whether that is making a purchase, finding information or getting in touch.

Inclusivity is not an optional extra, it is a standard part of every website I build. Making sure a website is accessible means it can be used and enjoyed by everyone, regardless of how they browse the web. All this said, accessibility is just one piece of the puzzle. A successful website also depends on clear design, strong performance, thoughtful content, and a user journey that feels seamless from start to finish. When all of these elements work together, the result is a website that not only looks good but truly works for everyone.