Web accessibility is no longer an option for designers, developers, and digital brands. As we move into 2025, ensuring that anyone can navigate a website, regardless of their capabilities, is an ethical, legal, and strategic requirement.
Through my experience improving websites for clients of all kinds, I have learned that applying the WCAG 2.2 standard is not only viable, but can make the difference between an invisible website and an impactful one.
Why is web accessibility key today?
To begin with, it should be remembered that 15% of the world’s population lives with some type of disability. Consequently, millions of people may have visual, hearing, motor or cognitive difficulties that affect their internet browsing. So, when a site does not have web accessibility, it leaves out a significant part of its potential audience. On the other hand, it is essential to keep in mind that many governments already require by law that public and private places comply with certain accessibility guidelines.
What's New in WCAG 2.2
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the international standard for achieving efficient web accessibility. Since its launch, version 2.2 —officially published in October 2023— introduces new criteria to better meet the needs of users with cognitive disabilities and interaction difficulties. In this sense, it is essential to understand these updates in order to apply them correctly.
Among the most relevant new features are:
- Focus Not Obscured (Minimum and Enhanced): Ensures that keyboard focus is always visible, even in highly visual designs.
- Dragging Movements: Offers alternatives for those who can’t drag accurately, which improves keyboard navigation.
- Target Size (Minimum): A minimum size is set for interactive elements, making them easier for people with reduced mobility to use.
- Consistent Help: Ensures that help (such as chats, FAQs, or emails) is consistent and accessible across all pages, whether public or private.
Although these guidelines are technical, they have a direct impact on the user experience and, of course, on the legal and reputational compliance of any brand.
How to apply web accessibility without losing style?
One of the great fears that designers usually have is that accessibility breaks with aesthetics. Even so, it is entirely possible to combine design and inclusion, and I have seen this in multiple projects with demanding clients.
In order to get off to a good start, you need to work on a solid foundation:
- Proper color contrast: There are tools like Accessible Colors that allow you to choose attractive palettes that meet the minimum of contrast. Additionally, these tools help maintain visual consistency.
- Clear and legible typography: avoid fonts that are too decorative and opt for left-alignment, making it easier for everyone to read.
- Semantic order of the HTML code: it is necessary to use correctly hierarchical headings (h1, h2, h3…), main, nav, section tags, etc. In this way, screen readers can better interpret the content.
- Visible and accessible interactive elements: large buttons, form fields with clear labels and obvious focus states. In short, everything you need to ensure barrier-free action.
With all these bases covered, a strong visual identity can be built, which is also usable, inclusive and modern.
ARIA Techniques: Empowering Navigation with Assistive Technology
Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIAs) are special tags that allow screen readers to correctly interpret elements that are not native to HTML, such as sliders, tabs or pop-ups. Through my practice, I have found that their use can make a difference.
Among the most useful ones that I have applied in complex projects, the following stand out:
- aria-label and aria-labelledby, which allow you to describe buttons, menus or forms in detail. They also improve user understanding.
- aria-live to notify dynamic changes in content (such as errors in a form without refreshing the page), which facilitates smoother interaction.
- role=”dialog”, role=”alert”, and other roles to structure content for users with assistive technology.
While ARIA techniques may seem advanced, once understood, they offer immense flexibility to adapt any modern design to the most demanding web accessibility.
Web Accessibility Tests That Really Work
It is not enough to apply good practices; you have to check that everything really works. For this reason, I always combine automatic tools and manual tests in each project.
Here are some that have been particularly good for me:
- WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool) – performs a visual analysis of errors in real time, which allows you to act quickly.
- Lighthouse (integrated into Chrome DevTools) – checks accessibility, SEO, and performance score, all in one tool.
- axe DevTools – is a powerful extension for detecting accessibility issues in depth and very accurately.
- Real screen readers (such as NVDA or VoiceOver) – allow you to test how a visually impaired user perceives the content. In this sense, it is an irreplaceable tool.
In those projects with tight deadlines, I use Lighthouse and axe as quick checklists. However, I always end up reviewing with real users or, at least, simulating scenarios with screen readers.
Web accessibility as a competitive advantage
Many see web accessibility as an obligation. However, the truth is that it represents a great opportunity. In fact, accessible websites have multiple competitive advantages:
- Better SEO positioning: Google rewards semantic order, speed, and clarity; therefore, accessibility also benefits organic visibility.
- Higher conversion: If everyone can navigate without barriers, it is clear that more people will be able to convert.
- Better brand reputation: Inclusive brands convey trust and values, which leads to long-term loyalty.
Consequently, I have seen how websites with only small accessibility improvements have clearly improved their dwell time and conversion rate. And the most interesting thing is that all this has been achieved without drastically changing the design or investing fortunes.
Conclusions and next steps
By 2025, having a visually appealing website is no longer enough. It needs to be functional, clear and for everyone. Applying the WCAG 2.2 standard, mastering ARIA techniques and properly testing your site are the keys to achieving this. That’s why web accessibility should be part of your creative process from the first draft to the final publication.
At wwwarcelona, we help you review, optimise or design your website to meet accessibility standards, without losing a shred of style or performance. Digital inclusion starts here. Write to us and we’ll make it happen.
