10 Website Accessibility Examples: Exploring Compliance
Creating an accessible website isn’t just about meeting legal requirements—it’s about ensuring everyone, regardless of ability, can interact with your content. As digital experiences become more essential to everyday life, businesses must prioritize inclusivity to serve a broader audience and avoid costly compliance issues.
In this article, we’ll explore real-world website accessibility examples that demonstrate how thoughtful design and functionality can make a site usable for all. From keyboard navigation to screen reader compatibility, these examples highlight how accessibility can be seamlessly integrated into modern web development.
Why Website Accessibility Matters
Website accessibility is essential for creating an inclusive digital experience. When a site is designed with accessibility in mind, it becomes easier to navigate, more responsive across devices, and available to a wider audience, including people with disabilities. Accessible websites also tend to perform better in search engines and offer a smoother user experience overall.
Improving accessibility demonstrates a commitment to equity and ensures that all users can fully engage with your content. In this blog, we’ll highlight practical examples of accessible website features that support usability and compliance, along with insights on how to begin applying them to your own site.
What Defines an Accessible Website?
An accessible website gives all users, regardless of ability, equal access to content, tools, and features. This includes people who use screen readers, navigate with keyboards, or rely on alternative input methods. Accessibility is rooted in a few core guidelines and legal requirements that help ensure websites are functional and inclusive for everyone.
ADA-Compliant Websites
ADA-compliant websites meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act as it applies to digital spaces. Businesses and public organizations are expected to provide accessible online experiences under Title III of the ADA.
This includes e-commerce sites, educational institutions, healthcare providers, and more. Failing to comply can result in legal action, as seen in thousands of lawsuits filed each year over inaccessible websites.
WCAG Overview and POUR Principles
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) offer a framework for creating digital content that works for everyone. At the heart of these guidelines are the POUR principles:
- Perceivable: Content should be presented in ways that users can sense, such as text alternatives for images.
- Operable: All functionality should be usable with a keyboard, not just a mouse.
- Understandable: Navigation and content should be clear and predictable.
- Robust: Websites should be built to work across current and future technologies, including assistive tools.
Section 508 and Its Application
Section 508 is a U.S. federal law that requires government agencies and contractors to ensure their digital content is accessible. This applies to websites, PDFs, intranet portals, and other digital tools. While the scope is specific to federal work, many organizations adopt Section 508 standards to future-proof their websites and align with both ADA and WCAG expectations.
Website Accessibility Examples: What Compliance Looks Like in Action
WDG has worked to provide accessible websites through all of our partnerships. The following are accessible website examples that WDG has worked with, highlighting practical features that align with ADA and WCAG requirements.
Each one demonstrates how thoughtful design leads to a better user experience for individuals with disabilities while supporting broader inclusion goals.
1. American Red Cross – Commitment to Continuous Accessibility Improvement
The American Red Cross demonstrates a clear commitment to digital inclusivity by consistently evolving its accessibility practices. Through its partnership with WDG, the organization has taken proactive steps to align its digital services with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards, creating a more inclusive experience for all users. A key part of their strategy includes regular audits and updates to ensure that accessibility is never a one-time fix but an ongoing priority.
One standout example is their adherence to WCAG 2.1.1 Keyboard, which ensures all functionalities on their site are operable via keyboard. This level of accessibility opens the digital door for users who navigate without a mouse. The American Red Cross actively encourages user feedback, allowing real individuals to help shape and improve the accessibility of their digital services over time.
2. American Diabetes Association – Accessible Scholarly Publications
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) exceeds standard expectations by ensuring that its extensive library of scholarly articles is available in fully accessible formats. From full-text HTML to downloadable PDFs, every piece of content is designed to be usable by individuals relying on screen readers and other assistive technologies.
Their work aligns with WCAG 1.1.1 Non-text Content, which requires that all media—images, videos, and audio—be accompanied by meaningful text alternatives. These efforts are more than just technical compliance; they reflect ADA’s commitment to inclusion in academic publishing, helping ensure that critical health and scientific information is available to everyone, regardless of ability.
3. Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) – Supporting Accessibility in Clinical Research
The ACRP is committed to providing equal access to clinical research education and tools by prioritizing accessibility throughout its digital platforms. Their content is thoughtfully structured with clear navigation, well-defined sections, and compatibility with assistive technologies to ensure that professionals with varying needs can participate fully.
In accordance with WCAG 3.1.1 Language of Page, ACRP pages include programmatically defined language to support screen readers and improve comprehension. Their attention to consistency across research tools, training modules, and website content reflects a broader mission: making clinical research accessible to all professionals, regardless of how they engage with digital content.
4. American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) – Advocating for Inclusive Access
The AAPA ensures that every member and visitor can access resources, advocacy tools, and educational content on their site with ease. Their digital presence reflects a strong emphasis on inclusion, incorporating accessibility best practices to make sure no user is left behind.
AAPA’s implementation of WCAG 2.4.7 Focus Visible ensures that users navigating by keyboard can clearly see where their focus is at all times. This visual clarity improves usability for people relying on keyboard navigation and demonstrates the AAPA’s leadership in setting a digital accessibility standard for the broader healthcare community.
5. City of Alexandria – Government Accessibility Initiatives
The City of Alexandria has taken clear, intentional steps to ensure that all municipal digital services meet ADA compliance standards. From city forms to service requests, they provide accessible formats that serve residents with a wide range of abilities.
A key aspect of their work aligns with WCAG 2.1.2 No Keyboard Trap, meaning users can navigate to and from every part of the site using only a keyboard. This ensures smooth navigation for people using assistive technologies and reflects the city’s dedication to equitable digital access for all community members.
6. National League of Cities – Supporting Accessible Municipal Resources
The National League of Cities (NLC) plays an important role in helping municipalities adopt best practices for digital accessibility. Their website reflects these values with a logical, screen reader-friendly structure that supports users of all abilities.
Their commitment to WCAG 1.3.2 Meaningful Sequence ensures that content is presented in a clear, programmatically readable order, allowing assistive technologies to convey meaning and context accurately. Through this approach, NLC sets a strong example for local governments aiming to make civic engagement truly accessible.
7. Chemonics International – Full Compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA
Chemonics International sets a high bar for accessibility compliance in the global development sector. Their digital platforms are fully aligned with WCAG 2.1 Level AA and public sector web regulations, ensuring users can access content regardless of their visual or physical abilities.
They meet WCAG 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum), incorporating high-contrast text and carefully selected color palettes for improved readability. Combined with their clean, uncluttered design, these efforts create a user-friendly experience that balances compliance with modern, effective design.
8. Calleva – Clear and Accessible Content Presentation
Calleva focuses on making digital content engaging and easy to understand for users of all backgrounds. Their use of plain language, intuitive headings, and clear formatting helps users absorb information without cognitive overload.
This approach aligns with WCAG 3.1.5 Reading Level, which emphasizes writing at a lower secondary education level or offering simpler alternatives. Calleva’s content design benefits neurodiverse users and those with reading challenges, making their site more inclusive by design.
9. Center for Global Development – Accessible Research and Data Presentation
The Center for Global Development (CGD) makes its data-driven research accessible to a wider audience by offering multiple content formats and clear, descriptive alternatives. Visuals like charts and maps come with detailed captions and text equivalents to ensure screen reader compatibility.
Following WCAG 1.1.1 Non-text Content, CGD ensures that visual and audio elements are accessible to all users. These efforts allow people who rely on assistive technologies to fully engage with complex global research, reinforcing CGD’s commitment to inclusive policy discussion.
10. Argentum – Accessible Policy Statements
Argentum prioritizes clarity and usability in its policy and advocacy content by using structured headings and well-labeled sections. This thoughtful approach makes it easier for users to navigate complex information, especially those using assistive technologies like screen readers.
By aligning with WCAG 2.4.6 Headings and Labels, Argentum ensures that each heading and label clearly communicates the purpose of a section or form field. These efforts help create a more intuitive experience for users with visual or cognitive disabilities and reflect Argentum’s broader commitment to accessible, inclusive communication.
Accessibility Tools and Technologies That Power Inclusive Design
To create an accessible website, you need the right tools and technologies that can help implement inclusive design from the ground up. These solutions enable developers, designers, and content editors to identify barriers and create experiences that cater to the needs of all users.
Understanding how these tools work—and how to use them alongside human insight—is a key part of applying website accessibility best practices across your digital presence.
Automated Accessibility Checkers
Tools like WAVE and Google Lighthouse are widely used to scan websites for accessibility issues. These platforms flag missing alt text, low contrast, form errors, and more. Automated checkers can quickly identify many common problems and are a great starting point for maintaining accessibility.
However, automation isn’t a complete solution. Manual testing is still needed to catch context-based issues that tools may miss, such as improper heading structures or unclear link text. The best approach combines automated scans with real user testing for a full view of accessibility performance.
Assistive Features in Responsive Design
Features like dynamic resizing, semantic HTML, and ARIA roles help ensure content remains usable across all devices and assistive technologies. These elements allow users to navigate content efficiently, no matter how they interact with it.
For example, semantic HTML communicates structure to screen readers, while ARIA roles add context to interactive elements. Ensuring responsive layouts support keyboard navigation and text scaling further strengthens accessibility, particularly for users with visual, motor, or cognitive challenges.
Alternative Text and Screen Readers
Alternative text (alt text) and screen-reader-friendly elements are foundational to accessible content. Alt text provides descriptions for images that can be read aloud by screen readers, helping users who are blind or visually impaired understand the full context of a page.
Captions and transcripts make audio and video content accessible to users who are deaf or hard of hearing. Using proper heading levels, landmarks, and form labels ensures screen readers interpret content correctly, allowing all users to engage with information in meaningful ways.
Accessibility Best Practices for Content Creators
Writers and content managers play a critical role in maintaining an accessible website. Even the most well-coded platform can fall short if the content isn’t designed with all users in mind.
Following website accessibility best practices during the content creation process helps ensure that everyone can read, navigate, and understand your site. These tips can be applied to webpages, PDFs, blog posts, and more.
- Use clear, descriptive headings: Break up content with headings that accurately reflect the section that follows. This improves readability and helps screen readers organize the page.
- Avoid vague link text: Anchor text like “click here” or “read more” offers no context. Use meaningful phrases that describe what the user will find when they follow the link.
- Include accurate alt text for images: Describe what the image conveys in the context of the content. If the image is decorative, use an empty alt attribute so it’s skipped by screen readers.
- Structure content with semantic HTML: Use lists, tables, and headings properly to ensure the content is interpreted accurately by assistive technologies.
- Choose accessible document formats: When offering downloadable content, use tagged PDFs and check for accessibility before publishing.
For more guidance tailored to writers and editors, explore our blog on Web Accessibility for Content Editors.
Events That Promote Digital Inclusion: Global Accessibility Awareness Day
Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) is an annual event held on the third Thursday of May. Its purpose is to raise awareness about digital access and inclusion for people with disabilities.
GAAD encourages organizations, designers, developers, and content teams to think more critically about how users with disabilities experience the web and what steps they can take to improve that experience. GAAD is a reminder that digital inclusion should be part of everyday practice, not just a one-time effort. It’s an opportunity to evaluate, learn, and recommit to building a more inclusive web.
Accessibility is a Competitive Advantage with WDG
Creating an accessible website is an ongoing process that requires collaboration across design, development, and content teams. Every choice—whether it’s adding alt text, structuring content clearly, or testing with assistive tools—plays a role in making the digital world more inclusive.
Looking to strengthen your organization’s approach to accessibility? WDG can help. Our team partners with brands to build inclusive, compliant, and user-friendly digital experiences. See our work in action, or contact us today to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are some website accessibility best practices?
Website accessibility best practices start with thoughtful content and code. Use clear, descriptive headings, add alt text to meaningful images, and avoid vague link text. Structure content using semantic HTML and ensure all functionality works without a mouse. Design with sufficient contrast and make sure media includes captions or transcripts. Regular audits and testing—both automated and manual—can help maintain compliance and improve user experience across devices and assistive technologies.
What makes a website ADA compliant?
ADA compliance means a website provides equal access to individuals with disabilities, as required under the Americans with Disabilities Act. In practice, this often involves following WCAG 2.1 guidelines to ensure content is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. Businesses open to the public, such as retailers, healthcare providers, and schools, are typically required to meet these digital accessibility standards.
How do I know if my website is accessible?
The best way to evaluate accessibility is through a combination of automated tools and manual testing. Tools like WAVE and Google Lighthouse can flag common issues, but they don’t catch everything. Manual testing with screen readers, keyboard-only navigation, and user feedback provides a more complete picture. An accessibility audit can also identify gaps and recommend improvements.
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