Imagine your online store is polished, your marketing campaigns are humming, and the checkout button is ready for clicks—yet one out of every four visitors can’t complete a purchase because the site trips them up. They might rely on a screen reader that can’t parse your menus, or a keyboard that gets trapped in a popup. Multiply that frustration by 70 million Americans with disabilities, and the gap becomes impossible to ignore.
That gap is what we call real world accessibility—the difference between a site that merely exists and one that truly works for everyone. If you’re a busy business owner or marketing lead, you don’t need another technical lecture. You need clear facts, plain language, and a practical path forward.
The eight statistics ahead will show why accessibility isn’t optional anymore—it’s a smart move for growth, trust, and peace of mind.
1. 70 Million Adults in the U.S. Live With a Disability
Let’s start with the big one: 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. has a disability. That includes people with mobility challenges, vision or hearing loss, cognitive differences like ADHD or dyslexia, and more.
This isn’t just about permanent conditions either. Temporary disabilities—like recovering from surgery—or situational ones—like trying to use a website on a cracked phone screen—also affect how people experience your site.
Real world accessibility means your website should work for everyone, right out of the gate. If 25% of your market couldn’t open your front door, you’d fix it. The same should apply to your digital front door.
2. People With Disabilities Influence Over $7 Trillion in Spending Power
According to the Global Economics of Disability Report, people with disabilities hold $1.3 trillion in direct disposable income. When you include their families and friends who often shop with their needs in mind, that number jumps to over $7 trillion.
This isn’t a small segment. It’s a major market force.
If you’re not prioritizing real world accessibility, you’re leaving money on the table. Businesses that bake inclusion into their design often win lifelong customers—not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it’s also smart business.
3. Accessibility Impacts Buying Decisions for the Majority of Users
Here’s something every eCommerce business should know:
- 83% of users with access needs limit their shopping to websites they know are accessible.
- 71% leave a site entirely if it’s hard to use.
Most won’t leave feedback. They’ll just disappear.
That means your site could be working against you—and you might not even realize it. Real world accessibility is tied directly to conversion rates, customer loyalty, and user trust. If your checkout form isn’t keyboard-friendly or your product descriptions aren’t screen reader accessible, you could be quietly losing sales.
4. WCAG-Compliant Sites Outperform by 50%
Websites that follow WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) outperform competitors by up to 50%. Why? Because accessible sites are cleaner, easier to navigate, mobile-friendly, and better for SEO.
These improvements benefit everyone—not just people with disabilities. Faster load times, simpler layouts, and more intuitive design aren’t just accessibility wins—they’re usability wins.
When you take real world accessibility seriously, you’re not just avoiding issues. You’re building a stronger, more future-ready digital presence.
5. 94.8% of Homepages Are Inaccessible in 2025
WebAIM’s 2025 report found that nearly 95% of websites fail basic accessibility checks. That’s almost every homepage on the internet.
What does “inaccessible” look like in the real world?
- Buttons that don’t work with a keyboard
- Low contrast text that’s hard to read
- Forms without labels that screen readers can’t interpret
Real world accessibility problems aren’t always obvious—but they’re frustrating for users and damaging to your brand. Fixing them means fewer bounce rates, better user engagement, and a more welcoming experience for everyone.
6. eCommerce Sites Have Some of the Worst Accessibility Scores
If you’re running an online store, this one’s for you. WebAIM found these average issue counts per homepage:
- Shopify: 69.6
- WooCommerce: 75.6
- Magento: 85.4
That’s a lot of potential roadblocks for customers trying to shop.
Even popular platforms have major flaws. Real world accessibility isn’t baked into every theme or plugin—and adding new features can sometimes make things worse. The more customized your site is, the more important it is to audit for accessibility regularly.
7. Over 4,000 ADA Website Accessibility Lawsuits Were Filed in 2024
Accessibility isn’t just about user experience—it’s about legal risk, too. In 2024:
- 2,400 lawsuits were filed in federal court
- 1,600 in state courts
- 961 involved repeat defendants
That last stat is key: businesses that don’t fix issues after being sued are getting hit again.
Real world accessibility helps you stay out of the courtroom and focus on serving your customers. A proactive strategy can save you time, money, and major headaches.
8. ADA Title III Lawsuits Aren’t Slowing Down in 2025
This year, accessibility lawsuits are expected to rise. Why?
- The law currently favors plaintiffs.
- The federal government is rolling back new regulations.
- “Serial litigation” is becoming more common.
Waiting for clear rules before acting is risky. Businesses that put accessibility off are more likely to become targets. Investing in real world accessibility now protects you in the long run—and shows customers you care.
Accessibility Is a Smart Business Strategy
Let’s be honest—this stuff can feel overwhelming. You’ve got a million things on your plate already. But here’s the good news: real world accessibility doesn’t have to be perfect from day one. It just has to be in motion.
Start by learning. Then take action—small steps, big impact.
At 216digital, we believe accessibility is more than a checkbox—it’s a competitive edge. Our team combines human expertise with tools like a11y.Radar to help you identify, fix, and monitor accessibility issues—before they turn into lost sales or legal risk.
Want help getting started?
Schedule your free ADA Accessibility Briefing today, and let’s build a better web—one that works for everyone.