Greg McNeil, Author at 216digital

Website Legal Compliance: What You’re Missing
When you launch a new site, it’s easy to obsess over visuals, page speed, and fancy features. Yet the part that can hurt most—financially and reputationally—is website legal compliance. From privacy regulations to accessibility standards and copyright concerns, missing the mark can lead to fines, lawsuits, and serious damage to your reputation.

In this article, we’ll break down the core legal areas every website owner needs to understand—and offer clear steps to help you stay protected and accountable.

The Importance of Website Legal Compliance

Website legal compliance refers to the set of laws and regulations that govern how websites must operate. This includes how personal data is collected, stored, and shared, how accessible your site is to users with disabilities, and how you handle intellectual property.

Staying aligned with today’s legal standards shows that your site is built with care and intention. It reflects a clear understanding of your users’ needs, the expectations of regulatory bodies, and the broader responsibility that comes with running an online business. In practice, legal compliance supports everything from user trust to operational stability.

The Rules Are Constantly Evolving

Unfortunately, keeping up with these responsibilities isn’t always straightforward. Legal standards on the web are constantly shifting—what’s acceptable today might fall short tomorrow. New laws roll out, existing ones evolve, and enforcement becomes more active.

Global data privacy regulations like the GDPR, state-level laws such as California’s CCPA and CPRA, and evolving accessibility standards like WCAG 2.2 introduce new layers of responsibility. These shifts—each with their own nuances and timelines—make it clear that staying compliant isn’t something you do once and forget.

It takes ongoing attention, flexibility, and collaboration across your digital team to keep everything aligned. Approaching compliance with intention—rather than waiting until something goes wrong—helps keep your site stable and your risk low.

Key Areas of Website Legal Compliance

As legal requirements continue to evolve, it helps to understand where your responsibilities fall. Legal compliance spans a wide range of areas—from how you handle user data to the specific regulations that apply to your industry. Breaking it down into manageable parts can make the process feel more focused and achievable.

Data Privacy & Protection

Data privacy is all about respecting and protecting the personal information people share when they visit your website—things like names, email addresses, IP addresses, and browsing activity. It gives individuals the right to understand how their data is used, and the ability to make informed choices about it. This includes having the power to access their information, correct it, or even ask for it to be deleted.

To support these rights, many countries have passed specific laws that set clear rules for how businesses must collect, handle, and share personal data. These laws apply even if your business is located in a different region, as long as you serve users in those areas. Key examples include:
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): Governs data protection in the European Union. It applies to any business—no matter where it’s located—that collects or processes data from EU residents.
- California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA): Grants California residents the right to know what personal data is collected, request deletion, and opt out of data sales.
- California Online Privacy Protection Act (CalOPPA): Requires commercial websites and online services that collect personal data from California residents to post a clear privacy policy.
- Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA): Canada’s primary privacy law for private-sector organizations, outlining rules for obtaining meaningful consent and handling personal information responsibly.
These laws are designed to protect users’ privacy, and they often apply based on where your users are—not where your business is. If your website serves visitors in these regions, you’re likely required to comply.

Where to Start

If you’re aiming to meet data privacy requirements, begin with a few foundational steps:
- Post a privacy policy that’s easy to understand and up to date.
- Use a cookie banner that explains what’s being collected and why.
- Allow users to access, correct, or delete their personal information.
- Confirm your third-party vendors handle data responsibly.
You may also need to address specific regulations, such as the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) if your site collects data from children, or the Federal Trade Commission Act (FTC) if your business operates in the U.S.

Accessibility

Your website should work for everyone—not just some visitors. Web accessibility means designing your site so that people with disabilities can use it without barriers. This includes individuals with vision, hearing, mobility, and cognitive differences. Making your website accessible isn’t just considerate—it’s often required by law.

Here are some of the key legal frameworks that shape web accessibility standards:
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): A U.S. civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. While the ADA doesn’t specifically name websites, courts have increasingly ruled that business websites—especially those tied to physical storefronts—must be accessible.
- Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act: Requires federal agencies and organizations receiving federal funding in the U.S. to ensure their websites and digital services are accessible to people with disabilities.
- Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA): A Canadian law that sets mandatory accessibility standards for public and private sector websites in Ontario.
- California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act: A state law that guarantees equal access to all business services, and has been used to support lawsuits demanding website accessibility.
All of these laws reinforce the same idea: digital spaces should be usable by everyone. And they’re pushing more businesses to treat accessibility as essential—not optional.

Meeting Technical Standards

Legal requirements are one side of the equation—making them work on your site is the other. Once you’ve wrapped your head around the laws, the next step is applying them in a way that actually works for your users and your team.

The most widely recognized framework for building accessible websites is provided by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Aiming for WCAG 2.1 Level AA conformance is a strong, practical target. That includes steps like:
- Making your site usable with a keyboard
- Adding alt text to meaningful images
- Providing captions for video content
- Using clear structure and strong color contrast
Implementation: Turning Website Legal Compliance Into Culture

Run an Audit

Start by evaluating where you stand:
- Map how personal data flows through your site
- Check for accessibility barriers
- Review cookies, plugins, and integrations
- Document areas for improvement and assign owners
Audits give you clarity and a foundation for action.

Update Your Policies

Maintain clear, accessible documentation:
- Privacy Policy
- Cookie Policy
- Terms of Service
- Accessibility Statement
Avoid legal jargon. Update your policies annually or when regulations change. Place them in visible locations, like your website footer.

Train Your Team

Website legal compliance isn’t a solo task. Everyone on your team plays a role:
- Developers ensure systems protect data
- Designers build with accessibility in mind
- Marketers follow consent rules and maintain transparency
Create a shared checklist and offer periodic training to keep everyone aligned.

Maintain Ongoing Vigilance
- Schedule quarterly audits
- Monitor legal updates from reliable sources
- Log and address user complaints promptly
- Track progress on accessibility improvements
This approach transforms compliance from a one-time task into an ongoing priority.

Feature an Accessibility Statement

A good accessibility statement provides:
- Your current conformance level (e.g., WCAG 2.1 AA)
- A summary of known issues and planned improvements
- Contact information for feedback
Publishing a statement makes your efforts visible and invites accountability.

Future-Proof Your Website

Website legal compliance doesn’t happen all at once. It’s woven into how you build, update, and maintain your site over time. From protecting data to improving accessibility, every improvement you make is part of a broader commitment—to your users, to your business, and to doing things right.

There’s no shortcut, and that’s okay. The point isn’t perfection—it’s consistency. Staying informed, making thoughtful updates, and involving your team means you’re building a foundation that can grow with your business, not against it.

If you’re unsure where to start or need help making sense of it all, 216digital is here. Let’s talk through your next steps in a quick ADA briefing—no pressure, just practical guidance to help you move forward with clarity.
Greg McNeil

May 22, 2025

Legal Compliance

Accessibility, ADA Website Compliance, data privacy, GDPR, Legal compliance, Web Accessibility
Ease Into Motion: Smarter Animation Accessibility
Imagine clicking into a website and being hit with swirling graphics, sliding panels, or a bouncing button that just won’t stop. For many people, that kind of animation isn’t just annoying—it’s physically harmful. Dizziness. Nausea. Migraines. Disorientation. For users with motion sensitivity, these effects are all too common.

As developers, we love using motion to make our interfaces feel alive. But when it comes to animation accessibility, we need to be just as thoughtful about who we’re designing for. Great UI isn’t just beautiful—it’s inclusive. And making motion safer doesn’t mean removing it altogether. It just means giving people control.

This guide breaks down what you need to know about motion sensitivity, how to comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), and how to build user-friendly animation for your projects using CSS, JavaScript, and real-world techniques.

Who’s Affected by Motion—and Why It Matters

Motion sensitivity happens when animations or transitions trigger unpleasant physical reactions. This might include nausea, vertigo, blurry vision, headaches, or even migraines. It’s especially common for people with:
- Vestibular disorders
- Autism spectrum disorder
- ADHD
- Epilepsy
In fact, over 35% of adults experience some kind of vestibular dysfunction by age 40. That’s not a small edge case—it’s a significant part of your user base.

The Trouble With Flashing and Distractions

Animations can also cause cognitive overload. Users with ADHD or processing differences may find it hard to stay focused when elements are constantly moving. Looping carousels or animated background transitions can pull attention away from the main content or calls to action.

And then there’s photosensitive epilepsy. About 3% of people with epilepsy can have seizures triggered by flashing lights—especially red-on-black or high-contrast flickers. That’s why WCAG has strict guidelines around flash frequency.

WCAG and Animation Accessibility: What to Follow

Before diving into the specifics, it’s important to understand that these aren’t arbitrary rules—they exist to protect people. Animation accessibility is a fundamental part of inclusive design, and these guidelines offer a framework that helps you avoid unintentional harm.

Key Guidelines
- 2.2.2 – Pause, Stop, Hide: Any moving content that starts automatically must have a clear way to pause or hide it, unless the motion is essential.
- 2.3.1 – Three Flashes or Below Threshold: Avoid flashing more than 3 times per second.
- 2.3.3 – Animation from Interactions: If your animation happens because someone clicked, scrolled, or hovered—it still needs to be safe and optional.
How to Apply These Guidelines
- Don’t loop animations forever.
- Offer controls to pause or stop motion.
- Never rely on animation alone to convey important info—back it up with text or icons.
Animation accessibility is about making sure motion adds value without harm.

Using CSS to Respect Motion Preferences

What Is @prefers-reduced-motion?

This media query checks whether a user has asked for less motion in their operating system:
```
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
  * {
    animation: none !important;
    transition: none !important;
  }
}
```
If users toggle Reduce motion in macOS, iOS, Windows, Android, or Linux, they’ll instantly get a calmer experience.

Design Strategies
- Remove parallax scroll and large translations.
- Swap animated GIFs with a static frame or CSS background-image.
- Tone down fades and slides—transitions shorter than 250 ms are usually fine.
- Provide fallbacks that still communicate state changes (e.g., use color or underline instead of a shake animation to signal “invalid input”).
Giving Users Control With JavaScript

Even if someone’s system doesn’t request reduced motion, they should still have a choice. Here’s a simple example:
```
<button id="toggle-motion">Toggle motion</button>
<script>
  document.getElementById('toggle-motion').addEventListener('click', () => {
    document.body.classList.toggle('reduce-motion');
    localStorage.setItem('reduceMotion', document.body.classList.contains('reduce-motion'));
  });
  // Persist preference between visits
  if (localStorage.getItem('reduceMotion') === 'true') {
    document.body.classList.add('reduce-motion');
  }
</script>
```
Then, in your CSS:
```
.reduce-motion * {
  animation: none !important;
  transition: none !important;
}
```
Let users decide what works for them. Animation accessibility is about empowerment.

Pause on Hover or Interaction

You can also pause motion when someone hovers or focuses:
```
@keyframes spin { to { transform: rotate(360deg); } }
.loader {
  animation: spin 1.5s linear infinite;
}
.loader:hover,
.loader:focus-visible {
  animation-play-state: paused;
}
```
This small touch gives users breathing room without turning off design completely.

Progressive Enhancement: Accessibility First

Start safe, layer on flair. Treat the reduced‑motion version as the baseline and add richer animation only if the user hasn’t opted out. This progressive‑enhancement approach prevents regressions—future devs won’t accidentally forget animation accessibility because the “accessible” state is the default.
```
/* Base styles: minimal motion */
.button {
  transition: background-color 150ms ease-in;
}
/* Only animate if motion is OK */
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: no-preference) {
  .button:hover {
    transform: translateY(-2px);
  }
}
```
You can combine media features to catch multiple needs:
```
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) and (prefers-contrast: high) {
  /* Ultra-accessible styles */
}
```
Performance & UX Benefits of Reducing Motion
- Battery & CPU savings on low‑power devices (less layout thrashing, fewer GPU layers).
- A cleaner interface helps all users focus on content and calls to action.
- Lower cognitive load means faster task success—key in e‑commerce checkouts or complex forms.
When stakeholders balk at “turning off the fun stuff,” show how reduced motion often speeds up perceived performance and increases conversions.

Testing for Motion Accessibility

You don’t need to eliminate all animation—you just need to know when and where it matters.

Use Tools Like:
- PEAT (Photosensitive Epilepsy Analysis Tool): Checks flash frequency and contrast against seizure‑safe limits.
- WAVE: Flags continuous animations and missing pause controls.
- Google Lighthouse: Includes audits for @prefers-reduced-motion.
- Manual Device Testing: Turn on Reduce motion in the OS and navigate your site—does anything still move?
Combine automated scans with human walkthroughs—especially for pages heavy on micro‑interactions. Ask testers with vestibular or cognitive disabilities for feedback if possible.

Responsible Animation Is Good UX

Animation accessibility isn’t about banning creativity. It’s about respecting user choice, following WCAG, and providing explicit opt‑ins or opt‑outs. When you honor @prefers-reduced-motion, add site‑level toggles, and keep flashes below seizure thresholds, you deliver the best of both worlds: engaging motion for those who love it and a calm, usable experience for those who don’t.

Need a quick check on your motion strategy—or a deep dive into ADA compliance across your entire front end? Schedule a personalized accessibility briefing with the team at 216digital. We’ll help you uncover hidden risks, refine your animation patterns, and build inclusive experiences that look amazing and feel great for everyone.

Let’s create motion that moves people—in the right way.
Greg McNeil

May 21, 2025

How-to Guides, WCAG Compliance

Accessibility, animation, How-to, motion, WCAG, Web Accessibility
Color Contrast That Pops: Accessibility in Every Shade
Color is one of the most powerful tools in a designer’s toolkit—but without the right contrast, even the most beautiful interface can become unreadable. For users with low vision or color blindness, low contrast isn’t just inconvenient—it can make content completely inaccessible. And while most developers know the basics of accessible design, color contrast often slips through the cracks when brand guidelines or fast-moving deadlines take over.

This article isn’t a beginner’s primer—it’s a hands-on guide for developers who already know what WCAG is but want smarter, more practical ways to apply color contrast in real projects. From testing tools to design techniques to working with brand colors, we’ll cover how to create experiences that look sharp, function well, and work for everyone.

Understanding Color Perception and Its Impact on Accessibility

To build truly inclusive designs, it helps to understand how users perceive color in the first place. The human eye detects color based on hue (the type of color), saturation (how strong it appears), and lightness (how bright or dark it is). This is where the HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness) model becomes useful—it mirrors how people actually experience color and helps designers assess contrast more accurately.

Now, pair that with accessibility data. Around 300 million people worldwide live with color blindness, and another 253 million have low vision. That’s not a small edge case—it’s a significant portion of your audience. For these users, poor color contrast can turn buttons, labels, and links into frustrating puzzles. A green button on a gray background might seem fine to a fully sighted user, but it can disappear entirely for someone with red-green color deficiency.

By considering how color vision deficiencies affect perception, developers can make smarter choices—ones that improve usability for everyone without drastically changing their design.

WCAG Guidelines on Color Contrast

To guide these decisions, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) lay out specific requirements. For Level AA compliance, normal text must have a color contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1. Large text—defined as 18pt or 14pt bold—can meet a slightly lower bar of 3:1. If you’re aiming for AAA (which is more stringent), the numbers jump to 7:1 and 4.5:1, respectively.

But contrast isn’t just about text. It also applies to non-text elements like icons, buttons, graphs, and interactive controls. These need to be distinguishable too, especially for users navigating with limited vision or screen magnifiers.

That said, not everything falls under these rules. Logos and purely decorative graphics are exempt. This makes room for brand expression, but it also challenges teams to strike the right balance: How do you honor brand colors without sacrificing clarity? The good news is that small adjustments can go a long way.

Tools and Techniques for Evaluating Color Contrast

So how do you check if your contrast choices meet the mark? Fortunately, there’s a wide range of tools designed to make this easy—no guesswork required.

Online contrast checkers are a great place to start:
- WebAIM Contrast Checker is fast and simple—just plug in your colors and get a pass/fail result.
- TPGi’s Colour Contrast Analyser lets you test live screen elements with an eyedropper tool.
- Coolors Contrast Checker is especially helpful when working within a palette—it gives instant feedback as you test combinations.
To take your testing further, browser extensions can simulate what your site looks like to users with different types of color blindness:
- Colorblindly and Dalton show you how your design holds up for users with vision deficiencies.
- Color Enhancer for Chrome allows you to customize and tweak colors directly in the browser.
For those who prefer working within browser developer tools, Chrome DevTools offers built-in accessibility checks. You can inspect elements, see real-time color contrast ratios, and even simulate vision impairments. Pair that with media queries like @prefers-color-scheme or @prefers-contrast, and you’ll be ready to serve more inclusive experiences automatically—based on a user’s own system settings.

Best Practices for Implementing Accessible Color Contrast

Once you’ve got the right tools, the next step is applying best practices to your design and development process.

Start by designing with accessibility in mind from the beginning. Don’t rely on color alone to convey meaning. Pair colors with icons, patterns, or text labels—so if a user can’t see the red “error” outline, they can still read the “required field” message.

Next, build testing into your workflow. Just like you check for responsive breakpoints or load time, checking for color contrast should be routine. Use automated tests, then follow up with human feedback to catch edge cases tools might miss.

Also, remember to document your choices. A clear, shared record of approved color combinations and contrast ratios will help your team stay consistent across projects. Whether it’s a design system in Figma or internal guidelines in Notion, this documentation keeps accessibility top of mind for everyone involved.

The Role of Browser Extensions in User Accessibility

While developers work hard to build accessible designs, many users also rely on their own tools to improve visibility. Browser extensions like Colorblindly and Dalton allow users to adjust or simulate colors in a way that meets their personal needs.

It’s important to remember that just because users can adjust colors, doesn’t mean developers shouldn’t strive for accessible defaults. By ensuring strong color contrast from the start, you make life easier for everyone—and reduce the need for users to rely on workarounds.

Plus, by understanding how these tools work, developers can better anticipate what users experience and design with greater empathy.

Balancing Brand Identity with Accessibility

Now comes the tough part—color contrast often butts heads with brand design. Changing a brand’s color palette can feel like touching sacred ground. But here’s the thing: contrast issues can usually be fixed with minor adjustments.

Sometimes it’s as easy as tweaking brightness or adding a subtle border. Instead of throwing out your palette, consider enhancing it. You might slightly darken a background color, lighten the text, or add supporting visuals that boost readability. Your core colors stay intact—just optimized for accessibility.

And don’t worry—accessibility lawsuits are rarely about brand color alone. They’re about whether people can actually use your site. Keeping that goal in focus will help guide the right compromises.

Final Shades of Wisdom

At its core, color contrast is about communication. It makes your message easier to read, your interface easier to use, and your site more welcoming to everyone—regardless of how they see the world.

With a solid grasp of the WCAG guidelines, the right tools in your toolkit, and smart design strategies, it’s entirely possible to meet accessibility goals without sacrificing visual style. Make contrast checks part of your process, revisit your palette with intention, and bring your team along with documentation and testing habits.

And if you’re not sure where to start or want a second opinion, schedule a quick ADA compliance briefing with 216digital. We’ll help you uncover any color contrast issues hiding in plain sight—and map out a path toward a more inclusive, accessible web.
Greg McNeil

May 20, 2025

How-to Guides, WCAG Compliance

Accessibility, color contrast, WCAG, WCAG 2.1, WCAG Compliance, WCAG conformance, Web Accessibility
Mobile Form Accessibility: Don’t Leave Users Behind
Think about how often you reach for your phone during the day—checking messages, ordering lunch, paying bills, or dashing through a quick form. Now picture each tap, swipe, and pinch becoming a chore because the form wasn’t built with you in mind.Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happens when mobile form accessibility is overlooked for users who rely on screen readers. A few missteps can turn routine tasks into roadblocks. Fixing those gaps keeps everyone’s day moving smoothly—and yes, it makes your product look a whole lot better, too.

As developers, we’re in a sweet spot to clear those hurdles. Instead of ticking boxes on an accessibility checklist, let’s swap ideas and code snippets that make forms genuinely easy to use. Think of this guide as one dev handing a helpful note to another—no lecture, just practical tips that work in the real world.

The Real Challenge of Mobile Accessibility

Roughly 90 percent of screen-reader users browse the web primarily on phones. Yet mobile form accessibility still slips past many reviews. Small oversights—poorly labeled fields, keyboards that bury inputs—can shut people out of shopping carts or log-in screens. Sure, standards like WCAG 2.2 and the European Accessibility Act (EAA) are important, but the endgame is simpler: make everyday online chores painless for everyone.

Common Barriers with Mobile Form Accessibility

So, what trips us up when we build (or tune-up) a mobile form? Here are the heavy hitters that screen-reader users run into—and how to dodge them.

Invisible Text Fields

Fields can look fine on the surface yet be missing their behind-the-scenes links. When labels and inputs aren’t wired together in code, a screen reader can’t announce them—and the user can’t fill them out.

Quick fix:
```
<label for="email">Email Address</label>
<input type="email" id="email" name="email">
```
Skip placeholder-only labels or fancy <div> stand-ins. Semantic HTML or precise ARIA labels keep everything on the radar.

Keyboard Blocking Form Fields

We’ve all watched the on-screen keyboard sail up and hide half the page. For screen-reader users, that’s a full stop.

A simple JavaScript nudge:
```
window.addEventListener('resize', () => {
  document.activeElement.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth' });
});
```
Let the layout flex so active inputs stay visible, and avoid fixed-position elements that trap content under the keyboard.

Unexpected Focus Shifts

Nothing’s more disorienting than the cursor jumping to a random field—or disappearing altogether—mid-form. Auto-focus tricks or live-updating content can make matters worse.

Rules of thumb:
- Only auto-focus when it truly helps.
- Deep dynamic changes to a minimum while someone is typing.
- Always leave users sure of their spot in the form.
Practical Steps to Improve Mobile Form Accessibility

Now that we’ve walked through the most common pitfalls, let’s talk solutions. Fixing mobile form accessibility doesn’t always mean starting from scratch—small, thoughtful adjustments can make a big difference. The goal here isn’t perfection on paper; it’s creating an experience that works reliably for real people on real devices. Below are key practices that help bring your forms up to speed.

Proper Labeling Is Crucial

Each form field should have a clear, programmatic label. Screen readers depend on these labels to describe inputs accurately. Relying solely on visual styling or placeholder text often leads to confusion or missed information. Whenever possible, use semantic HTML elements like <label> to ensure clarity and consistency.

Design with Keyboard Visibility in Mind

If the keyboard hides your input field, you’re forcing users to guess where they are. This isn’t just frustrating—it can stop someone from completing the form entirely. Design responsively to account for different screen sizes and input methods. Test with your device’s keyboard visible and active. Elements should remain fully accessible without awkward scrolling or zooming.

Maintain a Logical Navigation Order

Users often navigate mobile forms using swipe gestures or the Tab key with external keyboards. If your form jumps from field to field out of order—or skips elements entirely—you’ve just introduced an unnecessary obstacle. Use logical DOM ordering and avoid layout tricks that confuse the natural tab order.

Use Semantic HTML First, ARIA Thoughtfully

Native HTML elements offer built-in accessibility that ARIA can’t always replicate. For example, a standard <button> is more robust and predictable than a <div> with role= "button". Reach for ARIA only when native elements fall short, and always test thoroughly to ensure you’re enhancing, not complicating, the experience.

Real-Device Testing Is Essential

It’s tempting to rely on automated audits or browser tools alone, but they can’t catch everything. Use screen readers like VoiceOver (iOS) or TalkBack (Android) on physical devices to experience your form the way your users do. Listen closely—do labels get announced properly? Does focus land where it should? Manual testing reveals the gaps no automated tool can catch.

Don’t Forget About Error Messaging

Accessible forms don’t just help users fill in the blanks—they help users recover from mistakes. Validation errors should be announced clearly and immediately after the user interacts with a field. Use ARIA live regions or focus management to draw attention to problems, and provide guidance that’s easy to understand and act on.

Support Multiple Interaction Modes

Not everyone uses a touchscreen the same way. Some rely on voice control, others on external keyboards or assistive switch devices. Design and test with multiple interaction styles in mind. What works great with a finger tap might break down when using voice commands or swiping with a screen reader.

Taken together, these practices do more than check boxes—they create forms that feel intuitive, responsive, and respectful to all users. And as accessibility standards continue to evolve, these foundational steps help future-proof your code while building trust with your audience.

Building Mobile Form Accessibility Into Your Workflow

As developers, we have a real opportunity to do something meaningful. We can move past the minimum and start building digital experiences that work for everyone, not just the majority. It doesn’t require magic—just intention, testing, and a willingness to see the interface through someone else’s eyes.

If you’re serious about creating mobile forms that aren’t just technically compliant but actually usable for every user, it’s time to dig deeper. Start testing, keep learning, and if you want an experienced partner to help guide the process, schedule an ADA briefing with 216digital. We’re here to support your journey toward smarter, kinder, and more inclusive design—one tap at a time.
Greg McNeil

May 16, 2025

How-to Guides

Accessibility, accessible forms, forms, How-to, mobile accessibility, Web Accessibility, Website Accessibility

Is Manual Accessibility Testing Worth the Time?

Deadlines move fast. Automated accessibility tools promise faster. It’s no surprise many dev teams lean on them—especially when stakeholders are asking, “Are we compliant yet?” Tools like WAVE and Lighthouse give quick answers, clean reports, and a reassuring sense of progress.

But here’s the part too many teams miss: automated testing only tells part of the story. The code might check out, but what about the actual experience? Can someone using a screen reader complete a purchase? Can a keyboard user navigate a modal without getting stuck? These are the kinds of issues that don’t show up in automated scans—but absolutely show up in real life.

If your goal is to build a product that’s not just technically compliant, but genuinely usable and defensible, manual accessibility testing needs to be part of the process. It’s the only way to uncover what automation can’t: nuance, clarity, and usability in the real world.

In this article, we’ll unpack the value of manual testing, where automated tools fall short, and how a smart hybrid approach gives you better results—and better protection.

What Is Manual Accessibility Testing?

Manual accessibility testing is the hands-on process of evaluating a digital product’s usability for people with disabilities—without relying solely on software. This might include:

Navigating with only a keyboard
Using a screen reader like NVDA, JAWS, or VoiceOver
Checking for color contrast by eye
Reviewing focus states and logical tab order
Testing real-world use cases (like filling out a form or completing a checkout process)

The goal is to simulate the experience of actual users with assistive technologies and identify barriers beyond code compliance.

The Appeal (and Limits) of Automated Testing

Automated accessibility tools like Lighthouse and WAVE have transformed developers’ identification of issues. They quickly scan code for missing alt text, incorrect ARIA roles, form labeling issues, and other violations of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Automated testing is fast and repeatable. It’s ideal for:

Initial scans during development
Catching basic syntax errors
Setting up CI/CD integration for ongoing testing
Flagging regressions after code updates

But here’s the catch: automation can only detect around 25-35% of accessibility issues. The rest requires human judgment.

What Automated Tools Can’t Catch

Despite their efficiency, automated tools lack the context and empathy of human testing. Here’s what they consistently miss:

Keyboard Trap Detection: Tools may confirm that an element is focusable, but they won’t always detect when users get stuck in modal dialogs or custom components without a proper way to escape.
Screen Reader Usability: Only a human can determine if the screen reader output is logical, coherent, and meaningful in context. Just because a screen reader reads something doesn’t mean it makes sense to the user.
Visual Focus Indicators: Automated checkers might verify the presence of a focus style, but they can’t confirm if it’s visible or intuitive in a real-world interface.
Form Instructions and Error Messages: Does the screen reader clearly announce the error? Are instructions available before a user makes a mistake? Automation doesn’t evaluate the usability of the experience.
Color Contrast in Context: A contrast checker might say a color combination passes WCAG, but it doesn’t judge readability in real UI conditions (like against busy background images or gradients).
Meaningful Link Text: Tools can flag vague text like “click here,” but they don’t understand if a link in a sentence conveys context when read out of order.
Cognitive Load and Ease of Use: Only a human can evaluate whether a layout or interaction is intuitive for users with cognitive disabilities or limited dexterity.

In short, automation checks the code; manual accessibility testing checks the experience.

Why a Hybrid Approach Works Best

The smartest accessibility strategies combine the speed of automation with the nuance of manual testing. Here’s how they complement each other:

Task	Best Method	Why
Catch missing alt attributes	Automated	Fast and reliable for simple HTML validation
Ensure meaningful alt descriptions	Manual	Context is required for accuracy
Validate keyboard navigation	Manual	Humans can detect trap states, confusing order
Check color contrast ratios	Automated	Useful for quick scanning
Judge visual clarity of focus states	Manual	Only human vision can determine visibility
Spot WCAG syntax violations	Automated	Efficient, especially with CI/CD tools
Confirm screen reader compatibility	Manual	Required for usability assurance
Test form completion and feedback	Manual	Critical for real-world workflows

This hybrid approach is not only more accurate—it’s also more defensible in legal contexts. Suppose you’re remediating a site for ADA compliance or preparing for WCAG conformance claims. In that case, you need evidence that your digital experience has been tested by real users or testers simulating those users.

Real-World Example: Checkout Accessibility

Let’s say you’re working on an e-commerce site. An automated test might scan your cart and checkout pages and report:

100% form elements are labeled
Contrast ratios are within limits
No ARIA roles are missing

Looks good.

But a manual tester might uncover:

The shipping address form doesn’t announce errors with a screen reader
The “Apply Coupon” button can’t be reached with the keyboard alone
The payment section’s field focus jumps around unexpectedly
The screen reader reads the price table in a confusing order

These are real barriers that impact sales—and wouldn’t be flagged by automation.

Manual Accessibility Testing Doesn’t Have to Be Time-Consuming

Yes, manual testing takes time. But it doesn’t have to grind your project to a halt.

Here’s how teams can streamline the process:

Integrate manual accessibility testing in sprints. Assign accessibility checks to QA or dev team members alongside other functional testing.
Use assistive tech simulators early. Even five minutes with VoiceOver or NVDA on a new feature can reveal major issues.
Focus on high-impact areas. Prioritize navigation, forms, modals, and anything tied to conversions or essential tasks.
Document patterns. Once you’ve tested common components (like dropdowns, date pickers, etc.), reuse them instead of rebuilding.

And most importantly—train your team. A developer with basic screen reader skills and a solid understanding of WCAG can identify more issues in five minutes than a tool might catch in five hours.

The Long-Term Payoff

Manual accessibility testing isn’t just about checking a compliance box—it’s about protecting your users, your brand, and your bottom line.

Benefits of a hybrid testing strategy include:

Fewer false positives and rework
Better user experience for everyone
Reduced legal risk and stronger compliance
Improved SEO and discoverability
Greater confidence in product quality

When teams understand what to test, how to test it, and why it matters, accessibility becomes a natural part of the development workflow—not an afterthought.

Bridging the Gap Between Code and Experience

So—is manual accessibility testing worth it?

Without question. Automated tools are great for speed, consistency, and catching the basics, but they can’t see the experience through a user’s eyes. Manual accessibility testing brings in that essential layer of human judgment, helping your team uncover issues that really affect usability—especially for people navigating with assistive technologies.

When you pair automation with real-world testing, you’re not just building a site that passes checks—you’re creating something that works better for everyone. It’s a smarter, more resilient way to approach accessibility, especially as legal expectations grow and user expectations rise even faster.

Curious what that could look like for your team? Schedule an ADA briefing with 216digital. We’ll walk you through our Phase 2 real-world remediation services—designed to help you go beyond code checks and build accessibility that holds up in practice, not just on paper.

Greg McNeil

May 15, 2025

Testing & Remediation

Accessibility, Accessibility Remediation, Accessibility testing, manual audit, Manual Testing, Web Accessibility, Web Accessibility Remediation

Is WCAG Certification Possible?
Many businesses are on the hunt for something called “WCAG certification”—a stamp of approval to show their site is accessible. But is that even a real thing?

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the widely accepted standard for creating accessible digital content. These guidelines help ensure websites, apps, and digital tools work for everyone—including people with disabilities. But here’s the catch: there’s no such thing as official WCAG certification. That doesn’t mean you’re out of luck, though.

In this article, we’ll unpack what WCAG really is, why it matters, and what practical steps you can take to prove your accessibility commitment—without chasing a non-existent certificate.

What Is WCAG — and Why It Matters

WCAG is a set of accessibility guidelines created by a group called the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). It’s been updated over the years—versions 2.0, 2.1, and 2.2 are already in use, and a new draft version (WCAG 3.0) is in the works.

The guidelines are built on four main principles:
- Perceivable: Can people see, hear, or otherwise access your content?
- Operable: Can users interact with it, like using a keyboard or voice commands?
- Understandable: Is your site’s content and layout easy to follow?
- Robust: Will your site work across different devices, browsers, and assistive tech?
These principles help you build a better experience for everyone. And with around 1 in 4 Americans living with a disability, accessibility isn’t a niche issue—it’s a core part of serving your audience.

Can You Get WCAG Certified? (No — and Here’s Why)

Let’s make it simple: WCAG certification does not exist in any official form. The W3C—the organization behind WCAG—doesn’t issue certificates to websites or developers. So if someone tells you they can give you a WCAG certificate, that’s a red flag.

Here’s what does exist:
- WCAG Conformance: This means your website meets specific WCAG success criteria.
- Audit Reports: Accessibility experts can review your site and document its strengths and weaknesses.
- Professional Credentials: Individuals can take training and exams to show they understand accessibility standards.
What you can’t get is an “official” WCAG certification from any governing body. The W3C has actually decided not to create a certification program at all, stating that a formal seal could do more harm than good. So any so-called “WCAG certificate” should be treated carefully—think of it more as “we followed WCAG and have evidence” rather than a license or badge.

Why the Idea of Certification Still Matters

Even though WCAG certification isn’t real, the need to show good faith—especially during legal challenges—is very real.

If your site faces an ADA accessibility complaint, a detailed audit report or a public accessibility statement can help. It won’t guarantee immunity, but it may:
- Shorten legal negotiations
- Lower settlement demands
- Show that you’re actively working on improvements
Most lawsuits under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) focus on fixing the problem (not financial damages at the federal level), but state laws like California’s Unruh Act can make things much more expensive. In some cases, businesses may face penalties of $4,000 per violation—per user session.

Many businesses choose to settle accessibility lawsuits rather than fight in court, with settlements typically ranging from $5,000 to $20,000, and sometimes far more. Proactively documenting your WCAG conformance can reduce those risks and costs.

What You Can Get Instead: Real Accessibility Certifications

While your website can’t be WCAG certified, you or your team can earn credentials that demonstrate knowledge of WCAG and broader accessibility concepts. These are well-respected in the field:
- CPACC – Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies
  Great for content creators, marketers, and generalists. Covers topics like disability types, legal basics, and WCAG principles.
- WAS – Web Accessibility Specialist
  Tailored for developers and UX designers. Dives deep into the technical side: semantic HTML, ARIA, testing practices.
- CPWA – Certified Professional in Web Accessibility
  Combines both CPACC and WAS certifications. Ideal for accessibility leads or those overseeing compliance efforts.
These certifications don’t claim to be WCAG certification, but they do show your commitment to accessibility expertise.

Real Accessibility Is About Practical Action

Certifications help—but they’re not a shortcut. To build and maintain an accessible site, focus on practical, ongoing steps that create real impact.

Run Regular Accessibility Audits

You can use tools like WAVE or Lighthouse, but manual testing is essential too. Look for issues like missing labels, broken keyboard navigation, or poor heading structure. Save your reports as documentation in case questions arise later.

Fix High-Impact Issues First

Some problems—like missing alt text or contrast issues—pose bigger risks than others. Prioritize known trouble spots.

Bake Accessibility Into Development

Make accessibility part of your everyday workflow, not something you tackle at the end. Small habits make a big difference.

Publish a Public Statement

Adding an accessibility statement to your website builds trust and shows you’re being transparent and proactive.

Train Your Content Team

Every upload matters. A well-meaning update can unintentionally introduce accessibility problems—so make sure everyone’s equipped to do their part.

Should You Be Chasing WCAG Certification?

Not exactly. The smarter question is: how do you prove that your site meets WCAG standards?

Here’s how to show your work:
- Encourage team members to earn real accessibility credentials like CPACC or WAS.
- Hire an expert to audit your site and issue a detailed report.
- Post an accessibility statement on your site that outlines your efforts and future plans.
- Monitor your site and run regular checks to ensure improvements are sustained.
And remember: legal risk is growing. Thousands of lawsuits were filed in the past year alone over inaccessible websites. Many target websites that lack basic WCAG conformance.

Accessibility Partners Can Make the Difference

Trying to juggle deadlines, legacy code, and legal exposure? Outside help can give you the lift you need. Experienced accessibility partners don’t just run audits—they help you build a sustainable, legally defensible program.

What expert partners can offer:
- Full audits, including real-user testing
- Help fixing accessibility issues
- Ongoing monitoring to catch new problems
- Role-specific training for devs, designers, and content teams
And a key difference? The right partner will never promise fake WCAG certification. They’ll help you build real results.

You Don’t Need a WCAG Certificate—You Need a Plan

The idea of WCAG certification sounds comforting—but it’s not real. What is real? Earning your users’ trust by making your site work for everyone.

When you show that you’ve taken the right steps—training, audits, public transparency—you don’t need a certificate. You’ve already proven your commitment.

Ready to show your commitment to accessibility the right way?
Schedule an ADA accessibility briefing with 216digital and see how we help teams maintain long-term WCAG conformance and build more inclusive digital experiences.
Greg McNeil

May 14, 2025

Web Accessibility Training

Accessibility, WCAG, WCAG Certification, WCAG Compliance, Web Accessibility, web developers, web development
Don’t Be Fooled by False Positives in Accessibility
Imagine you’re scanning through an accessibility report when it flags a purely decorative image for missing alt text. You pause and double-check the code—aria-hidden= "true" is clearly set—yet the tool insists it’s an issue. In moments like these, you’re dealing with false positives.

When left unchecked, false positives can waste hours of development time, drain your budget, and leave real accessibility problems hidden beneath noise. For developers who regularly rely on automated accessibility testing, learning to recognize and reduce these inaccuracies is as essential as fixing actual accessibility barriers.

What a False Positive Really Is

Simply put, false positives occur when a testing tool incorrectly marks compliant content as inaccessible, even though it aligns perfectly with standards like WCAG. These mistaken alerts often create confusion and lead teams to fix things that aren’t broken—sometimes at the expense of overlooking real issues.

So, why do they happen? Usually, false positives stem from three common causes:
- Limited context: Automated tools understand code but not intent. Elements involving dynamic JavaScript or custom user settings can confuse them, triggering inaccurate alerts. For example, a modal loaded via JavaScript might be marked as inaccessible until it’s fully rendered, even if it meets all WCAG requirements when interactive.
- Overly cautious rules: Some tools are intentionally strict, flagging anything remotely questionable to avoid missing genuine issues. While well-intentioned, this can lead to excessive alerts. Developers end up treating these tools like overprotective smoke alarms—loud, constant, and sometimes hard to trust.
- Varied coding practices: Custom components or unconventional markup patterns, common in modern front-end workflows, often mislead algorithms expecting textbook HTML. Accessibility implemented through ARIA roles or JavaScript event handlers may trip up tools that expect static HTML structures.
Most developers have encountered these scenarios in practice: decorative icons labeled as “critical issues,” contrast alerts ignoring user-selected dark modes, or dynamic form elements incorrectly flagged for missing labels. Each instance represents the broader problem—tools missing the bigger picture.

The Hidden Costs of False Positives

When false positives become part of your day-to-day workflow, the cost isn’t just inconvenience—it’s real impact on time, trust, and outcomes.

Time and Budget Drain

Chasing down false positives can quickly become a costly distraction. Imagine your team spends hours rewriting alt text for images that never needed it. Those same resources could have resolved genuine issues or shipped new features, improving your product instead of spinning its wheels. For larger teams or enterprise projects, these hours quickly compound into days—adding up to measurable delays in delivery and inflated budgets.

This resource drain can be particularly painful during audits or compliance deadlines when teams are working under pressure. Every misfire takes attention away from what truly matters: building inclusive digital experiences for real users.

Erosion of Trust in Tools

Repeated inaccurate alerts erode confidence in accessibility tools. Developers may grow skeptical, dismissing genuine issues as “probably another false positive.” This skepticism can cause real accessibility problems to slip through unnoticed, undermining the very purpose of using these tools.

Once the trust is gone, so is the motivation to use these tools proactively. Instead of integrating accessibility checks early and often, teams may push them off to the final stages—or abandon them altogether. That’s a slippery slope that compromises both compliance and user experience.

Legal and Reputational Risks

Perhaps most serious of all, excessive false positives can mask true accessibility problems. If your team assumes a website is compliant based on misleading tool reports, users could face unexpected barriers. That scenario leaves your organization vulnerable to lawsuits, fines, and damage to brand reputation.

It’s a dangerous combination: a dashboard showing 100% compliance while screen reader users struggle to navigate key interactions. In the worst-case scenario, this could lead to legal action under ADA, Section 508, or similar laws depending on your location or industry.

Practical Steps to Minimize False Positives

It’s not about choosing between automation and accuracy—it’s about striking a balance. Here are a few strategies that can help:

Choose Tools Carefully

Accuracy is crucial. Opt for tools known to minimize false positives—look at reviews, user communities, and real-world feedback. Tools that offer detailed explanations for each issue help developers evaluate the context instead of blindly applying changes. Bonus points for tools that integrate smoothly into your CI/CD pipeline or Git workflows, allowing developers to spot and triage issues earlier in the process.

Combine Automated Testing with Manual Checks

Automation is valuable, but humans bring the necessary context. Regular manual reviews, particularly with real assistive technologies like screen readers or keyboard-only navigation, confirm whether flagged issues are real or simply more false positives. This human element provides critical insights into actual user experiences that no machine can replicate on its own.

Pairing automated scans with periodic expert reviews ensures you don’t end up trusting the scanner more than the people you’re building for.

Educate and Empower Your Team

Providing training ensures everyone knows what a genuine accessibility issue looks like. Regular team briefings, quick reference guides, or lunch-and-learn sessions can equip developers and QA specialists to confidently distinguish true issues from false positives during daily workflows.

It also helps to document commonly misflagged elements in your internal dev wiki or design system docs. That way, developers don’t waste time rediscovering the same conclusions again and again.

Shift Accessibility Testing Left

Accessibility testing should be a routine practice, integrated into every development phase—right alongside linting, unit testing, and code reviews. Early checks catch issues and limit the spread of false positives throughout your codebase.

This shift-left approach reduces last-minute panic before launches and promotes a culture where accessibility is part of the conversation from the start. Teams that embed these habits often find they’re able to respond to flagged issues faster and with greater confidence.

Engage Accessibility Specialists

Sometimes, complex implementations or large-scale projects need specialized insight. Accessibility experts can fine-tune automated testing parameters, spot challenging edge cases, and provide tailored recommendations. Their guidance helps reduce false positives and sets your project on a sustainable path forward.

Even a short-term partnership or audit can clarify which alerts deserve attention and which are tool-generated noise. Think of it like calling in an electrician to check wiring behind the walls—some things are better seen with trained eyes.

A True Positive Path Forward

False positives in accessibility testing aren’t just minor annoyances—they cost valuable resources, erode trust, and potentially expose your site to compliance risks. Left unchecked, they can derail good intentions and cause more confusion than clarity. But with the right balance of tools, process, and people, they don’t have to.

Start by picking better tools, pairing them with manual validation, and investing in your team’s knowledge. Make accessibility part of your workflow—not just a checkbox at the end. And when needed, bring in expert support to cut through the noise.

Want to take your accessibility efforts to the next level? Schedule an ADA briefing with 216digital. Our team will help you build a sustainable, practical strategy for achieving real-world accessibility and staying ahead of compliance requirements.
Greg McNeil

May 13, 2025

Testing & Remediation

Accessibility, Accessibility Remediation, false positives, Web Accessibility Remediation, web developers, web development, Website Accessibility
Celebrate GAAD: 6 Ways to Support Inclusion
On Thursday, May 15, 2025, workplaces, campuses, and whole communities will hit “pause” to celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)—a grassroots holiday that shines a bright spotlight on digital inclusion.

GAAD sprang from a single, compelling truth: when more people think about accessibility, more people build with accessibility in mind. The numbers speak for themselves—over one billion people around the globe live with a disability, and all of them interact with the web. Boosting access lifts the experience for everyone, from keyboard-only power users to friends scrolling on cracked phone screens. That’s why GAAD isn’t just a tech-industry affair; it’s a call-out that accessibility fuels brand trust, search performance, and legal peace of mind across every sector.

If building an inclusive business matters to you, GAAD is your moment to turn good intentions into forward-motion.

How GAAD Began: A Blog Post That Sparked a Global Movement

Flash back to 2011. Los Angeles developer Joe Devon dashed off a late-night blog post urging his peers to make accessibility “mainstream.” Toronto-based accessibility champion Jennison Asuncion retweeted it, and the duo launched the first GAAD in 2012.

Their concept was delightfully simple: one day each May devoted to thinking and talking about accessibility. No required format, no corporate sponsor—just open-source energy. It stuck. Fourteen years later, GAAD events stretch across every continent, from campus demos to enterprise-scale product sprints. The big takeaway? Progress catches fire the moment developers and designers decide today’s the day to try something new.

Why GAAD Still Matters in 2025

A decade of lawsuits, legislation, and public advocacy has pushed web accessibility onto mainstream project plans. Plenty of U.S. businesses now bake WCAG success criteria into design systems. Yet snag points remain—untagged PDF order forms, checkout flows that lose focus, videos whose auto-captions garble half the words.

GAAD serves as a structured pause to ask three energizing questions:
1. What has improved? Celebrate resolved tickets, fresh color palettes, and alt-text workflows that finally stick.
2. Where do gaps remain? Surface those pesky “parking-lot” issues that never seem to reach sprint planning.
3. How can we raise the bar? Turn wish-list ideas into measurable road-map line items.
Skip this reflection and accessibility efforts stall. Embrace it and teams rediscover energy, secure budget, and align with website-legal-compliance goals.

What’s In It for Business: Real-World Upside
- Highlight Your Commitment: Show your accessibility timeline—audit dates, remediation milestones, and future targets—to build trust with customers, regulators, and stakeholders.
- Strengthen Your Brand: Values-driven shoppers vote with their wallets. Visibility on GAAD proves inclusion is in your brand DNA, not a post-litigation scramble. Expect positive press, boosted employee pride, and a leg up in crowded markets.
- Engage Your Community: Accessibility stories humanize metrics. A quick screen-reader demo or a customer testimonial about smoother checkout turns policy into empathy—and empathy drives adoption far beyond the dev team.
Six Meaningful Ways to Celebrate GAAD 2025

Tip: Pick one or two ideas this year—depth beats volume. Next May, build on what worked.

Share Your Story

Craft a LinkedIn post, blog article, or internal memo chronicling your journey—from first spark (maybe an ADA letter, maybe a passionate employee) to key lessons and next goals. Authentic reflection invites peers to chime in with candid feedback.

Post on Social Media

Bite-sized content travels farther than white papers. Try a 60-second clip of your new color-contrast fix, a carousel of screen-reader shortcuts, or a punchy stat (“Only 3.1 % of home pages meet basic WCAG color contrast.”) with #GAAD and #AccessibilityMatters. Real, raw, and shareable wins every time.

Host an Internal Accessibility Chat

Swap formal workshops for a relaxed brown-bag session. Demo a color-blindness simulator, read sample alt text aloud, or show leadership how one missing label blocks checkout in two keystrokes. Thirty minutes can uncover easy fixes hiding in plain sight.

Educate Your Team

Use GAAD as a micro-learning catalyst. Share a five-minute video on ARIA landmarks, drop a Slack thread with a contrast-ratio calculator, or challenge designers to run a screen-reader audit on your top landing page. Small feats build big confidence.

Start an Accessibility Goals List

Turn “we should” into “we will.” Pick three goals to nail before GAAD 2026—mandatory alt-text fields in your CMS, automated axe-linter checks in pull requests, or a third-party manual audit every year. Publish the list where product owners can’t miss it.

Update Your Accessibility Statement

Keep your public pledge current. Swap vague promises for concrete dates and standards (“As of April 2025, we meet WCAG 2.2 AA on all primary templates”), add a feedback channel straight to your accessibility lead, and spotlight recent wins like reduced-motion options and crisper captions.

Looking Ahead: Building Daily Culture

GAAD is the spark, not the whole fire. Long-term inclusion thrives in daily processes, not one-day celebrations:
- Design sprints: Invite a user with assistive tech into prototype tests.
- Code reviews: Add a check for semantic HTML and keyboard flow.
- Content workflows: Make alt-text and caption columns non-optional.
- Customer support: Train agents to log and escalate accessibility barriers reported by users.
Celebrate your internal champions—developers who relish accessibility puzzles, marketers who write crystal-clear link text. Recognition programs, dedicated Slack channels, or monthly “a11y show-and-tell” sessions keep the momentum humming even when deadlines loom.

Your Invitation to Take the Next Step

GAAD 2025 marks progress, not the finish line. Whether you’re fresh off your first audit or refining mature design systems, there’s always another barrier to remove, another user to welcome. Use the day to celebrate wins, spotlight gaps, and commit to tangible goals.

Need a roadmap? 216digital offers concise ADA-compliance briefings that turn audits into actionable plans, marrying web-accessibility best practices with website-legal-compliance strategies. Schedule a session and walk away with clear next steps, realistic timelines, and renewed confidence that your site greets every visitor with open arms.

Let’s turn one Thursday into twelve months of better digital experiences—because inclusion, like code, gets better with every iterate-and-improve cycle.

Happy GAAD—and happy building!
Greg McNeil

May 12, 2025

Web Accessibility Remediation

Accessibility, ADA Website Compliance, GAAD, Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Web Accessibility, Website Accessibility
aria-label vs aria-labelledby: When and How to Use Each
As developers, we know every interactive element—buttons, dialogs, inputs—needs an accessible name. Good semantic HTML handles this automatically. But let’s face it, our apps get complicated. Sometimes, buttons only show icons, dialogs pull their titles from external components, or complex widgets break the neat semantic model. That’s where ARIA attributes come in. Specifically, aria-label and aria-labelledby help us provide clear,

screen-reader-friendly names. But they aren’t interchangeable. Knowing when to use each can save you debugging headaches down the line.

The Common Ground

First off, let’s review their similarities. Both aria-label and aria-labelledby override native labels provided by HTML. Both directly influence what assistive technologies like screen readers announce. Ideally, though, these ARIA attributes should be your fallback, not the go-to solution—semantic HTML labels are always best.

Quick side note: If you’re ever curious about the details, check out the Accessible Name Computation Algorithm.

Using aria-label: Direct and Hidden

aria-label lets you set an accessible name directly with a string—no extra DOM needed. Here’s a simple example you’ve probably seen before:
```
<button aria-label="Search">
  <svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false">...</svg>
</button>
```
Perfect for icon buttons or elements that don’t have visible labels. But there’s a catch:
- It’s invisible to sighted users. If your visual UI doesn’t clearly indicate the button’s purpose, this can confuse people.
- It’s static and won’t automatically update with dynamic content changes.
- Localization is manual—you need to integrate these labels into your internationalization setup.
Use aria-label when simplicity outweighs these drawbacks—like icon-only buttons that stay consistent across languages.

aria-labelledby: Harness Visible Content

aria-labelledby points directly to visible content already on the page to build the accessible name. This is super helpful for complex widgets or dialogs:
```
<div role="dialog" aria-labelledby="dialog-title">
  <h2 id="dialog-title">Settings</h2>
  
</div>
```
This is great because:
- Updates to referenced elements automatically update the accessible name—handy for localization or dynamic UI changes.
- You can reference multiple IDs to build richer, descriptive names.
The downside? It requires stable IDs. Reference a missing ID, and your screen reader users will hear nothing—a silent fail you won’t catch easily without testing.

Picking the Right Attribute

Choosing between these two attributes boils down to visibility and localization:
- Visible text already on screen? Use aria-labelledby.
- Icon-only or hidden label? Use aria-label.
- Multiple languages or dynamic content? Lean heavily towards aria-labelledby.
Following these simple guidelines can help keep your UI accessible and your codebase clean.

Common Mistakes (And How to Dodge Them)

Let’s get real: we’ve all made these mistakes:
1. Using both attributes at once: Screen readers only honor aria-labelledby. The leftover aria-label just confuses whoever touches your code next.
2. Referencing IDs that don’t exist: Silent errors are the worst. Double-check your references with automated tools like axe-core.
3. Static English aria-labels on multilingual sites: Always leverage your translation pipeline or use aria-labelledby with translated DOM elements.
Quick example: Imagine a delete button labeled with aria-label="Delete" in English. When your app gets translated into Spanish, this button label stays stuck in English. Switching to aria-labelledby referencing a translated element solves it instantly.

Performance and Maintenance Tips

In frameworks like React or Vue, manage your DOM carefully. Always ensure referenced elements exist in the DOM before referencing components mount. Add automated accessibility checks (like Lighthouse) into your CI/CD setup. They’ll quickly catch misconfigured labels and help you maintain consistent accessibility.

Advanced Label Composition

Need more detail? Stack IDs with aria-labelledby:
```
<span id="action">Confirm</span>
<span id="item">your subscription</span>
<button aria-labelledby="action item">...</button>
```
Now the screen reader clearly announces, “Confirm your subscription.”

Dynamic content? Even simpler:
```
const statusLabel = document.getElementById("status");
statusLabel.textContent = isExpired ? "Expired" : "Active";
// aria-labelledby references statusLabel automatically
```
This dynamic updating is invaluable for reactive or state-driven UI.

Testing Your Accessible Names

Don’t skip manual checks. Fire up VoiceOver, NVDA, or even JAWS and tab through your components the way real users do. Navigate end‑to‑end, listen for odd announcements, and confirm the focus order feels right. Then pair those spot checks with automated tools in CI so labeling issues get fixed long before code ships.

Wrapping Up: Making Strategic Choices

Understanding when to use aria-label versus aria-labelledby might seem minor, but it significantly impacts users’ experience. Choose aria-label for simplicity and directness, especially on icon-driven interfaces. Go with aria-labelledby when leveraging visible, dynamic, or localized content.

Remember, accessibility is about making your interfaces clear for everyone, not just users relying on assistive tech. The strategic use of these attributes ensures your app feels polished and intuitive.

Need a quick gut‑check? Schedule an ADA briefing with 216digital. We’ll walk through your codebase together and make sure every label—and the rest of your accessibility stack—hits the mark.
Greg McNeil

May 9, 2025

How-to Guides

Accessibility, ARIA, aria-label, Web Accessibility, web developers, web development

Accessible Accordion vs Disclosure: Dev Best Practices

Disclosures and accordions show up all over the place—FAQs, menus, settings panels—you name it. They seem simple enough, right? But making sure they actually work for everyone takes more than just toggling some content and calling it a day.

If you’ve ever wondered when to use <details> versus building an accordion with buttons and ARIA, or how to keep screen reader users from getting lost in a sea of hidden panels, you’re not alone. This guide breaks it all down—what to use, when to use it, and how to build a truly accessible accordion without overcomplicating the code.

What Are Disclosure and Accordion Widgets?

Disclosure Widgets: Simple, Native, and Often Overlooked

Disclosures—also known as show/hide widgets—are ideal for toggling a single section of content. Think expandable FAQs or inline help that doesn’t clutter the UI by default.

Here’s a basic example using semantic HTML:

<details>
  <summary>Need more info?</summary>
  <p>Here are more details you might find useful.</p>
</details>

This pattern is fully native and built into the browser, which means it comes with keyboard support and screen reader compatibility right out of the box. You also get the open attribute, which allows you to control whether the content is expanded by default.

The main advantage here is simplicity—no JavaScript needed, and fewer chances to introduce accessibility issues.

Accordion Widgets: More Complex, More Control

An accessible accordion expands on the idea of disclosure by managing multiple content panels. In most implementations, only one section is open at a time, helping users stay focused and reducing cognitive overload.

You can build an accordion using multiple <details> elements, but if you want to control behavior more precisely—like closing other panels when one opens—you’ll need JavaScript.

Here’s what a minimal HTML-only version might look like:

<details name="accordion">
  <summary>Step 1</summary>
  <p>Instructions for step one.</p>
</details>

But to meet WCAG standards for a true accessible accordion, you’ll need to manage keyboard navigation, state indicators, and focus behavior—topics we’ll cover next.

Accessibility Considerations Developers Must Prioritize

Keyboard Navigation That Works for Everyone

An accessible accordion must support meaningful keyboard interactions. Here’s what users expect:

Tab and Shift + Tab to move between interactive elements.
Enter or Space to toggle a section open or closed.
Arrow Up/Down or Home/End to move between accordion headers in more advanced versions.

Missing any of these can make your component unusable for keyboard users. The WAI-ARIA Authoring Practices offer detailed guidance on accordion interaction patterns—worth bookmarking for reference.

Use Semantic Elements—Always

If there’s one golden rule, it’s this: never sacrifice semantics for styling.

That means:

Use <button> for interactive triggers—not <div>, <span>, or anchor tags without href.
If you’re toggling visibility, it’s a button, not a link.
Ensure that elements behave as users (and assistive technologies) expect.

Using semantic elements is one of the most effective ways to ensure your accessible accordion behaves predictably across screen readers and input types.

Add ARIA Where Needed, Not Everywhere

ARIA should enhance native HTML—not replace it. But when you’re building a custom accordion in JavaScript, ARIA becomes essential for communicating component state.

Here’s a basic implementation:

<button aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="info">More Info</button>
<div id="info" hidden>
  <p>Here’s the additional info.</p>
</div>

const btn = document.querySelector('button');
const content = document.getElementById('info');
btn.addEventListener('click', () => {
  const expanded = btn.getAttribute('aria-expanded') === 'true';
  btn.setAttribute('aria-expanded', String(!expanded));
  content.hidden = expanded;
});

This ensures screen readers can track whether content is visible or hidden, creating a seamless experience for all users.

Common Accessibility Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

Even seasoned devs slip up. Here are a few common issues that can break accessibility—and how to address them:

Mistake	Problem	Solution
Non-focusable triggers	`<div>`s with `onclick` don’t work for keyboard users	Use `<button>` or add `tabindex="0"`
Links used instead of buttons	`<a>` without `href` doesn’t convey intent	Replace with semantic `<button>`
Missing state feedback	Screen readers can’t detect if content is expanded	Dynamically update aria-expanded
Focusable elements in hidden content	Users tab into content they can’t see	Use hidden or display: none correctly

Most of these issues stem from skipping semantic HTML or relying too heavily on JavaScript without proper state management. An accessible accordion avoids these pitfalls by focusing on clarity, intent, and interaction feedback.

Best Practices for Developers

Building an accessible accordion that holds up in the real world means going beyond code snippets. Here’s what to keep in mind:

Start with Progressive Enhancement

Whenever possible, begin with HTML <details> and <summary>. They’re accessible by default and supported in all major browsers. Use JavaScript only when additional behavior—like limiting panels to one open at a time—is truly needed.

Prioritize Focus Visibility

An accordion is only as accessible as its focus states. Make sure every interactive element has a visible focus indicator, and don’t override :focus-visible in your CSS. This isn’t just a WCAG 2.2 requirement—it’s also just good UX.

Avoid Overengineering with ARIA

Don’t reach for ARIA unless you need to. Native HTML tends to be more robust across assistive technologies, and using ARIA incorrectly can make things worse. When in doubt, simplify.

Test Like a User

If you’re not testing with a keyboard, you’re flying blind. Add screen reader testing with NVDA, JAWS, or VoiceOver into your QA flow. Run Lighthouse and WAVE scans, but don’t rely on them alone—they won’t catch everything an actual user would encounter.

Real-World Application: From Good to Great

Let’s say you’re rebuilding a legacy FAQ section. It uses JavaScript to toggle open answers, but it’s riddled with <div>s and missing ARIA.

Start by replacing the markup with semantic HTML:

<details>
  <summary>What’s your return policy?</summary>
  <p>You can return items within 30 days.</p>
</details>

Then, enhance with JavaScript if you want only one section open at a time. Layer in ARIA attributes to improve screen reader support. Suddenly, you’ve turned a clunky widget into a polished, accessible accordion that works for everyone.

Wrapping It Up

Disclosures and accordions might seem interchangeable, but the differences matter—especially when accessibility is on the line. Whether you’re working on a quick FAQ or building a fully dynamic interface, an accessible accordion ensures users with different abilities can navigate and interact with your content.

At the end of the day, accessibility isn’t about checking boxes—it’s about building better interfaces for everyone.

Need help auditing your components?

216digital offers in-depth accessibility support. Schedule an ADA compliance consultation to review your current implementation and ensure everything meets WCAG standards—without compromising design or performance.

Greg McNeil

May 8, 2025

How-to Guides

Accessibility, accessible accordion, Disclosure, How-to, HTML, semantic HTML, web developers, web development

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Progressive Enhancement: Accessibility First

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Testing for Motion Accessibility

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Tools and Techniques for Evaluating Color Contrast

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Final Shades of Wisdom

The Real Challenge of Mobile Accessibility

Common Barriers with Mobile Form Accessibility

Invisible Text Fields

Quick fix:

Keyboard Blocking Form Fields

A simple JavaScript nudge:

Unexpected Focus Shifts

Rules of thumb:

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Design with Keyboard Visibility in Mind

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Use Semantic HTML First, ARIA Thoughtfully

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Support Multiple Interaction Modes

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The Appeal (and Limits) of Automated Testing

What Automated Tools Can’t Catch

Why a Hybrid Approach Works Best

Real-World Example: Checkout Accessibility

Manual Accessibility Testing Doesn’t Have to Be Time-Consuming

The Long-Term Payoff

Bridging the Gap Between Code and Experience

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Can You Get WCAG Certified? (No — and Here’s Why)

Why the Idea of Certification Still Matters

What You Can Get Instead: Real Accessibility Certifications

Real Accessibility Is About Practical Action

Run Regular Accessibility Audits

Fix High-Impact Issues First

Bake Accessibility Into Development

Publish a Public Statement

Train Your Content Team

Should You Be Chasing WCAG Certification?

Accessibility Partners Can Make the Difference

You Don’t Need a WCAG Certificate—You Need a Plan

What a False Positive Really Is

The Hidden Costs of False Positives

Time and Budget Drain

Erosion of Trust in Tools

Legal and Reputational Risks

Practical Steps to Minimize False Positives

Choose Tools Carefully

What Is `@prefers-reduced-motion`?

Performance & UX Benefits of Reducing Motion

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