Start Here
New to accessibility? You’re in the right place.
You don’t need to be an expert to start making accessible digital work.
This page gives you a clear starting point, a few high-impact actions, and shows you where to go next based on your role.
If you only have 10 minutes, this page is for you.
What Accessibility Really Means
Accessibility means making sure everyone can use and understand your digital content, including people with:
Vision, hearing, motor, or cognitive disabilities
Temporary limitations (injury, illness, fatigue)
Situational barriers (bright sunlight, noise, one-handed use)
If someone can’t perceive, operate, or understand your product — it isn’t accessible.
Start With These 6 Essentials
These are the most common issues that block users — and the easiest ones to fix.
Everything must work with a keyboard
If you can’t reach or use it without a mouse, it’s not accessible.
Quick check:
Tab through the page. Can you reach all buttons, links, menus, and forms?
Make focus visible
Users need to see where they are when navigating with a keyboard.
Quick check:
When you press Tab, is there a clear visual indicator on the active element?
Use real structure, not visual styling
Headings, lists, and landmarks are not decoration — they’re navigation.
Quick check:
Are headings used in order (H1 → H2 → H3), not just bold text?
Don’t rely on color alone
Color should never be the only way to communicate meaning.
Quick check:
If you remove color, do errors, states, and actions still make sense?
Write clearly and simply
Plain language helps everyone — not just people with disabilities.
Quick check:
Are instructions clear, short, and free of jargon?
Images and media need alternatives
If information is visual or audio-only, some users will miss it.
Quick check:
Do images have meaningful alt text?
Do videos have captions?
Accessibility Is a Team Effort
Different people prevent different problems.
Everyone
Meetings, emails, documents, forms, tables, and everyday communication matter too.
Designers
Prevent issues before they reach code with accessible layouts, patterns, and handoff checks.
Developers
Ensure semantic markup, keyboard support, focus management, and screen reader compatibility.
Product Managers
Plan accessibility early, reduce delivery risk, and avoid expensive rework.
QA & Testers
Catch issues that automated tools miss with manual testing and assistive tech.
Leaders & Decision-Makers
Understand risk, compliance, governance, and how accessibility scales across teams.
Want to Understand Accessibility a Bit More?
If you’d like a simple explanation of:
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What accessibility is (and isn’t)
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How roles connect
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How accessibility fits into the product lifecycle
Prefer Tools, Checklists, and Downloads?
Inclusive Design Principles
A simple set of principles to help you make better decisions across design, content, and delivery
Inclusive Personas
Real-world personas that highlight common accessibility needs and practical design tips you can apply immediately.
Designers: Accessibility Checklist
A practical checklist to review designs before development. Catch issues early, reduce rework, and set developers up for success.
wA11y Developer Toolkit
Essential tools, keyboard checks, screen reader basics, and common pitfalls to avoid during development and code review.
Accessibility improves products for everyone — not just a few users.