Getting Started with Accessibility
Learn what digital accessibility means, why it matters, and how One Step Access helps you create inclusive experiences for everyone.
What is Digital Accessibility?
Digital accessibility means designing websites, applications, and documents so that people with disabilities can use them independently and effectively. This includes people who are blind or have low vision, deaf or hard of hearing, have mobility challenges, cognitive disabilities, or any other disability.
Accessible design benefits everyone—not just people with disabilities. Clear navigation, readable text, and keyboard support make your site faster and easier to use for all visitors.
Who Benefits from Accessibility?
- People using assistive technology like screen readers
- Visitors with slow internet connections
- Users on mobile devices with small screens
- Anyone in a noisy or quiet environment
- Non-native speakers who appreciate clear language
- Older adults with changing vision or mobility
Why Accessibility Matters
Reach More People
About 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. have some type of disability. Accessible design means your content reaches a wider audience.
Better User Experience
Accessibility improvements like clear headings, good contrast, and keyboard navigation help all users navigate your site faster.
Legal Compliance
Web accessibility is required by law in many jurisdictions (ADA, WCAG standards). Compliance protects your organization from liability.
SEO Benefits
Search engines reward accessible sites. Proper headings, alt text, and semantic HTML improve your search rankings.
Accessibility Principles (WCAG)
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the international standard for digital accessibility. They're built on four core principles:
1. Perceivable
Users must be able to perceive your content. This means providing text alternatives for images, using sufficient color contrast, captions for videos, and ensuring content isn't hidden from assistive technology.
2. Operable
Users must be able to navigate and interact with your content. This includes keyboard accessibility (no mouse required), enough time to read and interact, avoiding seizure-inducing flashing, and providing clear navigation.
3. Understandable
Your content must be understandable. Use plain language, clear headings and structure, consistent navigation, and help users correct mistakes in forms.
4. Robust
Your content must work with assistive technology. Use semantic HTML, proper heading hierarchy, and ensure compatibility with screen readers and other assistive tools.
How One Step Access Can Help
Schedule a Discovery Call
Tell us about your website, documents, or platform and your accessibility goals. We'll ask questions to understand your needs.
Schedule a call →Get an Accessibility Evaluation
We manually test your website or documents with keyboard navigation and screen readers to find accessibility barriers. You'll receive a detailed report with findings and recommendations.
Request an evaluation →Fix Issues or Remediate Documents
We can help you fix accessibility issues on your website, remediate existing documents to make them accessible, or provide training to your team on accessibility best practices.
View our services →Maintain Accessibility
Accessibility is ongoing. We offer consulting, monthly support, and staff training to help you maintain and improve accessibility over time.
Get in touch →Ready to Get Started?
Fill out one of our online forms to submit your request. We'll review your information and follow up with next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an accessibility review cost? ▼
Pricing depends on the scope of your project. Small business website reviews start at $750, medium business reviews at $3,500, and higher education services start at $20,000. Contact us for a custom quote based on your needs.
How long does an evaluation take? ▼
Timeline varies based on the size and complexity of your website or number of documents. Typical evaluations take 1-2 weeks. We'll provide a timeframe after your initial consultation.
What standards do you follow? ▼
We follow WCAG 2.1/2.2 Level A and AA standards, which align with legal requirements like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). All testing is manual, using keyboard navigation and screen readers to ensure real-world accessibility.
Do you fix issues or just report them? ▼
We can do either. Our reports include actionable recommendations you can use to fix issues yourself or with your development team. We also offer consulting services to help guide your remediation efforts.
Can you help with document remediation? ▼
Yes! We remediate Word documents, PDFs, PowerPoint presentations, and Excel spreadsheets to make them accessible. We add proper headings, alt text for images, accessible tables, and more.
Ready to Make Your Site More Accessible?
Start with a free consultation to discuss your accessibility goals and find the right solution for your organization.
Schedule Your Discovery Call