Building Accessible Websites in 2025: Best Practices and Tools

A practical guide to making your websites accessible to everyone, featuring the latest standards, tools, and strategies for 2025.

2 min read

Web accessibility is more important than ever. As digital experiences become more sophisticated, ensuring that everyone—including people with disabilities—can use your website is both a moral and legal imperative. In 2025, new tools and standards make it easier to build accessible sites from the start.

Why Accessibility Matters

Accessible websites:

  • Reach a wider audience
  • Improve SEO and performance
  • Reduce legal risk
  • Provide a better user experience for everyone

Key Principles of Accessibility

Follow the POUR principles:

  • Perceivable: Content must be presented in ways users can perceive (text alternatives, captions, sufficient color contrast).
  • Operable: All functionality must be available from a keyboard and accessible to assistive technologies.
  • Understandable: Content and navigation must be clear and predictable.
  • Robust: Content must work with current and future user agents, including assistive tech.

Modern Tools for Accessibility

  • Automated Testing: Tools like Axe, Lighthouse, and WAVE can catch many common issues.
  • Screen Readers: NVDA, VoiceOver, and JAWS help you test real-world experiences.
  • Browser DevTools: Chrome and Firefox now include accessibility inspectors and contrast checkers.

Best Practices for 2025

  • Use semantic HTML elements (<header>, <nav>, <main>, <footer>, <button>, etc.).
  • Ensure all interactive elements are keyboard accessible.
  • Provide text alternatives for images and media.
  • Maintain sufficient color contrast (WCAG 2.2 AA or better).
  • Use ARIA roles and attributes only when necessary.
  • Test with real users and assistive technologies.

New Standards and Legislation

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 are now widely adopted, and many regions have updated their laws to require compliance. Stay informed about local regulations to avoid legal pitfalls.

Conclusion

Building accessible websites is an ongoing process, but the tools and resources available in 2025 make it easier than ever. By prioritizing accessibility, you create better experiences for all users and future-proof your digital products.

Further Reading:

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