Common Accessibility Mistakes and How to Fix Them in 2026

Web accessibility isn’t just about compliance—it’s about creating digital experiences everyone can use. Yet even well-intentioned developers and content creators make mistakes that exclude users with disabilities. Let’s explore the most common accessibility pitfalls and practical solutions to fix them.

1. Missing or Poor Alternative Text for Images

The Problem: Images without alt text leave screen reader users in the dark. Equally problematic are generic descriptions like “image123.jpg” or overly verbose descriptions that waste users’ time.

The Fix:

• Every informative image needs descriptive alt text that conveys its purpose and content
• Decorative images should have empty alt attributes (alt=””) so screen readers skip them
• Keep descriptions concise but meaningful—aim for under 150 characters
• For complex images like charts or diagrams, provide longer descriptions using aria-describedby or nearby text

Example:

<!-- Bad -->
<img src="chart.png" alt="chart">

<!-- Good -->
<img src="sales-data.png" alt="Bar chart showing 23% increase in Q4 sales compared to Q3">

2. Low Color Contrast

The Problem: Light gray text on white backgrounds might look sleek and modern, but it’s nearly impossible for users with low vision or color blindness to read. This affects approximately 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women worldwide.

The Fix:

• Maintain a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text (18pt+)
• Use free tools like WebAIM’s Contrast Checker or browser extensions to test your color combinations
• Don’t rely on color alone to convey information—use icons, patterns, or text labels too

3. Keyboard Navigation Barriers

The Problem: Many users navigate websites exclusively with keyboards due to motor disabilities or personal preference. Inaccessible dropdown menus, missing focus indicators, or trapped keyboard focus create insurmountable barriers.

The Fix:

• Ensure all interactive elements can be accessed using Tab, Enter, and arrow keys
• Make focus indicators clearly visible—never use outline: none without a replacement
• Test your entire site using only a keyboard (no mouse!)
• Implement logical tab order that follows visual layout
• Provide skip links to bypass repetitive navigation

Example:

/* Bad */
button:focus {
  outline: none;
}

/* Good */
button:focus {
  outline: 3px solid #0066cc;
  outline-offset: 2px;
}

4. Non-Descriptive Link Text

The Problem: Links that say “click here,” “read more,” or “learn more” provide no context when announced by screen readers. Users who navigate by links alone can’t determine where these links lead.

The Fix:

• Write link text that makes sense out of context
• Front-load important keywords in link text
• Avoid repetitive link text on the same page
• If design requires generic visible text, use aria-label for additional context

Example:

<!-- Bad -->
<a href="/report.pdf">Click here</a> to read our annual report.

<!-- Good -->
<a href="/report.pdf">Read our 2026 annual accessibility report</a>.

5. Inaccessible Forms

The Problem: Forms without proper labels, error messages, or instructions create confusion and prevent successful completion by users with disabilities.

The Fix:

• Associate every form field with a visible <label> element
• Provide clear instructions before the form, not just in placeholder text
• Use aria-describedby to link fields with help text
• Display error messages clearly and programmatically associate them with fields using aria-invalid and aria-describedby
• Group related fields with <fieldset> and <legend>

Example:

<label for="email">Email Address (required)</label>
<input 
  type="email" 
  id="email" 
  name="email"
  aria-describedby="email-hint"
  aria-required="true">
<span id="email-hint">We'll never share your email with third parties.</span>

6. Auto-Playing Media

The Problem: Videos or audio that play automatically can disorient screen reader users, startle people with cognitive disabilities, and interfere with assistive technology.

The Fix:

• Never auto-play media with sound
• If auto-play is necessary, mute it by default and provide obvious controls
• Include captions for all video content and transcripts for audio
• Ensure media players are keyboard accessible

7. Missing Page Titles and Headings

The Problem: Pages without unique, descriptive titles make navigation difficult. Skipping heading levels or using headings solely for visual styling breaks document structure.

The Fix:

• Give every page a unique, descriptive <title> that starts with the most specific information
• Use heading tags (<h1> through <h6>) to create a logical document outline
• Never skip heading levels (don’t jump from <h2> to <h4>)
• Use only one <h1> per page for the main topic

8. Inaccessible Dynamic Content

The Problem: Content that updates without page refresh (like notifications, live feeds, or form validation) may go unnoticed by screen reader users if not properly announced.

The Fix:

• Use ARIA live regions to announce dynamic content changes
• Choose appropriate aria-live values: “polite” for non-urgent updates, “assertive” for critical alerts
• Use aria-atomic to control whether the entire region or just changes are announced
• Test with actual screen readers to ensure announcements are helpful, not overwhelming

Example:

<div role="status" aria-live="polite" aria-atomic="true">
  <p>Item added to cart. You have 3 items.</p>
</div>

9. PDFs and Documents

The Problem: PDFs shared on websites are often image-based scans or improperly tagged documents that screen readers cannot parse.

The Fix:

• Create PDFs from accessible source documents with proper structure
• Use Adobe Acrobat’s accessibility checker and auto-tag feature as a starting point
• Manually verify and fix tag order, alt text, and table structures
• Better yet, provide HTML versions of important documents
• If PDF is necessary, include a link to request an accessible format

10. Mobile Accessibility Oversights

The Problem: Touch targets too small, horizontal scrolling requirements, and portrait-only orientation locks create barriers for mobile users with dexterity or vision challenges.

The Fix:

• Make touch targets at least 44×44 pixels
• Ensure all functionality works in both portrait and landscape orientations
• Test with screen magnification enabled
• Support pinch-to-zoom (don’t disable it with maximum-scale=1)
• Ensure sufficient spacing between interactive elements

Testing Your Accessibility

Making your site accessible requires ongoing testing:

1. Automated Testing: Use tools like axe DevTools, WAVE, or Lighthouse to catch common issues quickly
2. Keyboard Testing: Navigate your entire site using only Tab, Enter, Escape, and arrow keys
3. Screen Reader Testing: Test with NVDA (free on Windows), JAWS, or VoiceOver (built into macOS/iOS)
4. User Testing: Include people with disabilities in your testing process—nothing beats real-world feedback

The Bottom Line

Accessibility isn’t a feature you add at the end—it’s a fundamental aspect of good design and development. By avoiding these common mistakes and implementing the fixes outlined above, you’ll create better experiences for everyone, not just users with disabilities.

Start by addressing the issues most critical to your users, then work systematically through the rest. Remember: progress, not perfection, is the goal. Every improvement you make helps someone access your content more easily.

Resources for Further Learning

• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2: Official standards and success criteria
• WebAIM: Practical articles, tutorials, and testing tools
• A11y Project: Community-driven accessibility resources
• Deque University: In-depth courses on digital accessibility
• Accessibility Checker: Automated testing tool for WordPress sites

Making the web accessible isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s increasingly required by law and good for business. Users with disabilities control over $13 trillion in annual disposable income globally. Don’t leave them behind.