Accessibility is not a detail, it’s survival.

We talk more and more about digital accessibility, but we are still far from the ideal. Proof of this is that only 2.9% of Brazilian websites passed basic accessibility tests, according to research by BigDataCorp and the Web for All Movement (MWPT).

In other words: 97% of digital experiences exclude someone.

Many people think digital accessibility is just about contrast and typography. Which would already be the bare minimum, but we don’t even have that right.

Accessibility goes far beyond color and pretty fonts. If we want to create products that truly work for everyone, there’s A LOT to consider.

Here are some points that make all the difference:

Research and Planning

• If the user has a disability, how will they interact with our product? If no one on the team has stopped to think about this, it’s already started wrong.

Information Architecture

• If the site’s navigation feels like a maze, having a pretty UI doesn’t help. Clear hierarchy and a simple flow are essential for everyone — and even more so for those using screen readers or navigating only with the keyboard.

Visual Design

• There are no excuses here. Proper contrast, readable typography, well-thought-out spacing, and consistency are mandatory. And if the design system doesn’t take accessibility seriously, it’s doing more harm than good.

• The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), developed by W3C, set minimum criteria that any digital product should follow. And, honestly? Almost no one follows them.

Cognitive Design

• Simple, direct, and concise texts. If the user needs to read something three times to understand it, something’s wrong.

Navigation and Interaction

• If the site doesn’t work with just the keyboard, it’s not accessible.

• If the button doesn’t have a visible focus state, it disappears for those using a keyboard.

Audiovisual Content

• Video without subtitles = exclusion.

• Audio that plays automatically = ruined experience.

• Image without alt text = screen reader only reads “image123.png.”

Usability Testing

• If accessibility testing only happens after everything is done, it’s not real accessibility, it’s just fixing errors. Tools like Contrast Checker and WAVE exist to be used BEFORE the product goes live.

The truth is, accessibility is not a favor. It’s an obligation.

If the product is not accessible, it excludes people. And when we exclude someone, we decide who can or cannot have access to information.

Now, if the social impact doesn’t convince you, maybe the financial one will.

In Brazil, there are more than 500,000 people with disabilities employed. They consume, pay, and subscribe to services. Companies that ignore accessibility not only harm their own image but also lose out on potential revenue.

True accessibility is not an 'extra requirement,' it’s a continuous process in the creation and development of any project.