How to Fix Website Accessibility Issues: Step-by-Step Guide

Your website has accessibility problems. You've seen the score. Now what? This guide walks you through the most common WCAG failures and exactly how to fix each one — no jargon, no fluff.

Step 1: Find Out What's Actually Wrong

Before fixing anything, you need a clear list of specific issues. Run your website through an automated accessibility checker to get:

Run a free accessibility scan on your website now →

Step 2: Fix the Critical Issues First

Not all accessibility issues are equal. Start with these — they affect the most users and carry the highest legal risk:

Missing Image Alt Text

The problem: Screen readers can't describe images without alt attributes. Visually impaired users hear nothing or get a useless filename.

The fix: Add descriptive alt attributes to every <img> tag. For decorative images, use alt="" (empty alt). For informative images, describe what the image shows.

<!-- Bad -->
<img src="team-photo.jpg">

<!-- Good -->
<img src="team-photo.jpg" alt="Our team of accountants at the Birmingham office">

Form Inputs Without Labels

The problem: Screen readers can't tell users what information a form field expects. Users can't fill in your contact form.

The fix: Add a <label> element linked to each input via the for attribute.

<!-- Bad -->
<input type="text" name="email" placeholder="Your email">

<!-- Good -->
<label for="email">Email address</label>
<input type="text" id="email" name="email">

Low Colour Contrast

The problem: Text that doesn't contrast enough with its background is hard to read — especially for the 2.7 million people in the UK with low vision.

The fix: Ensure a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text. Use a contrast checker tool or update your CSS colours.

Missing Page Language

The problem: Without a lang attribute on <html>, screen readers may pronounce words incorrectly.

The fix: Add lang="en" to your HTML tag: <html lang="en">

Step 3: Fix Structural Issues

Heading Hierarchy

Headings should follow a logical order: H1, then H2, then H3. Don't skip levels. Don't use headings just for styling — use CSS instead.

Link Text

Every link needs descriptive text. "Click here" and "Read more" mean nothing out of context. Instead: "Read our pricing guide" or "Contact our team".

Keyboard Navigation

Every interactive element (links, buttons, forms) must be reachable and usable with just a keyboard. Test by pressing Tab through your entire page.

Step 4: Verify Your Fixes

After making changes, scan your website again to confirm your score has improved. Accessibility is ongoing — check regularly, especially after website updates.

Scan your website now — free instant score →

Why This Matters in 2026

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is now enforceable. The UK Equality Act requires reasonable adjustments for disabled users. Businesses that ignore website accessibility face:

The good news: most issues are straightforward to fix. Start with a scan, prioritise the critical failures, and work through them systematically.

Need Help?

Our EAA Business Compliance Package (£49) gives you a comprehensive PDF report covering every accessibility issue on your website, with specific fix instructions for each one, prioritised by severity. It's the fastest way to get compliant.