Web accessibility means building websites and apps so that people with disability, including those who are blind, have low vision, are deaf, have motor impairments or have cognitive differences, can use them. The widely used reference is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), published by the W3C, with levels A, AA and AAA.
In practice it covers things such as text alternatives for images, sufficient colour contrast, full keyboard navigation, clear form labels, captions for video, and layouts that work with screen readers and zoom. Most organisations aim for WCAG 2.1 or 2.2 level AA.
Retailers and hospitality businesses should consider it for ordering, booking, checkout and menu pages, where a barrier blocks a sale or reservation. It also improves usability for everyone, such as customers on a phone in bright sunlight, and it overlaps with good SEO practice.
Australian businesses have obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, and the Australian Human Rights Commission points to WCAG as the benchmark. Be wary of overlay widgets that promise instant compliance, as they often do not fix underlying problems. Test with a keyboard, a screen reader and an automated checker, remembering that automated tools only catch part of the issues.
Accessible design widens your customer base and reduces legal risk. RetailCare builds websites and apps with accessibility in mind.