The Ultimate Website Accessibility Compliance Checklist for 2025

We are halfway through the year, but it is not too late to get things in order. Do you know if you have any accessibility pitfalls? Web accessibility is about making digital content usable for everyone, including people with disabilities. This means designing websites, applications and interfaces that accommodate a range of needs, whether auditory, visual, motor or cognitive.  Accessibility is not just having something nice, this is essential for equity, user experience and legal compliance. 

To get a better understanding of what this means for your website, take a look at What ADA Compliance Means For Your Website? Common ADA Compliance Issues and How to Fix Them. Now, after learning about fixing those issues, we also discussed Accessibility, Usability, and Inclusion – Creating Inclusive Website Design Solution. Remember the goal is to make your content accessible and usable. 

We understand that standards are constantly changing to reflect better practices and broader inclusion. The latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2) provide new rules. These rules help improve mobile navigation, support people with cognitive challenges, and assist those with low vision.  In the US, these standards relate to ADA compliance. Global frameworks like EN 301 549 guide international standards. 

In this post, we’re cutting through the complexity and give you a practical, up-to-date checklist for accessible web design in 2025. This guide is for everyone. It doesn’t matter if you are a designer, developer, or content strategist. It will help you create inclusive digital experiences. These experiences should be part of the design from the start, not added later. 

What’s New (and What’s Next) in Web Accessibility Standards

What does staying current mean for accessibility standards? This means that there is a good understanding of the latest global standards and how they apply to your digital presence. 

The WCAG 2.2 added nine new rules. These rules are meant to help users. They focus on people with cognitive impairments, those with limited vision, and users of mobile devices. The highlights include:

Focus Appearance: This ensures that keyboard users can easily see which element is focused.

• Dragging Movements: This requires alternatives for drag-and-drop functionality 
• Target Size: This allows for increases in the minimum clickable area to help users with motor impairments.

WCAG 3.0: A Glimpse Into the Future

The new guidelines, WCAG 3.0, are still pending. However, it promises a more flexible, user-centered model for accessibility. Although it will not replace 2.2, it will be a good time to start preparing for its broader approach to inclusion. The model shifts from strict pass/fail rules to graded scoring, prioritizing functional needs and usability testing. 

Evaluation Tools to Keep You on Track

If you have no idea where you stand, there is no need to panic. Luckily there are tools that help you see where you are. Bear in mind that auditing help from a third party is still an option. WDB Agency can guide you through this. In the meantime, here are some tools (mostly free) to help you assess your site’s accessibility. 

1. WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation tool): This is an easy-to-use browser extension. It shows accessibility errors and gives tips on how to fix them. 
2. Axe by Deque: A developer-focused tool that integrates with browsers and test automation frameworks to flag violations.
3. Lighthouse by Google: A comprehensive performance and accessibility auditing tool built into Chrome DevTools. 

Bear in mind that these tools should not replace manual testing or lived experience feedback. However, they are invaluable for identifying quick wins and tracking progress. 

From Guidelines to Action: Your 2025 Accessibility Checklist

Now that you’re familiar with the latest standards and tools, it’s time to put them into practice.  We must get used to understanding that accessibility is not a one time if, this should be part of your overall design strategy.  Whether you are building from scratch or undergoing a redesign, this checklist will help you ensure your digital experience is usable, inclusive and compliant in 2025 and beyond.

The Checklist

Perceivable: Make sure all users can perceive the information on your site, regardless of how they access it.

• Text alternatives for all non-text content
• Captions for videos and transcripts for audio content
• Color contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 between text and background
• Responsive design that works well with zoom and screen readers.

Operable: You must ensure that users can navigate and interact with your site using a variety of tools and inputs

• Full support for keyboard-only navigation
• Skip navigation links to allow users to bypass repetitive content
• Visible and consistent focus indicators
• Avoid time-based content or ensure it is paused, stopped, or extended.

Understandable: This is where you keep your content user interface clear, consistent, and easy to follow. 

• Implement a consistent layout, structure, and navigation across pages
• Use plain language, readable fonts and intuitive headings
• Instructions must be clear, especially around forms and interactive elements
• Accessible forms with associated labels, input assistance,e and helpful error messages

Robust: Your content should work well across different platforms, browsers, and assistive technologies. 

• Use valid HTML and CSS for reliable rendering and compatibility
• Apply ARIA roles and landmarks when native HTML cannot do the job
• Test for screen reader compatibility and ensure assistive tech support 
• Maintain accessibility through regular audits and updates as technologies evolve

Common Mistakes to Avoid in 2025

Even with the best intentions, it is easy to overlook key issues that impact real-world usability. From lacking diverse testing groups, even design bias – if it works for me, it works for everyone- some designs fall short. Here are some common mistakes to avoid.

1. Relying solely on accessibility overlays or widgets: These tools often promise quick fixes but rarely address the underlying code or UX issues, and these can interfere with assistive technology. 
2. Using color as the only way to convey meaning: Always pair color cues with text labels, icons or patterns to ensure information is understood by users with color vision deficiencies. 
3. Inaccessible navigation menus or carousels: complex dropdowns, hover-only menus, or auto-advancing sliders can be frustrating or unusable for keyboard and screen reader users. 
4. Forgetting about mobile accessibility: Touch target, zoom support, and responsible behavior are just as important for users navigating via mobile devices or assistive gestures. 

Beyond the Checklist: Building a Culture of Accessibility

Understand this, true accessibility is not just a checklist, it is a commitment to continuous improvement. As technology advances and standards shift, so should your practices. You can stay proactive by conducting regular accessibility audits and usability testing. Never assume that your system stays accessible over time. Involve users with disabilities in your testing. There is absolutely no substitute for feedback. Engaging users with a range of disabilities helps to uncover issues that automatic tools fail to identify.  Train your team on accessibility best practices and stay up to date with evolving standards and regulations.  

Partnering with Experts Matters

At WDB Agency, we help forward-thinking organizations build websites that are aesthetically pleasing, functional and fully accessible. Our team combines technical expertise with a deep understanding of compliance frameworks. We help you create inclusive digital experiences that work for everyone. 

Whether you are designing from scratch or optimizing what you already have, we are here to guide you every step of the way. Schedule your free consultation today.

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