How To Fix the Most Common Accessibility Issues Found in New Websites
Most new websites don’t fail accessibility because teams don’t care. They fail because accessibility usually isn’t part of the default checklist when a site is being designed or launched. Designers focus on visuals, developers focus on functionality, and accessibility gets pushed to “later.”
The problem is that the same issues show up again and again in new builds. The good news is that these issues are well-known, easy to spot, and very fixable if you know what to look for.
What Are “Common Accessibility Issues”?
When we talk about common accessibility issues, we’re usually referring to patterns that block or frustrate users who rely on assistive technologies or alternative ways of navigating. These are not edge cases or rare bugs. They’re foundational problems that affect real users every day.
Things like missing labels, poor color contrast, broken keyboard navigation, or confusing page structure all fall into this category. Fixing them doesn’t require advanced knowledge. It just requires awareness and a bit of intention.
Who Is Affected (And How)
These issues directly impact:
Screen reader users who rely on structure and labels
Keyboard-only users who can’t use a mouse
Low-vision users who need sufficient contrast and zoom
Color blind users who can’t rely on color alone
Users with cognitive or attention-related disabilities
For example, a form without proper labels might look fine visually, but a screen reader user may have no idea what information is being requested. A button that only shows a color change on hover may be invisible to someone navigating by keyboard.
How To Identify Common Accessibility Issues Quickly
You don’t need a full audit to find most problems. Start here:
Try navigating your site using only the keyboard
Turn on a screen reader like VoiceOver or NVDA
Zoom the page to 200 percent and see what breaks
Look for text that’s hard to read against its background
Scan for vague links like “Click here” or “Read more”
Running an automated scan also helps catch obvious issues early. Tools like Wally’s WAX Chrome Extension or Wally’s WAX Linter Extension for VS Code can flag problems right inside your browser or editor, before they make it to production.
Step-by-Step Fixes for the Most Common Issues
Missing or Incorrect Headings
The issue: Pages use headings for styling, skip levels, or don’t use headings at all.
Why it matters: Screen reader users rely on headings to understand page structure and navigate quickly.
How to fix it:
Use headings to represent structure, not appearance
Start with one <h1> per page
Follow a logical order (h1 -> h2 -> h3)
If you want to go deeper into structure, check out How To Make Your Website Screen Reader Friendly
Poor Color Contrast
The issue: Text blends into the background or relies on subtle color differences.
Why it matters: Low-vision and color blind users struggle to read content.
How to fix it:
Ensure normal text meets a 4.5:1 contrast ratio
Ensure large text meets a 3:1 ratio
Don’t rely on color alone to convey meaning
Forms Without Labels
The issue: Inputs use placeholders instead of labels.
Why it matters: Placeholders disappear when typing and aren’t announced properly by screen readers.
How to fix it:
Every input should have a visible label
Associate labels correctly using for and id
Provide clear error messages and instructions
Broken Keyboard Navigation
The issue: Users can’t reach or exit elements using a keyboard.
Why it matters: Many users rely entirely on keyboard navigation.
How to fix it:
Ensure all interactive elements are focusable
Make focus styles clearly visible
Allow users to close modals with the Escape key
Avoid keyboard traps
Images Without Alt Text
The issue: Images either have no alt text or meaningless alt text.
Why it matters: Screen reader users miss context or hear confusing descriptions.
How to fix it:
Add descriptive alt text for meaningful images
Use alt="" for decorative images
Avoid repeating nearby text in alt attributes
Vague or Repetitive Links
The issue: Multiple links say “Read more” or “Learn more.”
Why it matters: Screen reader users often navigate by links alone.
How to fix it:
How To Keep These Issues From Coming Back
Fixing issues once isn’t enough. Accessibility needs light but consistent attention.
Some easy ways to keep things accessible:
Add a quick accessibility check to design and code reviews
Run automated scans before every release
Treat accessibility bugs like any other bug
Publish and maintain an accessibility statement
If you don’t have one yet, you can easily learn How To Create an Accessibility Statement That Actually Means Something
You can also find out How To Conduct Accessibility Reviews Before Launch (Without Experts)
Ready to Fix Accessibility Issues Before They Become Bigger Problems?
If you’re seeing these issues pop up in your site or want help preventing them altogether, Wally can help. Use our Chrome Extension or VS Code Extension to catch problems early, or book an accessibility consultation if you want expert guidance. We help teams audit, fix, and build accessibility into their workflow so new issues don’t keep resurfacing.
Every fix you make improves usability for real people. And those small fixes add up faster than you think.
