Common Accessibility Issues and How to Fix Them

Every website has accessibility issues—even well-intentioned ones. The good news is that most problems follow predictable patterns. Here's our guide to the most common issues and how to address them.

The Most Common Accessibility Violations

Based on millions of scans, these issues appear most frequently:

1. Missing Alternative Text

Problem: Images lack meaningful alt text, leaving blind users without context.

<!-- Bad: -->
<img src="chart-revenue.png" />

<!-- Good: -->
<img
  src="chart-revenue.png"
  alt="Bar chart showing revenue growth of 25% from Q1 to Q4"
/>

2. Low Contrast Ratios

Problem: Text doesn't have enough contrast against its background, making it hard to read for users with low vision.

Requirements:

• Normal text: 4.5:1 contrast ratio
• Large text (18px+ or 14px bold): 3:1 contrast ratio
• UI components and graphics: 3:1 contrast ratio

Solution: Use our contrast checker tool or let ADA Scout identify low-contrast areas automatically.

3. Missing Form Labels

Problem: Form fields lack labels, making it impossible for screen reader users to understand what to enter.

<!-- Bad: -->
<input type="email" placeholder="Enter your email" />

<!-- Good: -->
<label for="email">Email Address</label>
<input type="email" id="email" placeholder="Enter your email" />

4. Empty Links

Problem: Links with no text or only images as links create confusion.

<!-- Bad: -->
<a href="/about"><img src="about-us.png" /></a>

<!-- Good: -->
<a href="/about">
  <img src="about-us.png" alt="Learn about our company" />
</a>

5. Missing Headings or Heading Skips

Problem: Content lacks proper heading hierarchy or skips levels (h1 → h3).

Correct structure:

<h1>Page Title</h1>
<h2>Main Section</h2>
<h3>Subsection</h3>
<h2>Another Section</h2>

6. Keyboard Traps

Problem: Users can't tab out of certain elements, trapping keyboard navigation.

Common culprits: Modal dialogs, embedded iframes, and certain JavaScript widgets.

Solution: Ensure users can always tab away using the keyboard.

7. Auto-Playing Media

Problem: Audio or video that plays automatically without controls.

Requirements:

• Provide controls for auto-playing media
• Don't auto-play audio
• If auto-playing, users must be able to pause or stop

How to Prioritize Fixes

Not all issues are equal. Here's how to prioritize:

Remediation Priority

• ✓Fix keyboard traps first - they completely block users
• ✓Address missing labels on forms - high user impact
• ✓Add alt text to meaningful images
• ✓Increase color contrast where possible
• ✓Fix heading structure for better navigation
• ✓Add captions to videos
• ✓Improve overall user experience

Automate Your Testing

Manual testing isn't scalable. Use automated tools to:

1. Catch issues early - Test during development
2. Monitor continuously - Scan regularly for regressions
3. Prioritize intelligently - Focus on high-impact fixes

ADA Scout runs comprehensive scans to identify these issues and provides detailed remediation guidance.

The Bottom Line

Most accessibility issues are easy to fix once you know they exist. The key is regular testing and a commitment to inclusive design. Start with high-impact fixes and work your way through the list systematically.