10 Critical Accessibility Issues Revealed by Our Audits — and Why They Can No Longer Wait

Almost out of time

In our ongoing efforts to enhance digital inclusivity, we've conducted extensive accessibility audits across numerous client websites. The findings reveal a sobering reality: many digital experiences still fall significantly short of recognized accessibility standards, as our findings show that nearly 50% of WCAG 2.2 AA criteria fail on average.

Why Accessibility Matters

Accessibility isn’t just a technical requirement; it’s a fundamental part of creating equitable digital experiences. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are globally recognized standards aimed at making web content usable by everyone, including people with disabilities. Compliance with WCAG is also crucial because it underpins the requirements of the upcoming European Accessibility Act (EAA), which enforces accessibility obligations for digital services and products across the European Union. The deadline? June 28, 2025 — less than a month away.

What Our Audits Have Revealed

Our recent evaluations have highlighted some common issues that not only hinder user experience but also may cause legal and reputational risks.

Here are some of the most frequent (yet surprisingly easy-to-fix) issues:

Missing alternatives for non-text elements
Poor color contrast
No visible focus indicator
Poor heading structure
Non-descriptive link text

Simple Fixes with Big Impact

Many of these issues are low or medium in complexity, meaning they can be resolved quickly and cost-effectively.

Add clear, descriptive alt text to all informative visual content. For purely decorative images, use empty alt text (alt="") so they will be ignored by screen readers.
Ensuring color contrast ratios meet WCAG standards.
Using meaningful link text and/ or ARIA labels to clarify link purpose.
Ensuring keyboard focus moves logically through interactive elements like menus, modals, and sliders to keep navigation clear.

Implementing these must-haves early not only improves accessibility but also enhances overall user experience for all visitors.

Building Accessibility into Your Projects

Proactively integrating accessibility from the outset ensures inclusivity and reduces costly retrofits later. It’s about designing with all users in mind—from the initial wireframes to development and final testing.

Hungry for more accessibility best practices? Stay tuned for insights that can help you incorporate these practices into your own projects.

Time's ticking. So here is what you can do.

While complete remediation might take time, there are immediate steps you can take, guided by us as your accessibility partner:

Shout it out loud. Remind everyone and get support from your stakeholders to start the process before it is too late.
Align with legal. Check with your legal advisor if you are under the scope of the EAA.
Evaluate your current digital assets toward the EAA and WCAG 2.1 AA standards. Start with the small things, run at least WAVE or Lighthouse Accessibility tests on the most critical pages. Spotlight the basics issues. Crazy, right? We are here to help you to 'read' this and go further.
Implement easy fixes. Not sure what? Ask us. We will help to highlight the low-hanging fruit and go hand-in-hand with you to fix them. Color contrast, alt texts, better heading structure ... You can do more already now, we know you can.
Communicate your efforts. An accessibility statement is a must. Reach out. We will help you to craft your accessibility statement.
Need more reasons? Remember, accessibility is not only about compliance and avoiding legal risks. It’s about creating a positive online experience for everyone.

The sooner we prioritize accessibility, the better equipped we’ll be to meet legal requirements and deliver inclusive experiences that resonate with all users.

Your Partner in Accessibility

At Springbok, we’re committed to helping your organization navigate these challenges. Not sure where to start? Let’s set up a call with one of our experts to walk you through the best practices.

Our team has the expertise, tools, and insights to guide and support you every step of the way toward a more accessible web.

Let’s work together to make digital spaces inclusive, compliant, and user-friendly for everyone.