Millions of people with disabilities rely on the internet every day — not just for convenience, but for education, work, and staying connected to the world.
Yet, despite how essential digital spaces have become, millions of websites remain inaccessible, excluding users and putting businesses at legal and financial risk.

As someone deeply involved in digital accessibility, I've seen firsthand how small mistakes can lead to big consequences.
In this post, I’ll walk you through the top 5 most common website accessibility mistakes, real-world cases where businesses paid the price, and how simple fixes (like an accessibility widget) can save you trouble — and grow your reach.

Let’s dive in.

1. Missing Alternative Text for Images (Alt Text)

What’s the mistake?

Many websites forget to add alt text — a simple description attached to images.
Without it, people using screen readers (typically users who are blind or visually impaired) can’t understand your visual content.

Real-World Case:

In 2017, U.S. grocery chain Winn-Dixie was sued by a visually impaired user who couldn’t shop online due to missing alt text.
The court ruled in favor of the user, and the company had to update their website to meet accessibility standards under the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act).

Read the full case study here.

2. Poor Heading Structure and Navigation

What’s the mistake?

When websites don’t use a logical heading hierarchy (H1, H2, H3) or proper navigation, it becomes chaos for people using screen readers or keyboard navigation.
Without structure, users can’t efficiently move through your content.

Real-World Case:

In 2016, the University of California, Berkeley was ordered by the U.S. Department of Justice to improve its online course content because it was inaccessible — partly due to poorly organized navigation.

Full statement on UC Berkeley accessibility issues.

3. No Subtitles or Captions on Videos

What’s the mistake?

Publishing videos without subtitles completely locks out users who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Real-World Case:

Netflix faced a major lawsuit in 2015 (National Association of the Deaf v. Netflix) for not providing captions across its streaming content.
They settled by agreeing to caption 100% of their programming — setting a major industry precedent.

Read the NAD v. Netflix case.

4. Website Can’t Be Used with a Keyboard Alone

What’s the mistake?

If your website only works with a mouse, users with motor disabilities (like paralysis) are immediately blocked.
Every action — navigation, forms, checkouts — needs to be accessible with just a keyboard.

Real-World Case:

In 2018, a customer with a motor disability sued a major restaurant chain because they couldn’t place an order online without a mouse.
The company had to revamp its website to be fully keyboard-accessible.

See the Robles v. Domino’s Pizza case.

5. Poor Color Contrast

What’s the mistake?

If your text blends into the background — think light gray on white — it’s extremely difficult (or impossible) for people with low vision or color blindness to read your content.

Real-World Data:

A 2022 report by WebAIM found that over 86% of homepages fail basic color contrast guidelines.
Even major banking websites in the UK have faced criticism from accessibility groups for failing visually impaired customers.

More on UK financial sector accessibility shortcomings.

Why Website Accessibility Matters (More Than You Think)

Website accessibility isn’t just about doing the right thing — it’s also smart business.

Failing to address accessibility can lead to:

• Lawsuits and hefty fines

• Damaged brand reputation

• Lost customers and revenue opportunities

• Poor SEO performance

Google, for example, has confirmed that accessible websites are more likely to rank higher in search results (Google's Web Vitals initiative).

And with tools like accessibility widgets and AI-powered accessibility solutions, fixing these issues no longer requires a full website rebuild.

How Corpowid Can Help

At Corpowid, we specialize in creating fully accessible websites using smart, lightweight solutions — without requiring major redesigns.
Our accessibility widget seamlessly integrates into any website and helps you:

• Instantly boost your web accessibility compliance (WCAG, ADA, EAA, and more)

• Improve your SEO performance

• Provide a better experience for all users

• Avoid legal risks

Integration takes less than a minute — and no coding skills are needed.

Ready to see how easy it is to make your site accessible to everyone?
Get your free trial
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Because true inclusion starts with an accessible web.