Introduction

Website accessibility has evolved significantly in 2022, becoming not just a legal requirement but a competitive advantage for Australian businesses. With the Disability Discrimination Act gaining enforcement momentum and WCAG 2.1 now the standard, local businesses can’t afford to ignore accessibility.

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll discover:

  • Why website accessibility matters more than ever in 2022
  • WCAG 2.1 compliance requirements for Australian businesses
  • Practical accessible design patterns and implementation strategies
  • Modern tools and testing approaches
  • Real-world success stories from Western Sydney businesses

Let’s explore how you can make your website accessible to all users while improving your SEO and user experience.

Understanding Website Accessibility in 2022

Website accessibility ensures that people with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with your website. In 2022, this isn’t just about doing the right thing—it’s about reaching 20% of Australians who live with some form of disability.

Why Accessibility Matters Now

The accessibility landscape has shifted dramatically:

  1. Legal Compliance: The Australian Human Rights Commission is actively investigating website accessibility complaints under the Disability Discrimination Act
  2. SEO Benefits: Google’s Core Web Vitals update in 2021 rewards accessible sites with better rankings
  3. Market Reach: You’re excluding one in five potential customers without accessibility
  4. Future-Proofing: Voice search and screen readers are mainstream—accessibility is fundamental UX

WCAG 2.1: The Current Standard

WCAG 2.1, released in 2018 and now widely adopted, adds 17 new success criteria focused on mobile accessibility, low vision, and cognitive disabilities. For Australian businesses, Level AA conformance is the recommended baseline.

Key WCAG 2.1 Additions:

  • Mobile Touch Targets: Buttons must be at least 44x44 pixels
  • Orientation Support: Content works in portrait and landscape
  • Contrast Requirements: Enhanced for low vision users (4.5:1 for body text)
  • Reflow: Content adapts to 320px width without horizontal scrolling

Essential Accessibility Requirements for 2022

Let’s break down what your website needs to be accessible in today’s landscape.

1. Semantic HTML Structure

Modern frameworks like React and Vue.js have made it easy to create div-soup, but semantic HTML remains critical for screen readers.

Implementation:


<div class="header">
  <div class="nav">
    <div class="nav-item">Home</div>
  </div>
</div>


<header>
  <nav aria-label="Main navigation">
    <a href="/">Home</a>
  </nav>
</header>

Use proper heading hierarchy (H1 → H2 → H3), landmark regions (<nav>, <main>, <aside>), and semantic elements like <article> and <section>.

2. Keyboard Navigation

With the rise of power users and assistive technology, every interactive element must be keyboard accessible.

Key Requirements:

  • All functionality available via keyboard
  • Visible focus indicators (outline or custom styling)
  • Logical tab order matching visual flow
  • Skip links to bypass repetitive content

Testing: Navigate your entire site using only Tab, Shift+Tab, Enter, and arrow keys. If you get stuck or lost, fix it.

3. Color and Contrast

WCAG 2.1 Level AA requires:

  • 4.5:1 contrast for normal text (under 18pt)
  • 3:1 contrast for large text (18pt+ or 14pt+ bold)
  • 3:1 contrast for UI components and graphical objects

Tools for 2022:

  • Chrome DevTools built-in contrast checker
  • Stark plugin for Figma/Sketch
  • WebAIM Contrast Checker

Don’t rely on color alone to convey information—use icons, patterns, or text labels alongside color coding.

4. Alternative Text and Media

Every image needs alt text that describes its content and function. In 2022, this also impacts your SEO as Google uses alt text for image search ranking.

Alt Text Best Practices:

  • Informative images: Describe the content (“Bar chart showing 30% increase in sales”)
  • Functional images: Describe the action (“Search button”)
  • Decorative images: Use empty alt="" to hide from screen readers
  • Complex images: Provide long descriptions via aria-describedby or adjacent text

For video content, provide captions (required for WCAG 2.1 Level A) and audio descriptions (Level AA for pre-recorded content).

5. Forms and Input Accessibility

Forms are where most accessibility issues occur. In 2022, with increased online transactions, this is critical.

Requirements:

  • Every input has a <label> element properly associated
  • Error messages clearly identify and describe the problem
  • Required fields marked with aria-required=“true” and visual indicator
  • Instructions provided before the form, not just in placeholders

Example:

<label for="email">
  Email Address <span aria-label="required">*</span>
</label>
<input
  type="email"
  id="email"
  name="email"
  aria-required="true"
  aria-describedby="email-error"
>
<span id="email-error" role="alert" class="error">
  
</span>

Modern Accessibility Tools and Testing

The accessibility tooling ecosystem has matured significantly by 2022.

Automated Testing Tools

1. axe DevTools (Free browser extension)

  • Detects up to 57% of WCAG issues automatically
  • Integrates with Chrome/Firefox DevTools
  • Provides clear remediation guidance

2. Lighthouse Accessibility Audit (Built into Chrome)

  • Part of Core Web Vitals workflow
  • Generates accessibility score
  • Identifies common issues

3. WAVE (WebAIM’s evaluation tool)

  • Visual feedback showing accessibility issues on your page
  • Browser extension and API available
  • Great for quick checks

Manual Testing Process

Automated tools catch only 30-40% of accessibility issues. Your 2022 testing workflow should include:

1. Keyboard Testing (15 minutes)

  • Navigate entire site with keyboard only
  • Check focus visibility and logical tab order
  • Test all interactive components

2. Screen Reader Testing (30 minutes)

  • Mac: VoiceOver (built-in, Cmd+F5)
  • Windows: NVDA (free) or JAWS (industry standard)
  • Mobile: TalkBack (Android) or VoiceOver (iOS)

Test critical user journeys: navigation, forms, content consumption.

3. Zoom/Magnification Testing (10 minutes)

  • Zoom to 200% and verify functionality
  • Check that content reflows appropriately
  • Ensure no horizontal scrolling required

4. Color Contrast Verification (10 minutes)

  • Check all text against backgrounds
  • Verify UI components meet 3:1 ratio
  • Test with color blindness simulators

Continuous Integration Testing

In 2022, integrate accessibility into your development workflow:

axe-core with Jest/Cypress:

import { axe, toHaveNoViolations } from 'jest-axe';

expect.extend(toHaveNoViolations);

test('Homepage should be accessible', async () => {
  const { container } = render(<Homepage />);
  const results = await axe(container);
  expect(results).toHaveNoViolations();
});

This catches issues before deployment, making fixes cheaper and faster.

Real-World Success Story: Western Sydney Retailer

A Parramatta-based homeware retailer came to us in early 2022 with an inaccessible e-commerce site receiving discrimination complaints.

The Challenge

Their website had:

  • Poor color contrast (2.1:1 on key buttons)
  • No keyboard navigation
  • Missing alt text on 80% of product images
  • Inaccessible checkout forms

They faced potential legal action and were losing customers with disabilities.

The Solution

We implemented a phased accessibility remediation:

Phase 1 (Weeks 1-2): Critical Fixes

  • Fixed color contrast across all UI components
  • Added alt text to all product images
  • Implemented keyboard navigation
  • Made checkout forms fully accessible

Phase 2 (Weeks 3-4): WCAG 2.1 Compliance

  • Ensured mobile touch targets met 44x44px requirement
  • Added ARIA labels for dynamic content
  • Implemented skip links and landmark regions
  • Created accessible carousel for featured products

Phase 3 (Weeks 5-6): Testing and Optimization

  • Conducted comprehensive screen reader testing
  • User testing with people with disabilities
  • Documentation and training for content team

The Results

Within three months:

  • Zero accessibility complaints (down from 3 pending)
  • 15% increase in conversion rate across all users
  • 23% increase in organic traffic from improved SEO
  • WCAG 2.1 Level AA certification achieved

The client noted that accessible design improved the experience for all users—clearer navigation, better mobile experience, and faster page loads.

Implementing Accessibility: Your Action Plan

Ready to make your website accessible? Here’s your practical roadmap for 2022.

Week 1: Audit and Prioritize

  1. Run automated tests (axe, Lighthouse, WAVE)
  2. Conduct manual keyboard and screen reader testing
  3. Document all issues with severity ratings
  4. Prioritize: Legal compliance → High-impact → Quick wins

Week 2-3: Fix Critical Issues

Focus on:

  • Form accessibility (labels, error handling)
  • Keyboard navigation and focus management
  • Color contrast violations
  • Missing alt text on functional images

Week 4-6: WCAG 2.1 Compliance

Address remaining issues:

  • Semantic HTML structure
  • ARIA labels for dynamic content
  • Mobile accessibility (touch targets, orientation)
  • Video captions and transcripts

Ongoing: Maintain and Improve

  • Add accessibility testing to your development workflow
  • Train content creators on accessible content practices
  • Conduct quarterly accessibility audits
  • Stay updated on WCAG 2.2 (expected 2023)

Conclusion

Website accessibility in 2022 is non-negotiable for Australian businesses. With clear legal requirements, proven SEO benefits, and significant market reach implications, the question isn’t whether to make your site accessible—it’s how quickly you can get it done.

Key Takeaways

  • WCAG 2.1 Level AA is the standard for Australian business websites
  • Automated tools catch 30-40% of issues; manual testing is essential
  • Accessibility improves UX for all users, not just those with disabilities
  • SEO benefits from accessible sites are measurable and significant
  • Legal compliance protects your business from discrimination claims

Next Steps

  1. Audit your current site with axe DevTools and Lighthouse
  2. Prioritize critical issues affecting users with disabilities
  3. Implement fixes using WCAG 2.1 guidelines
  4. Test with real users and assistive technology
  5. Maintain accessibility through your development workflow

Need expert help making your website accessible? Contact Cosmos Web for a comprehensive accessibility audit and remediation plan. We specialize in helping Western Sydney businesses achieve WCAG 2.1 compliance while improving overall user experience.

Last updated: 2022-06-08 Keywords: website accessibility, WCAG compliance, accessible design, web accessibility, WCAG 2.1

References and Further Reading

  1. W3C Web Accessibility Initiative
  2. WebAIM WCAG 2.1 Checklist
  3. Australian Human Rights Commission - World Wide Web Access
  4. Google Search Central - Accessibility
  • WCAG 2.1 compliance strategies
  • Accessible design patterns for React applications
  • SEO benefits of website accessibility
  • Screen reader testing best practices

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