Website Accessibility Part 2: What Are Website Accessibility Tools

This is our second blog post in a series about Website Accessibility. If you’d like to check out Part 1 on the general topic of Website Accessibility, please visit here. 

 

Why Website Accessibility Matters

 

Imagine visiting a website but you can’t read the text, click a button, or understand the layout. That’s the reality for millions of people with disabilities — unless websites are built to be accessible.

In the U.S., websites are expected to follow the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), and as of July 2025, the Department of Justice has confirmed that WCAG 2.1 Level AA is the standard businesses must meet. If you’re in places like California or New York, there may be even stricter rules.

And if your business also serves the EU, the European Accessibility Act applies too — especially for eCommerce, services, and apps.

 

What Are Accessibility Tools?

Accessibility tools are software solutions that help websites meet legal and usability standards for people with disabilities.

They typically include:

1. AI-based widgets that adjust fonts, colors, contrast, spacing, and navigation for better readability.

2. Screen reader support for people who are blind or visually impaired.

3. Keyboard-only navigation for users who can’t use a mouse.

4. Text-to-speech and language support for neurodivergent users or those with learning disabilities.

These tools often appear as a small icon or button on your website that opens up a menu for users to adjust how the site looks and works. 

 

How These Tools Work

Most modern tools use AI (artificial intelligence) to scan and adjust your site in real time. Some also inject code that updates how your website behaves — without needing you to rebuild your site.

There are two main kinds of solutions:

1. AI-Only Solutions

   These install in minutes and use automation to improve accessibility. They’re affordable and fast — but can miss certain errors or page elements.

2. Hybrid Solutions

   These combine AI tools and manual help from accessibility experts. They’re more thorough, legally safer, and better for bigger sites — but cost more and may take longer to set up.

 

Examples of Accessibility Tools

Here are two of the most talked-about tools:

 AccessiBe

1. AI-powered widget that scans and updates your site.

2. Easy to install and low maintenance.

3. Good for small businesses or starter websites.

4. May not fully meet compliance on complex sites.

 
EqualWeb

1. AI tool + human audit and support.

2. Offers full WCAG 2.2 compliance (as of July 2025).

3. Strong legal protection and documentation.

4. Better for medium to large businesses or legal-risk industries.

UserWay

1. AI tool + human audit and support.

2. Offers full WCAG 2.2 compliance (as of July 2025).

3. Strong legal protection and documentation.

4. Better for high traffic websites or legal-risk industries.

 

Are These Tools Enough?

Not always but it’s a damn good start.

Accessibility tools are a helpful first step — but they can’t fix every issue, especially deep code problems or design flaws.

Think of them like adding a ramp to your building. It helps, but if your doors are too narrow or signs are hard to read, more changes are needed.

If your business has:

1. Lots of web traffic

2. Customers in high-risk industries

3. Government contracts

4. Locations in strict states like California

…then it’s smart to combine tools with manual audits or pro web help.

 

Final Thoughts

Accessibility isn’t just a checklist — it’s about being inclusive and future-ready. Using the right tools helps your site reach more people, follow the law, and show you care.

 

Stats Source: https://accessibe.com/compliance