“My Clients Don’t Have Disabilities” – Why This Common Pushback Against Accessible Web Design Misses the Mark
When discussing web accessibility with clients, one of the most frequent objections I hear is: “My clients don’t have disabilities, so I don’t need an accessible website.” While this response might seem logical on the surface, it reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of what disability actually looks like in our world.
The Reality of Disability Is More Complex Than We Think
The truth is, disability isn’t just about the stereotypical image many of us carry – someone using a wheelchair or a guide dog. The reality is far more nuanced and widespread than most business owners realize.
Temporary Disabilities Affect Everyone
Have you ever broken your dominant arm and tried to navigate a website one-handed? Congratulations – you’ve experienced a temporary disability. That cast didn’t just limit your physical mobility; it fundamentally changed how you interacted with user interfaces. Suddenly, keyboard shortcuts became essential, and complex mouse movements became frustrating obstacles.
These temporary impairments are incredibly common:
Even something as simple as holding a baby while trying to browse on your phone makes accessibility a real concern.
Invisible Disabilities Are Everywhere
The vast majority of disabilities are invisible, which is precisely why the “I don’t see any disabled clients” argument falls apart. Consider these examples:
Neurological conditions like seizure disorders can make flashing content dangerous, not just annoying. For someone with photosensitive epilepsy, poor web design isn’t just inconvenient – it’s potentially harmful.
Motor impairments such as essential tremors or arthritis make precise mouse movements difficult. That tiny “X” button on your modal pop-up? It might be impossible for someone with hand tremors to click accurately. Fussy form fields? They cause some users to make input errors, increasing frustration with your website and your brand.
Vision impairments extend far beyond blindness. Color blindness affects approximately 8% of men and 0.5% of women globally. If your website relies solely on color to convey information (like red for errors or green for success), you’re automatically excluding millions of potential customers. But even visitors who aren’t completely blind can find a poorly-designed website inaccessible. If you fail to include a sufficient contrast in your text and background colors, some users will find it impossible to read.
Cognitive differences including ADHD, dyslexia, or processing disorders affect how people consume and understand information. Complex layouts, moving or interactive elements, and dense text blocks can create genuine barriers to comprehension.
Your Customer Base Definitely Includes People with Disabilities
Here’s a sobering statistic: according to the CDC, 28.7% of adults in the United States have some type of disability. That’s more than 1 in 4 people. Among adults aged 65 and older, that number jumps to 2 in 5.
Unless your business exclusively serves a very narrow demographic, it’s statistically impossible that none of your customers have disabilities. They’re there – you just might not realize it because:
- Most disabilities are invisible and people aren’t obligated to disclose them
- People work around inaccessible websites rather than complain, often by simply leaving the website
- Accessible alternatives exist so website visitors may choose competitors instead of struggling with your site
So, when you ignore accessibility requirements, you’re ignoring 26% of the US population – a quarter of your would-be website visitors and customers.
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Are a Legal Requirement
Not only does removing accessibility barriers help you reach more clients, it’s a legal requirement with substantial consequences.
The Americans with Disabilities Act, passed in 1990, outlines requirements for public spaces (like employment and transportation) to follow accessible design guidelines so they’re available to all users. As the internet became a space for public use and discourse, the ADA’s guidelines were extended to include web accessibility requirements.
The world wide web consortium (called W3C) is the international body that oversees the long-term growth and accessibility of the internet. That includes regulating key web standards like HTML, CSS, and WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) as part of its web accessibility initiative.
Thanks to the ADA and W3C, web accessibility is a legal requirement. Websites that don’t fix accessibility issues face fines from both federal and state governments – up to $150,000 in some cases. Civil cases against companies with inaccessible websites have seen settlements in the millions, and those companies risk their reputation and customer loyalty as well as money if they’re found to be non-compliant.
The Business for Accessible Design Case Goes Beyond Compliance
When we make web pages accessible, we’re not just checking a legal box – we’re expanding our potential customer base and improving the experience for everyone.
Better SEO: Many accessibility practices align with search engine optimization. Clear heading structures, descriptive headings, informative alt text descriptions, and logical page organization and link text help both assistive technology like screen readers and search engines understand your content.
Improved usability for all: High color contrast text is easier for everyone to read, especially on mobile devices in bright sunlight. Clear navigation benefits users regardless of ability level. Keyboard-focused navigation helps power users move through your site more efficiently. These user interface components make your website a welcoming place for all visitors, encouraging them to stay, read, book, and buy.
Future-proofing your business: As populations age, the percentage of people with disabilities will only increase. Building accessibility from the start is far more cost-effective than retrofitting later.
Moving Forward with Empathy and Understanding
The next time you think “my clients don’t have disabilities,” try reframing the perspective:
Accessible web design isn’t about accommodating a small minority – it’s about recognizing the full spectrum of human diversity and creating digital experiences that work for everyone. Your customers with disabilities may not be visible to you, but they’re there, and they deserve equal access to the same website experience as everyone else.
The question isn’t whether your clients have disabilities. The question is: are you ready to serve all of your customers equally well?
5 Steps to a More Accessible Website
I’ve outlined 5 easy steps you can take this week to make your website more accessible. In the doc, you’ll find quick tips like meeting minimum contrast ratios, changing form elements for easier navigation, how to handle automated music and audio descriptions, and more.
If you want a deeper dive into website accessibility, let’s book a time to talk. We’ll rethink and reconfigure your website to make sure it offers everyone a great experience.
