A11y Patterns

Why Accessibility Matters

Web accessibility is not just for people with disabilities. It is about building a web that more people can use in better ways.

Legal obligations

KR

Act on Prohibition of Discrimination Against Disabled Persons (Korea)

Enacted in 2008. Mandates web and app accessibility compliance; violations may result in corrective orders or damages claims.

US

ADA (United States)

Americans with Disabilities Act. Requires accessibility for public services and business websites. Non-compliance has led to many class-action lawsuits.

EU

EN 301 549 (EU)

Mandates WCAG 2.1 AA compliance for EU public bodies and some private enterprises. European Accessibility Act expands to private sector from 2025.

Scale of users

1B+

Over 1 billion people with disabilities worldwide

Users with visual, hearing, motor, and cognitive disabilities directly rely on accessibility.

Situational

Situational disabilities

Bright sunlight (screen glare), one-handed use (holding a child), slow networks — temporary limitations also benefit from accessibility.

Aging

Aging users

Global population aging is rapidly increasing the number of users with reduced vision or motor ability.

Business benefits

SEO

Search engine optimization

Semantic HTML, alt text, and heading hierarchy directly contribute to SEO.

Devices

Multi-device compatibility

Works across smart TVs, screen readers, voice interfaces, and other environments.

Brand

Brand reputation

Accessibility demonstrates inclusive values and contributes to a corporate image that prioritizes diversity.

Development quality

Structure

Semantic markup

Designing for accessibility naturally leads to using correct HTML structure.

Testing

Testability

Components with clear roles and labels are easier to find and verify in automated tests.

Maintenance

Maintenance efficiency

Code following accessibility standards has clearer structure, improving team comprehension and maintenance efficiency.