Barriers for Users with Visual Disabilities
Users who are blind or have low vision rely on screen readers, magnification software, and other assistive technologies to access websites. When sites are not designed with accessibility in mind, they create significant barriers for the 12 million Americans with vision impairments.
Visual Disability Spectrum
Visual disabilities range from complete blindness to various forms of low vision including reduced acuity, tunnel vision, color blindness, and light sensitivity. Each requires different accommodations.
Barriers for Screen Reader Users
Blind users rely on screen readers that convert on-screen content to speech or Braille. These barriers prevent effective screen reader use:
Missing Alt Text
The Problem: Images without alternative text are invisible to screen reader users or announced only by filename.
Impact: Users miss important information conveyed by images, icons, charts, and graphics.
Solution: Add descriptive alt text to all meaningful images. Use empty alt="" for decorative images.
Missing Headings
The Problem: Pages without proper heading structure cannot be navigated by screen readers.
Impact: Users must listen to entire page content instead of jumping to sections.
Solution: Use semantic heading tags (H1-H6) in proper hierarchy to structure content.
Keyboard Inaccessibility
The Problem: Interactive elements that only work with mouse clicks exclude keyboard users.
Impact: Screen reader users cannot activate buttons, links, or form controls.
Solution: Ensure all functionality works with keyboard. Use proper HTML elements.
Unlabeled Forms
The Problem: Form fields without proper labels announce as "edit" or "text field" without context.
Impact: Users cannot understand what information to enter in forms.
Solution: Associate labels with form fields using <label for=""> or aria-label.
Barriers for Low Vision Users
Low vision users may use screen magnification, high contrast modes, or custom display settings. These barriers affect their experience:
Poor Color Contrast
The Problem: Low contrast between text and background makes content hard to read.
Impact: Users strain to read content or cannot read it at all.
WCAG Requirement: 4.5:1 contrast for normal text, 3:1 for large text.
Solution: Test contrast with tools like WebAIM's Contrast Checker.
Content Breaks at Zoom
The Problem: Content that doesn't reflow when zoomed becomes unusable.
Impact: Users must scroll horizontally or content overlaps/disappears.
WCAG Requirement: Content must be usable at 200% zoom without horizontal scrolling.
Solution: Use responsive design with relative units (rem, em, %).
Color-Only Information
The Problem: Information conveyed only through color (red for errors, green for success).
Impact: Color blind users miss important status information.
Solution: Use text, icons, or patterns in addition to color.
Fixed Text Sizing
The Problem: Text that cannot be resized using browser settings.
Impact: Users cannot increase text to readable size.
Solution: Use relative font sizes (rem, em) instead of pixels.
Impact Statistics
12M+
Americans with vision impairment
96%
of homepages have low contrast text
22%
of images lack alt text
8%
of men are color blind
WCAG Criteria for Visual Accessibility
| Criterion | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1.1.1 Non-text Content | A | Provide text alternatives for images |
| 1.4.1 Use of Color | A | Don't use color as only visual means |
| 1.4.3 Contrast Minimum | AA | 4.5:1 contrast ratio for text |
| 1.4.4 Resize Text | AA | Text can be resized to 200% |
| 1.4.10 Reflow | AA | Content reflows at 400% zoom |
| 1.4.11 Non-text Contrast | AA | 3:1 contrast for UI components |
Taking Action
If You Encounter Barriers:
- Contact the organization - Report the issue to their accessibility contact or customer service
- Document the barrier - Note specific URLs, dates, and what assistive technology you're using
- File a complaint - Report to the DOJ, OCR, or appropriate agency
- Seek legal advice - Consult with a disability rights attorney if needed
- Report to WSC - Help us track accessibility issues
Report a Barrier
Encountered an inaccessible website? Help us track compliance issues.
File a Report