An accessible website reaches more customers, ranks better and reduces legal risk. Australia, New Zealand and the UK all have disability discrimination laws that can apply to online services. Accessibility is also just good hospitality.
Accessibility is part of the service
In Australia, the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 can apply to websites and online services, and the Australian Human Rights Commission has published guidance on web accessibility. In the UK, the Equality Act 2010 requires service providers to make reasonable adjustments. New Zealand has the Human Rights Act 1993. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines are the widely used international standard for meeting these expectations.
Beyond the law, many accessibility fixes make a site better for everyone. Clear headings, readable contrast, descriptive buttons and forms that work on a phone in bright sunlight all help sales.
The Studio first-touch audit
We review the moments where a customer forms their first impression and tries to act. Can they read it? Can they use it with only a keyboard? Does the booking or enquiry form explain errors clearly? Do images have meaningful descriptions?
Most small business websites can fix the biggest issues in a few days. The result is a site that feels more considered, which is exactly the impression a premium business wants to make.
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Text contrast and size | Readable on phones outdoors and for older customers |
| Keyboard navigation | Essential for many assistive technologies |
| Clear form labels and errors | Fewer abandoned enquiries and bookings |
| Image descriptions | Context for screen readers and search engines |
| Descriptive links and buttons | Customers know what happens before they click |
Put it to work
A practical next step
Try to complete your main enquiry or booking using only your keyboard, then on your phone outside in daylight. Write down every point where you hesitated and fix the top three.
Explore the toolsSources and method
- W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
The international standard for web accessibility.
- Australian Human Rights Commission
Guidance on the Disability Discrimination Act and digital access.
- GOV.UK on the Equality Act 2010
UK guidance on equality duties for service providers.
The methods in this article are Maurice Studio recommendations. External sources inform the underlying principles and rules referred to. They do not validate the Studio approach or guarantee commercial results. Rules change, so check the current position for your business and get specialist advice where it matters.