Web Accessibility Checklist 2026: 15 Critical Checks Your Site Needs

Web Accessibility Checklist 2026: 15 Critical Checks Your Site Needs Accessibility isn't a buzzword anymore—it's a business requirement. According to recent studies, over 1 billion people worldwide have disabilities that affect their web usage. Beyond the moral imperative, accessible sites rank better on Google, convert better, and keep you compliant with laws like the ADA, AODA, and EAA. But where do you start? WCAG 2.1 has 78 success criteria. Testing everything manually would take weeks. That's why I've distilled the 15 most impactful checks that catch ~80% of real-world issues. For each one, I'll explain the "why," show you how to test it, and give you the exact fix. 1. Alt Text on Images (WCAG 1.1.1 – Level A) Why it matters: Blind users rely on alt text to understand what an image shows. Empty alt text creates a frustrating gap in content comprehension. How to test: Right-click an image → inspect element Look for <img alt=""> or <img> (no alt attribute) Screen reader should descr