A practical checklist for reviewing common accessibility issues on small-business websites.
Understand the foundation
Keyboard: move through all controls using Tab, Shift+Tab, Enter, Space, and arrow keys where appropriate. Confirm focus is visible, order is logical, and no component traps the keyboard.
Look at the real user experience
Content: use descriptive headings and links, provide text alternatives for meaningful images, caption relevant video, and avoid using color as the only way to communicate status or errors.
Use standards and testing thoughtfully
Forms: label every field, explain required formats, connect errors to fields, preserve entered data when possible, and make success or failure messages available to assistive technology.
Build a repeatable process
Visual presentation: check text contrast, zoom and reflow, text resizing, spacing, focus indicators, and touch target usability. Test on narrow screens and at increased zoom.
Practical next steps
Technical checks: run automated tools, inspect semantic markup, test menus and dialogs, review PDFs and embedded third-party content, and document issues with steps to reproduce. Repeat tests after fixes.
Keep learning
Use this checklist as a starting point, not a certification. Match the evaluation to the applicable standard and seek specialist support for complex or high-risk experiences.