At Kitty, accessibility is integrated into every stage of the website process rather than treated as an afterthought. It begins during discovery, where the team identifies accessibility requirements and considers the needs of real users alongside legal obligations. During UX design, intuitive information architecture and consistent navigation patterns are prioritised to create accessible user journeys from the outset.
In the UI phase, designers focus on colour contrast, typography, and visual hierarchy while following WCAG 2.2 guidelines, typically targeting Level AA compliance with Level AAA considerations where possible. The development team then implements semantic HTML, ARIA labels, keyboard navigation, and screen reader compatibility to ensure the site works effectively with assistive technologies. Importantly, accessibility testing goes beyond automated tools, incorporating real-world testing and human evaluation to create genuinely inclusive digital experiences.
We conduct comprehensive audits of existing websites against WCAG 2.1 and 2.2 standards. Our audits combine automated testing tools with manual evaluation, including screen reader testing and keyboard-only navigation checks. You’ll receive a prioritised list of issues with practical recommendations and approximate costings for remediation.
Every full website we design incorporates accessibility from wireframe through to launch. Our UX designers structure content logically. Our UI designers ensure sufficient colour contrast, scalable typography, and clear visual indicators. Our developers implement semantic markup, focus states, and ARIA attributes. The result is a site that works for everyone, and meets legal requirements.
Perhaps you’ve got an existing website that needs accessibility improvements. We can retrofit accessibility features, from improved colour contrast and text sizing controls to enhanced keyboard navigation and screen reader support. This might involve redesigning certain components, updating code, or implementing accessibility widgets depending on what your audit reveals.
Accessibility isn’t a one-time fix. As you add content and features, new issues can emerge. Through our technical partnerships, we provide ongoing accessibility monitoring and support, ensuring your site maintains compliance as it evolves. This includes regular testing, prompt fixes when issues arise, and guidance for content editors on creating accessible content.
Accessibility delivers clear commercial and strategic benefits for businesses. From a legal perspective, complying with standards such as the European Accessibility Act helps reduce the risk of fines and regulatory issues for companies serving EU customers. It also broadens your potential audience, as more than one billion people worldwide live with some form of disability, representing significant purchasing power that inaccessible websites may exclude.
Many accessibility improvements enhance usability for all visitors, not just those using assistive technologies. Clear navigation, readable colour contrast, and well-structured content create smoother experiences across devices and environments while also supporting SEO through cleaner semantic markup. In projects such as Vetsure, accessibility-focused improvements contributed to a faster, more stable website, helping increase site speed scores from 57 to 92.
Accessibility also strengthens brand perception by demonstrating inclusivity and consideration for diverse user needs, helping build trust and credibility. As accessibility regulations and expectations continue to evolve, investing in accessible design now also future-proofs your digital presence and reduces the need for costly reactive updates later.
WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is the international standard for web accessibility, maintained by the W3C. It has three conformance levels: A (minimum), AA (mid-range), and AAA (highest). Most organisations should aim for Level AA compliance, which is also what the European Accessibility Act typically requires. Level AAA is aspirational and not always practical for all content types.
If you sell products or services to customers in the European Union, yes. The EAA applies regardless of where your business is based. It covers websites, mobile apps, e-commerce, and digital services. There are some exemptions for micro-enterprises, but if you’re doing business in the EU, it’s worth investigating your obligations. Check out this article we wrote on the subject.
Yes. We work extensively with both platforms. WordPress sites built with Gutenberg Blocks offer excellent accessibility potential. Shopify themes vary in their baseline accessibility, but we can audit your current setup and implement necessary improvements.
Good accessibility often improves design by forcing clarity and intention. You might need to adjust some colour combinations or ensure buttons have sufficient size and spacing but these changes typically make sites better for everyone. Our UI designers incorporate accessibility requirements into the design system we create for each project, ensuring a consistent, beautiful, and accessible result.
Yes, if you want your site to be accessible and compliant. Captions help deaf and hard-of-hearing users, but they also help people watching in sound-sensitive environments or whose first language isn’t English. We can provide guidance on captioning requirements and recommend tools or services for creating them.
Absolutely. Accessible sites use semantic HTML, clear heading structures, and descriptive link text, all of which help search engines understand your content. Alt text for images provides context for both screen readers and search engine crawlers. When we build sites, we involve our SEO specialists from the start, ensuring the information architecture supports both accessibility and search performance. We also consider generative engine optimisation (GEO) now, working with our GEO expert to ensure content types work for AI discoverability.