--- title: "Digital Accessibility Standards: 6 Common Myths" description: Practicing digital accessibility advocacy means debunking commonly-held misconceptions using data-backed sources. image: https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/%5BSBM%5D%20Blog%20Images%202023/Breaking%20Down%20Common%20Accessibility%20Myths.jpeg --- - [skip to menu](https://blog.usablenet.com/digital-accessibility-standards-6-common-myths#nav) - [skip to content](https://blog.usablenet.com/digital-accessibility-standards-6-common-myths#main-content) - [skip to footer](https://blog.usablenet.com/digital-accessibility-standards-6-common-myths#footer) Test the accessibility of your website for free! Try UsableNet AQA. 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[Take our Quiz](https://info.usablenet.com/website-accessibility-remediation-quiz) - Resources ## Resources [E-books & Guides](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=E-books%20and%20Guides) [Case Studies](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Case%20Studies) [Reports](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Reports) [Webinars](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Webinars) [Tools](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Tools) [All Resources](https://usablenet.com/resources) ## Essential Resources [ADA accessibility lawsuit tracker](https://info.usablenet.com/ada-website-compliance-lawsuit-tracker?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) [Checklist: how to achieve and maintain digital accessibility](https://info.usablenet.com/digital-website-accessibility-checklist?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) [Which remediation approach is right for me?](https://info.usablenet.com/website-accessibility-remediation-quiz?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) [A Primer on ADA and Digital Accessibility](https://info.usablenet.com/a-primer-on-ada-and-digital-accessibility?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) The EAA is in Effect — Is Your Website Compliant? [Get Help with EN 301 549 Compliance](https://info.usablenet.com/eaa-en-301-549-compliance?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) - Who We Serve ## Industry [E-commerce and Consumer Goods](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-e-commerce-consumer-goods) [Food Service and Hospitality](https://info.usablenet.com/-industries-food-service-hospitality) [Banking and Financial Services](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-financial-services) [Healthcare](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-healthcare) [Technology and Business Services](https://info.usablenet.com/-industries-technology-and-business-services) [Public Sector and Education](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-public-sector-and-education) ## Compliance [Canadian Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-canada) [European Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-europe) [Other International Accessibility](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-international) [United States Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-united-states) 2026 Midyear report on digital accessibility lawsuits in the US [Download Now](https://info.usablenet.com/2026-midyear-report) - [Pricing](https://usablenet.com/pricing) - [Blog](https://blog.usablenet.com/) - [About Us](https://usablenet.com/about-us) [Get a Demo](https://info.usablenet.com/contact) # Digital Accessibility Standards: 6 Common Myths **By** [Jeff Adams, Vice President - Accessibility Operations at UsableNet](https://blog.usablenet.com/author/jeff-adams) on Aug 2, 2023 **Topics:** [Web Accessibility](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/web-accessibility), [Accessibility-First Culture](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/accessibility-first-culture) 0 Comments - - - ![diverse web development team working in office on digital user accessibility ](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/%5BSBM%5D%20Blog%20Images%202023/Breaking%20Down%20Common%20Accessibility%20Myths.jpeg) As we continue promoting accessibility knowledge to create more advocates and champions, re-educating those who have come across incorrect or misleading information must be a shared priority. Those who are new to digital accessibility standards may not know enough to be aware they’re receiving misinformation, especially if it appears to come from an expert. In more extreme cases, they could be holding on to wrong information because it's the narrative that works for them. In any case, we are responsible for correcting these discrepancies if we’re aware of them—and for having the facts to back up our claims. Below are six examples of misinformation I often hear and the factual truths behind them. As you look to address these issues, consider this article to be the digital accessibility version of the classic show MythBusters.   ### Digital Accessibility Myth #1: “Automated Scans Are Enough” Of the 50 WCAG Success Criteria in 2.1 AA, automation can detect only portions of 16 criteria. Everything else requires an expert to do a code review and/or testing by manual means. Human intervention, supervision, and manual oversight are necessary for providing the most human-centered approach to digital accessibility. It’s absolutely crucial to scan and [test for accessibility with real users](https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/10-principles-of-accessibility), not just software.   ### Digital Accessibility Myth #2: “We Only Need to Consider People Who Are Blind and Using Screen Readers” While this is undoubtedly a relevant group, it's far from the only disability to consider. Further, if you were to quantify disabilities by the number of people living with them, you would find that visual disabilities are among the smaller groups. According to [Centers for Disease Control data](https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/infographic-disability-impacts-all.html), 4.8 percent of U.S. adults have a visual impairment. Of the other types of disabilities, Auditory is 6.1 percent, Cognitive is 12.8 percent, and Mobility is 12.1 percent. Although these numbers only represent reported chronic disabilities, they demonstrate that we must consider all types of disabilities in website and app development.   ### Digital Accessibility Myth #3: “People With Disabilities Aren't a Part of Our Audience” Unfortunately, I've heard this more than once, especially from owners of sites that place a lot of value on interactive or highly visual designs. Claiming that no one with disabilities uses (or would want to use) a particular site is extremely alienating—and certainly a myth that can't be validated. Considering that approximately 1 in 4 adults live with a disability, it's ignorant to claim that no segments of a site's audience have a disability. Often, companies will use this claim to avoid designing for both accessibility and visual appeal.   ### Digital Accessibility Myth #4: “Accessibility Is a Developer's Responsibility”  The responsibility of adhering to digital accessibility standards is essentially equal across the development, design, and content teams. According to UsableNet analysis, if you break down the 50 success criteria within the WCAG 2.1 AA, 37 percent are the primary development responsibility, 34 percent are the design teams, and 29 percent are the content teams. All contributors must keep accessibility in mind by making it a part of their project completion criteria. Digital accessibility is not just a job responsibility; it’s a [continuous conversation](https://blog.usablenet.com/building-your-arsenal-empowering-conversations-for-accessibility) between teams, leaders, and audience members alike.   ### Digital Accessibility Myth #5: “Accessibility Makes the Code More Complex to Understand and Maintain” Application of digital accessibility standards often simplifies backend code because it follows the correct World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) HTML standards, which align with the WCAG Robust principle. When developers manage the code according to these standards, they make it easier for everyone to work with and understand.   ### Digital Accessibility Myth #6: “Prioritizing Accessibility Takes More Time” Prioritizing accessibility on your website may take longer initially, but as the team becomes familiar with best practices, it becomes as second nature as the other tools, processes, and practices they use daily. In fact, teams may experience a time increase if proper steps aren't taken to familiarize them with accessibility efforts. Further, once the organization's mindset shifts to make accessibility a requirement, it won't be considered an "additional" obligation as it becomes a permanent part of the [company culture](https://blog.usablenet.com/how-to-build-an-accessibility-first-company-culture).   ### Debunking Digital Accessibility Myths is Critical. Always Verify Your Facts and Sources. In the hopes that this series of posts has helped you craft messages to help make accessibility part of your organization's mindset, I ask you to politely push back on related misconceptions. As you continue in your [advocacy around digital accessibility](https://blog.usablenet.com/advocating-for-digital-accessibility-using-examples-to-drive-change), you'll likely experience similar misinformation that you'll need to correct. The best advice is to leverage trustworthy sources and double-check the details from multiple reputable sources if uncertain. For more insights, check out the new free on-demand webinar, featuring the author Jeff Adams: [How to Create a Culture of Digital Accessibility.](https://info.usablenet.com/how-to-create-a-culture-of-digital-accessibility?_gl=1*jfdcv2*_ga*MTk0NDYwMjUxMi4xNjU4NzgyMzI0*_ga_3GH0FY5X8W*MTY5Nzc3MDM0NS40MTIuMC4xNjk3NzcwNDk2LjUwLjAuMA..) [![Illustration of people improving web accessibility and button to watch a demo ](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3280432/b09930d2-18e9-4a5e-be9c-74e854e489a1.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3280432/b09930d2-18e9-4a5e-be9c-74e854e489a1) ![Jeff Adams, Vice President - Accessibility Operations at UsableNet](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Jeff%20Adams%201%20(1).png) ### [Jeff Adams, Vice President - Accessibility Operations at UsableNet](https://blog.usablenet.com/author/jeff-adams) Jeff advises companies worldwide on best practices in website accessibility and integrating accessibility into their processes. He’s been with UsableNet for over a decade and not only consults with UsableNet clients but also leads the development of the company’s educational programs. In addition, Jeff’s a creative entrepreneur and co-wrote the book, Content for Everyone: A Practical Guide for Creative Entrepreneurs to Produce Accessible and Usable Web Content. - - - - ### Related posts ![Hotel Website Accessibility: Check-in, Messaging, and In-Stay Barriers for Blind Guests](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Check-in, Messaging, and In-Stay Barriers for Blind Guests](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-check-in-and-in-stay-barriers-for-blind-guests) Jul 15, 2026 ![Hotel Website Accessibility: Browsing Room Options](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Browsing Room Options](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-browsing-room-options) Jul 14, 2026 ![Inside the 2026 Midyear Numbers: The ADA continues to be the ONLY true enforcement around](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Registration%20-%20Midyear%20Report.png) [Inside the 2026 Midyear Numbers: The ADA continues to be the ONLY true enforcement around](https://blog.usablenet.com/inside-the-2026-midyear-numbers-where-digital-accessibility-litigation-is-going) Jul 8, 2026 ![The Low-Cost Moves That Strengthen an ADA Website Defense](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/The%20Low-Cost%20Moves%20That%20Strengthen%20an%20ADA%20Website%20Defense.png) [The Low-Cost Moves That Strengthen an ADA Website Defense](https://blog.usablenet.com/the-low-cost-moves-that-strengthen-an-ada-website-defense) Jun 16, 2026 ### Sign Up for the UsableNet Blog ### Recent Posts ![feature image](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Check-in, Messaging, and In-Stay Barriers for Blind Guests](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-check-in-and-in-stay-barriers-for-blind-guests) Jul 15, 2026 ![feature image](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Browsing Room Options](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-browsing-room-options) Jul 14, 2026 ![feature image](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Registration%20-%20Midyear%20Report.png) [Inside the 2026 Midyear Numbers: The ADA continues to be the ONLY true enforcement around](https://blog.usablenet.com/inside-the-2026-midyear-numbers-where-digital-accessibility-litigation-is-going) Jul 8, 2026 ### Posts by Topic - [Web Accessibility (311)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/web-accessibility) - [User Experience (113)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/user-experience) - [ADA Lawsuits (45)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/ada-lawsuits) - [ADA Website Compliance (38)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/ada-website-compliance) - [European Accessibility Act (34)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/european-accessibility-act) - [Mobile Web (30)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/mobile-web) - [Mobile Apps (27)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/mobile-apps) - [Retail (27)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/retail) ![](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Consultation%20Icon.svg) Need to improve digital usability, accessibility or performance? 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Stay up-to-date on our insights, the latest tech news and digital trends. ![International Association of Accessibility Professionals logo](https://blog.usablenet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SaaS%20Theme/2023%20Header%20and%20Footer/IAAP-logo.png?width=150&height=81&name=IAAP-logo.png) © 2026 UsableNet Inc. ![International Association of Accessibility Professionals logo](https://blog.usablenet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SaaS%20Theme/2023%20Header%20and%20Footer/IAAP-logo.png?width=150&height=81&name=IAAP-logo.png) © 2026 UsableNet Inc. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Jeff Adams, Vice President - Accessibility Operations at UsableNet", "url" : "https://blog.usablenet.com/author/jeff-adams" }, "dateModified" : "2023-11-17T22:11:00.992Z", "datePublished" : "2023-08-02T15:30:00.000Z", "headline" : "Digital Accessibility Standards: 6 Common Myths", "image" : [ "https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/%5BSBM%5D%20Blog%20Images%202023/Breaking%20Down%20Common%20Accessibility%20Myths.jpeg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.usablenet.com/digital-accessibility-standards-6-common-myths", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/UsableNet%20Logo_Black.png" }, "name" : "UsableNet Inc." } } ```