Accessibility Standards Make Websites Better for AI

That’s where accessibility standards like the European Accessibility Act (EAA) and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) come into play. They’re designed to ensure digital spaces are usable for people of all abilities.

But here’s something interesting: these same standards make your website easier for artificial intelligence (AI) to navigate too.

Think about it. Every website we build needs to work for its audience. It needs to guide people to the information they need, ensure no one feels left out, and, yes, even play nice with those unseen AI systems that power search engines, voice assistants, and chatbots. Accessibility isn’t just a moral imperative – it’s also a strategic advantage.

When we’re building or improving a website, you can read more about website accessibility standards here.

They encourage us to do things such as:

• Add text alternatives to images, so everyone (and every AI) knows what they’re about.
• Use proper headings and structure, so content flows logically.
• Make it easy to navigate without a mouse, helping people with disabilities and AI systems.
• Keep text readable – clean contrast, clear fonts, and straightforward language.

These aren’t extras. They’re the basics of good UX and design.

The AI Angle

AI agents – think Google crawling your site or a voice assistant answering questions – aren’t as clever as they seem. They rely on structure and logic to make sense of your website. If your site is chaotic, cluttered, or hard to navigate for a person, it’s just as bad for AI.

Take alt text, for example. Adding descriptive text to images helps visually impaired users. It also helps search engines understand what’s on your page. Or think about clean, structured headings. They’re great for someone scanning your page and equally valuable for an AI agent trying to decide how to rank you in search results.

When you make your website accessible, you’re essentially creating a playbook for AI to follow.

Why It Matters

Here’s the thing: we all want websites that perform. Whether that means appearing higher in search results, working seamlessly with voice assistants, or delivering a slick experience to visitors, accessibility is key. It’s also great for SEO.

And it’s not just about ticking a compliance box. Making your site accessible helps you reach a wider audience, creates better user experiences, and ensures your site is future-proofed as AI continues to evolve. It’s the digital equivalent of paving a smooth road instead of leaving behind a bumpy, uneven trail.

The Takeaway

At the heart of this is a simple idea: what’s good for people is good for AI. Accessibility isn’t some technical hurdle to overcome – it’s an opportunity. An accessible site is a better site, for everyone.

If you’re wondering how your website measures up or where to start, the EAA and WCAG guidelines are a good place to begin. Here’s an overview of WCAG standards, and you can find more about the EAA here.

Building something truly inclusive isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s the smart thing to do.

If you’re looking for a website accessibility agency for your needs then get in touch with us today.