Amber Hinds

How to Get Started with Accessibility

In this session, Amber Hines, CEO of Equalize Digital, breaks down the essentials of web accessibility for designers, developers, and WordPress professionals. She explains what accessibility really means—building websites that work for everyone, regardless of ability—and why it’s not just good practice but a legal requirement in many parts of the world. Amber covers major accessibility laws, including the ADA, the European Accessibility Act, and the Accessible Canada Act, then shifts focus to the tangible benefits of accessibility: better SEO, higher conversions, reduced operational costs, and stronger brand alignment with values.

Amber also walks through a practical roadmap for auditing, testing, and improving accessibility on WordPress sites, using tools like Accessibility Checker. She shows how to prioritize fixes, find quick wins, and make meaningful improvements over time—without needing to be a full-time accessibility expert.

What You’ll Learn

  • Accessibility means building websites that everyone can use—across all abilities, devices, and assistive technologies.
  • Many countries have laws that require accessible websites, including the ADA, European Accessibility Act, and AODA, with serious fines for noncompliance.
  • Beyond compliance, accessibility improves SEO, user experience, conversions, and brand reputation.
  • Use tools like Accessibility Checker to identify and fix issues across your site efficiently.
  • Prioritize fixes by impact: start with global elements, then critical blockers, and move from bottom-of-funnel pages upward.
  • Small, consistent improvements—like fixing color contrast, labeling forms, and improving heading order—add up to major accessibility gains.
  • Building accessible websites creates better outcomes for users and new revenue opportunities for agencies.