Businesses are losing more money than they know due to poor inclusive design. Studies show that 71% of users with disabilities leave websites that aren’t available to them. This represents huge missed revenue from 1.3 billion people with disabilities worldwide. The numbers paint a grim picture – only about 3% of the web can be called accessible in 2025, and the average enterprise page has 37 separate WCAG failures.
Let’s talk about inclusive design. It creates digital experiences that work for everyone, whatever their abilities or circumstances. True inclusive design goes beyond just following rules – it puts all potential users first from day one. The current accessibility landscape tells a different story, though. A WebAIM study of one million web pages revealed that 94.8% had detectable Web Content Accessibility Guidelines errors.
User expectations have changed dramatically. The data shows 67% of Gen Z and 66% of Millennials will switch to competitors if they face accessibility issues. The business case makes perfect sense – Forrester reports companies see $100 back for every $1 they put into accessibility and UX improvements. This goes beyond avoiding legal issues, though that’s important too, with more than 4,000 ADA cases filed in 2024 alone.
This piece explores why your website might fail users, what it all means for your business, and how you can turn inclusive design from a compliance task into your competitive edge.
The legal and business risks of poor inclusive design
“In 2025, nearly 98% of websites still fail basic accessibility tests. That blocks access for 1.3 billion people worldwide who live with disabilities.” — Redlio Designs Editorial Team, Web Accessibility Consultants
The legal world of inclusive design moves faster than ever, creating unexpected risks for businesses that aren’t ready. Companies face steeper costs in 2025, both in money and reputation damage when they fail to comply.
ADA and EAA compliance in 2025
The numbers tell a clear story. 2,014 ADA website accessibility lawsuits were filed in just six months of 2025—37% more than last year. New York leads with 637 cases, while Florida follows with 487 and California with 380. Illinois has become the newest lawsuit hotspot, with cases jumping up by 746%.
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) kicks in on June 28, 2025. Digital products serving EU customers must meet specific accessibility standards. Companies that don’t comply risk product bans, market lockouts, and hefty fines. U.S. businesses should note that the Department of Justice’s Title II rule starts in April 2026, which requires WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance.
The cost of lawsuits and settlements
Poor inclusive design hits companies hard in their wallets. Most settlements cost between $5,000-$20,000, but total expenses with legal defense can reach $350,000 or more. One electric bike company had to pay $46,000 in legal fees for a case that settled for just $4,950.
The reality gets worse: accessibility widgets don’t protect businesses anymore. Companies should know that 22.6% of lawsuits targeted websites that had these tools installed. The FTC even made AccessiBe pay $1 million for misleading compliance claims.
Procurement and contract risks
Bad inclusive design creates major procurement problems. Companies with non-inclusive procurement often end up with rigid supply chains that lack efficiency and fresh ideas. EU rules now support supplier diversity by limiting public sector businesses to work with suppliers whose minimum turnover is just twice the contract value.
Companies that ignore these risks face more lawsuits, unhappy customers, and possible exclusion from markets where inclusive design has become a requirement rather than a choice.
How poor accessibility breaks the user experience
Bad user experiences do more than frustrate—they exclude people. Research shows that 72% of mobile experiences contain accessibility barriers. These barriers create digital spaces that shut out millions of potential users.
Common design mistakes that exclude users
Simple design oversights create the most common accessibility failures. Screen reader users report unlabeled buttons and links as their biggest challenge. They can’t navigate websites properly. About 86.4% of homepages have poor color contrast [link_2]. This creates readability problems for users with visual impairments or color blindness.
Other common exclusionary practices include:
- Fixed font sizes that ignore users’ text size priorities
- Missing alternative text for images (found on 80% of websites)
- Complex navigation systems that confuse screen reader users
- Cluttered navigation links that overwhelm cognitive processing
- Forms without proper error messages or labels
Mobile and assistive tech users face challenges
Accessibility barriers affect half of all assistive technology users’ daily well-being a lot. Screen reader users must try different commands when they encounter unlabeled elements. This slows down their progress through digital content.
Voice Control users struggle with unresponsive interfaces. Users who need magnification often run into “screen blockers”—floating elements that hide important content when zoomed.
Accessibility issues affect everyone
These problems go beyond people with disabilities. Think about the times you’ve faced temporary limitations: browsing a website while holding coffee (mobility limitation) or reading a screen in bright sunlight (visibility issue).
Better experiences emerge from designing with accessibility in mind. This helps mobile users, older adults with changing abilities, and people with temporary impairments. User-focused design improves search engine rankings, speeds up download times, and makes websites easier to use.
Websites that ignore inclusive design principles don’t just exclude users with disabilities—they create a poor experience for everyone.
Why inclusive design is a business advantage
“Accessibility now means tapping into a vast and loyal market, not just avoiding lawsuits.” — Redlio Designs Editorial Team, Web Accessibility Consultants
Companies that embrace inclusive design gain much more than just compliance benefits. Their approach creates competitive edges in several ways.
Improved SEO and lower bounce rates
Inclusive design naturally makes SEO better. Search engines love accessibility features such as proper heading structures, image alt text, and clear navigation. Sites built with inclusive design load faster, are easier to crawl, and have better content structure—key factors for SEO success. These improvements help keep visitors on the site longer, which reduces bounce rates.
Higher retention and customer trust
The numbers show how inclusive design pays off financially. Companies that make accessibility a priority see 28% more revenue and 30% better profit margins. Their websites also show a 12% higher customer retention rate. Customers become loyal when they feel valued. The data proves this—71% of users with disabilities leave inaccessible websites right away. But these same users become brand champions when companies meet their needs.
Inclusive design as a DEI commitment
Making inclusive design a priority shows real commitment to DEI and builds genuine brand trust. The market is huge—over 1.3 billion people worldwide live with disabilities and control USD 13 trillion in annual disposable income. Leading organizations know that inclusive design shows their true values and integrity. This dedication goes beyond just following accessibility rules. It shows everyone that your brand cares about social responsibility and thinks ahead.
How to fix your inclusive design strategy
Organizations need systematic changes to fix broken inclusive design. Starting accessibility work early saves time and prevents rewrites that can get pricey later.
Start accessibility early in the design process
The project’s beginning is the best time to add accessibility features. This prevents expensive modernization and design overhauls. Developers can blend needed adjustments when they spot accessibility issues early, which reduces regression effects. The development cycle becomes smoother and the final product more reliable with this forward-thinking approach.
Use automated and manual testing tools
Multiple testing methods provide complete coverage. Automated tools like Siteimprove, WAVE, and Ax can spot many issues quickly, but they don’t catch everything. Manual testing finds problems that automation misses, especially with keyboard navigation and screen reader compatibility. Human testers give specific, applicable information that helps developers make proper fixes.
Build accessibility into your design system
Your design components and guidelines should have accessibility at their core. Screen readers, keyboard navigation, and magnification should test all components. An accessible design system helps prevent future access issues and creates consistent inclusivity on every screen and feature.
Test with real users, not just checklists
Technical compliance doesn’t mean something works well. Your testing process should include people with different disabilities. They spot barriers that automated tools miss. The best results come from recruiting 5-10 users per disability type and mixing in-person and remote testing methods.
Conclusion
Inclusive design means more than meeting legal requirements or technical challenges. It serves as a core business strategy that affects your bottom line. This piece shows how accessibility failures shut out millions of potential customers and create substantial legal and financial risks.
The number of accessibility lawsuits keeps climbing. Settlements and legal fees can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars. Websites with poor design push users away and harm brand reputation. Clear evidence shows that websites failing accessibility standards simply lose valuable customers.
No business can dispute the case for inclusive design. Accessible websites perform better in SEO rankings and show lower bounce rates with substantially higher customer retention. Companies that make accessibility their priority see 28% higher revenue and 30% better profit margins.
Your inclusive design strategy doesn’t need a complete digital overhaul. The key lies in building accessibility from day one. This includes using both automated and manual testing tools, embedding accessibility in your design system, and testing with users who have disabilities.
Inclusive design goes beyond mere compliance. It creates better digital experiences for everyone. Your brand’s values shine through your dedication to accessibility, which opens doors to new markets. Successful businesses understand this simple truth – they build products that everyone can use.