Planning a Website Redesign? Don't Forget to Re-Test for Accessibility

A website redesign is absolutely the right move—especially for outdated sites. Better code architecture, improved design, refreshed navigation, new features, a modern platform, or updated standards are all solid reasons to rebuild. But here's something that often flies under the radar: alongside your redesign, remember that every change—large or small—requires a fresh accessibility audit.

We're not here to dampen your enthusiasm, but we need to flag something important: a site that was accessible yesterday can lose that status the moment you alter its structure, elements, hierarchy, or functionality. Even adding an untagged banner to your homepage can break the entire accessibility chain.

That's why every redesign must go through a complete accessibility re-audit—and sometimes a full re-implementation of accessibility features.

Even a Small Update Can Break Your Site's Accessibility

Every component on your site—from headings and menus to buttons, forms, and filters—relies on specific code structure.

When you change that structure, even with a simple design tweak, the previous accessibility layer may no longer work. For example: updating your main navigation menu can break accessibility. Why? Because the new menu might not be read correctly by screen readers, leaving users unable to understand what each link does.

Take the banner example we mentioned earlier. Imagine you add a promotional banner to the top of every page with marketing copy. But that banner has no alt text explaining what it says. This small move directly damages your site's accessibility.

Now imagine that banner has animation. If a visitor with attention or focus issues lands on your site and can't pause the animation with a dedicated button, you've created an accessibility barrier you never anticipated.

New Features Require Accessibility Guidelines and Setup

New forms, dynamic content blocks, search fields, expandable content areas, galleries, sliders, live chat, third-party services from payment processors to star ratings—each element demands individual attention from an accessibility expert.

At User A, we audit every part of your site carefully and implement the solutions needed for every accessibility issue we find.

Plain and simple: everything needs to be re-examined.

But Wait—Can a Design-Only Refresh, Without Touching Content or Features, Still Break Accessibility?

Absolutely.

Is the paragraph order logical when navigating with a keyboard? Do headings flow smoothly? Is the layout of content blocks logical?

These details are critical for users relying on assistive technologies. They may encounter a confusing experience from even small changes you make. Always put yourself in their shoes. In many cases, web accessibility simply means: your site explains itself clearly and simply.

So, What's the Right Way to Redesign a Website?

The answer is straightforward: build your redesign with accessibility in mind from day one.

Don't wait until launch to start adapting. Get it right from the start. User A is here to help—whether you need guidance for your development team or accessibility consulting as you plan your redesign.

We can audit your site early in the process and run thorough testing before launch. Our technical team has deep expertise in crafting creative, robust solutions for every accessibility challenge that arises. Reach out with any questions or for a consultation.