Inclusive design principles are guidelines for creating websites that work for as many people as possible, including people with disabilities, older adults and anyone using a phone in bright sunlight or a slow connection. The core principles are: provide a comparable experience, consider situation, be consistent, give control, offer choice, prioritize content and add value. In practice, that means meeting the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA, which is the technical standard the U.S. Department of Justice has adopted for state and local government websites under the ADA.
About one in four U.S. adults has a disability, according to the CDC. If your website is hard to navigate with a screen reader, a keyboard or a magnifier, you are turning those customers away and potentially exposing your business to legal risk.
At Oxley, we have been designing and building websites in Atlanta since 2006. This updated guide covers the principles of inclusive design, what the ADA means for Georgia businesses and organizations, and practical steps to make your site more accessible.
The 7 Principles of Inclusive Design
These widely used principles, originally published by the design team at The Paciello Group, translate inclusion into everyday design decisions.
- Provide a comparable experience. Everyone should be able to complete the same tasks, even if the method differs, such as captions for video.
- Consider situation. Design for real conditions: one-handed phone use, glare, noise or a spotty connection.
- Be consistent. Use familiar patterns for navigation, buttons and forms.
- Give control. Let users pause animations, zoom text and avoid content that auto-plays.
- Offer choice. Provide more than one way to complete key tasks, such as phone, chat and form.
- Prioritize content. Put the most important information and actions first.
- Add value. Choose features that improve the experience for everyone, not just to check a box.
What the ADA Means for Georgia Websites
State and local government (ADA Title II)
In 2024, the DOJ issued a rule requiring state and local government web content and mobile apps to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA. In April 2026, the DOJ issued an interim final rule extending the compliance dates:
| Public entity size | Original deadline | Current deadline |
| Population of 50,000 or more | April 24, 2026 | April 26, 2027 |
| Population under 50,000 and special districts | April 26, 2027 | April 26, 2028 |
That applies to Georgia cities, counties, school districts, public colleges and agencies, plus vendors that build or manage their digital content.
Private businesses (ADA Title III)
Businesses open to the public, such as retailers, restaurants, healthcare providers, professional services and hospitality, are covered by Title III. The DOJ has not adopted a specific technical standard for private business websites, but its guidance makes clear that websites should be accessible, and WCAG 2.1 AA is the benchmark most commonly used in practice. Georgia businesses should treat accessibility as an ongoing obligation, not a one-time fix.
This article is general information, not legal advice.
Quick Accessibility Wins for Your Website
- Alt text: Describe meaningful images; mark decorative images so screen readers skip them.
- Color contrast: Text should meet at least a 4.5:1 contrast ratio against its background (3:1 for large text).
- Keyboard navigation: Every menu, button and form should work with the Tab and Enter keys, with a visible focus indicator.
- Headings: Use one H1 and a logical H2/H3 structure so screen reader users can scan.
- Forms: Label every field and explain errors in text, not color alone.
- Captions and transcripts: Add them to videos and podcasts.
- Link text: Replace “click here” with descriptive links.
- Zoom: Make sure the layout works at 200% zoom without breaking.
Why Accessibility Is Also Good Marketing
Inclusive design overlaps with what search engines and AI assistants reward: clear structure, descriptive headings, meaningful alt text, transcripts and fast, mobile-friendly pages. An accessible site is easier for people to use and easier for machines to understand, which supports both SEO and answer engine visibility.
How Oxley Helps
We build accessibility into new sites from the first wireframe and help existing sites improve through audits, remediation and ongoing website maintenance. Learn more about our website design and development services or read our earlier article on the importance of inclusive design.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are inclusive design principles?
Inclusive design principles are guidelines for building products that work for the widest range of people. The seven commonly cited principles are: provide a comparable experience, consider situation, be consistent, give control, offer choice, prioritize content and add value.
Is website accessibility required by law in Georgia?
Georgia state and local governments must meet WCAG 2.1 AA under the DOJ’s ADA Title II rule, with deadlines in 2027 and 2028. Private businesses open to the public are covered by ADA Title III, and WCAG 2.1 AA is the commonly used benchmark.
What is WCAG 2.1 AA?
WCAG 2.1 is a set of international web accessibility guidelines published by the W3C. Level AA is the middle level of conformance and the standard most laws and policies reference.
What is the difference between inclusive design and accessibility?
Accessibility focuses on removing barriers for people with disabilities and meeting standards like WCAG. Inclusive design is the broader approach of designing for human diversity from the start.
How do I check if my website is accessible?
Start with an automated scan, then test manually with a keyboard and a screen reader. Automated tools catch only part of the issues, so a professional audit is recommended.
Make Your Website Work for Everyone
Want to know where your site stands? Contact Oxley for a website accessibility review. For official guidance, see ADA.gov’s guidance on web accessibility and the State of Georgia ADA Coordinator’s Office.
