Digital accessibility is no longer optional—it’s an expectation. As more events move online or integrate digital touchpoints, ensuring that websites, registration portals, and event apps are accessible is critical. In this CTI Expert Spotlight, we sit down with David Johnson, CTI’s VP of IT & Infrastructure, to explore why accessibility matters, how guidelines like WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) continue to evolve and what you need to know to future-proof their digital experiences.
Why Accessibility Matters
For event planners and PCOs, websites are more than marketing tools, they’re essential platforms for registration, information sharing, networking, and engagement. If these digital assets are not accessible, large segments of potential attendees may be unintentionally excluded.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide a roadmap to ensure websites and digital content can be accessed by individuals with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments. Accessibility, however, isn’t just about compliance:
- Enhanced Usability: Accessible design benefits everyone, not just people with disabilities. Features like captions, clear navigation, and keyboard shortcuts improve the user experience across the board.
- Positive Brand Image: Demonstrating inclusivity builds trust and strengthens reputation, which is critical in the competitive event industry.
- SEO Benefits: Many accessibility improvements, such as descriptive alt text or proper semantic structure, align with SEO best practices, increasing visibility.
- Revenue Opportunities: By making your event platforms accessible, you open the door to a wider audience and reduce barriers to participation.
CTI’s Approach to Accessibility
At CTI, accessibility is not an afterthought but a core pillar of development. The company’s commitment was recognized in the summer of 2025 when it received the “Top Inclusive Website” award from accessiBe.
CTI’s approach combines two strategies:
- Standards-Based Development: Manual coding, audits, and testing to meet WCAG 2.1 AA compliance.
- Accessibility Overlays: Tools such as accessiBe’s overlay to provide real-time enhancements and user-driven adjustments.
This hybrid strategy ensures broad accessibility while also addressing the deeper technical requirements that automated overlays alone may not meet.
WCAG 1.0 vs. WCAG 2.0: What Changed?
Accessibility standards have evolved significantly. David Johnson highlights the biggest shifts:
- From Technology-Specific to Technology-Neutral: WCAG 1.0 focused on HTML and CSS, while WCAG 2.0 applies to everything from PDFs to mobile apps.
- The POUR Principles: WCAG 2.0 introduced four guiding pillars—Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust—that shape all accessibility standards.
- Perceivable – Information must be presented in ways users can perceive.
- Operable – Interface components must be usable via various input methods.
- Understandable – Content and operation must be clear and predictable.
- Robust – Content must be compatible with current and future assistive technologies.
- Testable Success Criteria: WCAG 2.0 introduced three compliance levels, from lowest to highest (A, AA, AAA), making auditing clearer and more objective.
- Future-Proofing: Designed to adapt to new technologies, WCAG 2.0 is more resilient to evolving digital landscapes.
- Assistive Technology Support: Greater compatibility with screen readers, voice input, and other assistive tools.
- Global Application: Improved support for internationalization and localization, reflecting accessibility needs worldwide.
For event professionals, understanding these shifts is vital when choosing technology partners and ensuring event websites meet today’s (and tomorrow’s!) standards.
Do Accessibility Overlays Guarantee Compliance?
While overlays can help bridge accessibility gaps by providing user-friendly adjustments (such as text resizing, contrast changes, or screen reader optimizations), they cannot replace structural compliance.
David Johnson clarifies: “Overlays are useful, but they’re not the whole solution. True accessibility requires code-level audits and human testing. Overlays make the experience more flexible, but compliance demands manual effort.”
In practice, this means you should not rely solely on automated tools but instead work with providers that integrate accessibility into the development process from the start.
Common Accessibility Gaps to Watch For
Even when event websites are designed with accessibility in mind, certain issues are frequently overlooked. David Johnson highlights several critical areas for event professionals to address:
- Keyboard Navigation: Many users rely on keyboards or assistive devices instead of a mouse. If your event site can’t be fully navigated without a mouse, it excludes users with motor disabilities.
- Color Contrast & Indicators: Poor contrast ratios and relying on color alone to convey meaning can create barriers for people with visual impairments or color blindness.
- Alt Text for Images: Charts, infographics, and promotional images must include descriptive alt text for screen readers. Without it, important information is lost.
- Form Accessibility: Registration and contact forms often lack clear labels or accessible error messages, making them difficult to complete for users with assistive technologies.
By addressing these areas proactively, event planners can significantly reduce barriers and improve engagement.
Accessibility as a Strategic Advantage
The conversation with David Johnson highlights an important truth: accessibility is no longer optional. Inaccessible websites don’t just risk legal repercussions, they represent missed opportunities to connect with attendees, partners, and sponsors.
For event planners and PCOs, prioritizing accessibility is a way to:
- Demonstrate commitment to inclusivity.
- Differentiate your event in a crowded market.
- Expand reach and engagement across diverse audiences.
- Future-proof your digital presence against evolving standards.
Wrapping Up…
Accessibility is about more than ticking compliance boxes, it’s about creating meaningful, inclusive experiences for every attendee. From the evolution of WCAG to the balance between overlays and manual audits, the insights shared by David Johnson highlight the urgency and the opportunity for event professionals.
By integrating accessibility into your digital strategy today, you not only align with best practices but also position your events for greater impact, reach, and success tomorrow.
