Bright House Media is a Marin County web agency that helps businesses and nonprofits make their websites more accessible. We audit your site against the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, known as WCAG, fix the problems we find, and train your team to keep it that way. Our work covers color contrast, keyboard navigation, screen reader support, image descriptions, forms, headings, video captions, and documents. A typical audit takes one to two weeks, and fixes for a small business website usually take two to six weeks.
We’re based in Marin County, with more than 8 years of experience building WordPress websites. An accessible site serves more people, tends to rank and convert better, and reflects well on your organization.
What Website Accessibility Means
An accessible website can be used by people with a wide range of abilities. That includes people who are blind or have low vision, people who are deaf or hard of hearing, people who can’t use a mouse, and people with cognitive or learning differences. It also includes people with temporary limits, such as a broken wrist, and older adults whose eyesight or dexterity has changed.
Many visitors rely on assistive technology. Screen readers speak the content of a page aloud. Screen magnifiers enlarge it. Voice control and switch devices replace the mouse and keyboard. A well-built website works with all of these. A poorly built one can be impossible to use.
Why It Matters for Marin County Organizations
- It’s the right thing to do. Roughly one in four American adults lives with a disability.
- Marin has one of the oldest populations in the Bay Area, and many residents benefit from readable, simple websites.
- Accessible sites are easier for everyone, including people on phones in bright sunlight.
- Clear structure and text alternatives help search engines and AI tools understand your content.
- Businesses and nonprofits can face complaints and legal claims over inaccessible websites.
- Grant makers, public agencies, and larger partners increasingly expect accessible websites.
The Legal Background, in Plain Terms
The Americans with Disabilities Act and California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act have both been applied to websites, and California sees a large share of these claims. Public agencies have specific federal rules to meet. For private businesses, the law doesn’t spell out one technical standard, but WCAG is the benchmark most often used.
We’re web professionals, not attorneys. We can’t tell you what the law requires of your organization, and we don’t certify legal compliance. We help you follow recognized guidelines and document the work. For legal questions, please speak with a qualified attorney. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Understanding WCAG
WCAG is published by the World Wide Web Consortium, the body that sets web standards. It’s organized around four principles.
Perceivable
People can perceive the content. Images have text descriptions, videos have captions, and text has enough contrast to read.
Operable
People can operate the site. Everything works with a keyboard, nothing flashes dangerously, and visitors have enough time to complete tasks.
Understandable
People can understand the content and how the site behaves. Navigation is consistent, and forms explain errors clearly.
Robust
The site works with current browsers and assistive technology.
WCAG has three levels: A, AA, and AAA. Most organizations aim for Level AA, and that’s the target we generally recommend.
Our Accessibility Services
Accessibility Audit
We test your key pages and templates with automated tools and by hand, including keyboard-only testing and screen reader checks. You receive a plain-language report that ranks each issue by severity and explains how to fix it.
Remediation
We fix the issues in your theme, templates, content, and forms. We start with the problems that block people from completing important tasks.
Accessible Design and Development
When we build or redesign a site, we plan for accessibility from the start. It costs far less to build it in than to repair it later. Learn more about our web design and development services.
PDF and Document Review
Menus, forms, and reports posted as PDFs are often unreadable to screen readers. We identify problem documents, and recommend converting key content into regular web pages.
Accessibility Statement
We help you publish a statement that describes your commitment, the standard you’re working toward, and how visitors can report a problem.
Team Training
We show your staff how to add image descriptions, use headings correctly, write clear link text, and avoid introducing new problems.
Ongoing Monitoring
Websites change constantly. We can check your site at regular intervals, and review new pages and features as part of a maintenance plan.
Common Problems We Find
- Light gray text on a white background
- Images with no description, or an unhelpful one
- Menus and pop-ups that can’t be reached or closed with a keyboard
- No visible outline showing which element has keyboard focus
- Form fields without labels, and error messages that rely on color alone
- Headings used for visual size instead of structure
- Links that say only “click here” or “read more”
- Videos without captions
- Sliders and animations that move with no way to pause them
- Text embedded in images
- PDFs that are scanned pictures of text
Most of these are simple to fix once they’re identified. A handful of repairs often removes the biggest barriers.
A Word About Overlay Widgets
You may have seen products that promise instant accessibility through a single line of code or a floating toolbar. We don’t recommend relying on them. These tools can’t repair the underlying structure of a page, they sometimes interfere with the assistive technology people already use, and many accessibility advocates have criticized them. Websites using them have still received legal complaints. Lasting accessibility comes from fixing the site itself.
What We Can and Can’t Promise
We want to be direct about limits. No website is ever perfectly accessible for every person in every situation. Automated testing tools catch only a portion of issues, which is why we also test by hand. New content can introduce new problems. Third-party tools embedded in your site, such as booking widgets, maps, and payment forms, may have barriers that only their makers can fix.
What we can promise is careful work against a recognized standard, clear documentation of what was tested and repaired, and honest advice about what remains. We don’t guarantee that a site is free of legal risk.
Our Process
1. Discovery
We learn about your organization, your audience, and any deadlines or requirements you face.
2. Audit
We test representative pages and features, using automated tools, a keyboard, and a screen reader.
3. Report
We deliver findings in plain language, ranked by impact, with recommended fixes and effort estimates.
4. Fix
We repair issues in priority order, and coordinate with third-party vendors where needed.
5. Verify
We retest the repaired pages and update the report.
6. Train and Maintain
We train your team, help you publish an accessibility statement, and offer periodic reviews.
Who We Help
- Nonprofits and community organizations, especially those with public or grant funding
- Healthcare and wellness practices
- Schools, preschools, and education programs
- Restaurants, retailers, and hospitality businesses
- Professional firms and financial services
- Any organization serving older adults
We work with clients throughout Marin, including San Rafael, Novato, Mill Valley, Sausalito, Larkspur, Corte Madera, San Anselmo, Fairfax, and Tiburon.
Accessibility, SEO, and AI Search
Good accessibility and good search visibility share a foundation. Clear headings, descriptive links, text alternatives for images, captions, and well-labeled forms help search engines and AI assistants read your pages accurately. Improving accessibility won’t guarantee rankings, but the two efforts support each other.
Why Choose Bright House Media?
- Based in Marin County, and happy to meet in person
- More than 8 years of experience with WordPress
- Manual testing in addition to automated scans
- Plain-language reports your whole team can follow
- Honest advice, with no overpromising
- Design, development, and maintenance from one partner
Frequently Asked Questions
Who provides website accessibility services in Marin County?
Bright House Media provides website accessibility services in Marin County, including WCAG audits, remediation, accessible design, document review, accessibility statements, and training.
What is WCAG?
WCAG stands for the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, the international standard for accessible websites. Most organizations aim for Level AA.
Does my business website have to be accessible?
Disability laws have been applied to business websites, and requirements vary by organization. We can help you follow recognized guidelines, but for legal questions you should consult an attorney.
Can you make my website ADA compliant?
We help your site follow WCAG guidelines and document the work. We don’t certify legal compliance or guarantee that a site is free of legal risk.
Do accessibility plugins or overlay widgets work?
We don’t recommend relying on them. They can’t repair a page’s underlying structure, and lasting accessibility comes from fixing the site itself.
How long does an accessibility project take?
A typical audit takes one to two weeks. Fixes for a small business website usually take two to six weeks, depending on what we find.
Will accessibility changes alter my design?
Usually only slightly. Most fixes involve contrast, labels, structure, and keyboard behavior, and many are invisible to sighted visitors.
How much does an accessibility audit cost?
Pricing depends on the size and complexity of your site. Contact us for a free consultation and quote.
Make Your Website Work for Everyone
Want to know where your website stands? Contact Bright House Media for a free consultation.
- Email: info@brighthousemedia.org
- Phone: (415) 450-5490