How We Helped Ellis Ranch Build an Accessible Website (and Why It Matters)

By Debbie Campbell, a WordPress developer with 20+ years of experience specializing in performance, accessibility, and long-term site reliability.
  • 360+ accessibility issues
  • An overlay tool that didn’t actually fix anything.
  • A website that couldn’t be made fully accessible without a rebuild.

This was the challenge Ellis Ranch faced when they reached out to us for help. Like many businesses, they had tried a quick-fix accessibility overlay, but they soon realized that real compliance requires real solutions.

The Challenge: A Website Built Without Accessibility in Mind

Ellis Ranch’s website had hundreds of accessibility errors, including:

  • Poor heading structures & missing labels – Confusing for screen readers.
  • Unfixable elements in the theme – The site’s structure didn’t allow key accessibility fixes.
  • An overlay tool that masked issues – Instead of solving the problems, it made the site a bigger target for lawsuits.

The Solution: A Full Site Rebuild with Accessibility at the Core

Rather than patching problems, we rebuilt their site from the ground up, using an accessibility-first approach. We:

  • Used an accessibility checker throughout the build process to catch issues in real time.
  • Implemented proper heading structures, screen reader labels, and keyboard navigation.
  • Removed barriers from the old site and replaced them with WCAG 2.1-compliant alternatives.

“Debbie made updates that made the website stand out more, become clearer, and align with today’s industry standards.”
– Kim Ellis, Ellis Ranch Manager

The Results: A Future-Proof, Accessible Website

Now, Ellis Ranch has a website that:

  • Is built to WCAG 2.1 standards and is easy for all users to navigate.
  • Reduces legal risk from accessibility lawsuits.
  • Delivers a better user experience for everyone, not just those with disabilities.

“The biggest benefit was knowing that we now have an accessible website, and we don’t have to worry about an overlay program that doesn’t function as it should.”

Audit history for Ellis Ranch project
Real, measurable improvements, not an overlay bandaid.

Why Accessibility Matters for Every Business

Many businesses still rely on accessibility overlays, thinking they are a solution. But in 2023, 30% of all U.S. accessibility lawsuits involved websites using overlays. The only real fix? Building accessibility into your website from the start.


If your site isn’t accessible, now’s the time to take action. Let’s talk about making your website accessible.

SCHEDULE A CALL TODAY!
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