Digital accessibility: What is it about?

Digital accessibility describes the unrestricted access to digital platforms and services such as websites, online stores, and apps. Accessibility on the internet aims to enable all individuals to access electronic information and communication technologies, regardless of their personal abilities or limitations. The fundamental idea is to remove barriers on the internet for people with disabilities and ensure that digital applications are usable with appropriate aids.

Nearly all areas of our lives are increasingly shifting to digital platforms. Barrier-free access to web content and services is a significant contribution to digital participation and inclusion. Beyond the moral and ethical aspects, accessibility is also important from a legal perspective and is anchored in legal guidelines – as a human right from which no one should be excluded.

Although accessibility primarily targets people with disabilities or impairments, it offers benefits to a broader range of users, such as:

• Seniors and children
• People with temporary mobility restrictions
• Non-native speakers

A barrier-free design goes hand in hand with optimal usability, benefiting all users: A platform where everyone can easily navigate and use the desired functions and information enriches the online experience for everyone.

Regulators and institutions have formulated specific guidelines on digital accessibility at the international, European, and national levels. In the EU, public sector contractors have been required to make their websites and apps accessible since September 2020. This obligation will also apply to most private companies in the EU starting from June 2025 with the implementation of the European Accessibility Act (EAA). Below is an overview of the main legal frameworks and guidelines for digital accessibility:

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has defined the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) as a blueprint for digital accessibility on the internet. This internationally recognized standard is divided into four principles (requirement criteria) and includes over 85 recommendations (success criteria) in the current version (WCAG 2.2) for creating accessible web content. The degree of successful implementation is indicated by three accessibility levels: A (lowest level), AA, and AAA (highest level). The four principles of WCAG are:

• Perceivable
• Operable
• Understandable
• Robust

In EU countries, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) is the legally mandatory basis for digital accessibility. The EAA applies from June 28, 2025, to private companies with more than ten employees and an annual turnover exceeding two million euros. The directive requires these companies to design online offerings and services for end consumers (B2C) to be accessible. Switzerland will also incorporate the new regulations into its federal laws.

The European Standard 301 549 titled “Accessibility requirements for ICT products and services” defines requirements for the accessibility of information and communication technology in the public sector and serves as a binding standard. The EN specifies the significance of the WCAG principles and expands them with additional criteria, such as accessibility features, support, and communication.

BFSG – Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (Barrier-Free Strengthening Act)
The BFSG obliges companies in Germany to implement the EAA. It refers to the principles of the WCAG and also comes into effect on June 28, 2025.

BITV – Barrierefreie-Informationstechnik-Verordnung (Barrier-Free Information Technology Ordinance). In Germany, the EAA is applied through the Barrier-Free Information Technology Ordinance (BITV), which is based on the European standard EN 301 549. It includes specific requirements for implementing digital accessibility and complements the WCAG with an additional 30 criteria.

BGG – Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz (Equal Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities Act)
The BGG aims to ensure equal participation of people with disabilities in society but applies exclusively to state institutions.

Adhering to WCAG alone does not ensure that web content is EAA-compliant and accessible. However, the WCAG provides a foundation for accessible design, so it is advisable to explore the principles and requirement criteria in detail.

This principle is particularly relevant for individuals with visual, auditory, and cognitive limitations (e.g., with vision, hearing, or concentration difficulties). The requirement is to present content in a way that is recognizable to all users. To achieve this, information must be perceivable through multiple senses, including:

• Subtitles in videos
• Transcripts of audio tracks
• Alternative texts (alt texts) as image descriptions
• Color contrasts
• Readability of all text content through speech output systems

The user interface (UI) must be designed so that all users can interact with the content and controls (e.g., forms, buttons) and access the desired information without difficulty. The principle emphasizes usability and is particularly helpful for individuals with cognitive or motor impairments. Implementation includes:

• Ensuring multiple ways to operate (via mouse, keyboard, touch control, speech)
• Controls to stop or hide automatically playing information
• Visible focus states for keyboard operability

For users to always understand where they are on a page, what options they have, and where they can navigate to, information and operation must be consistently clear and comprehensible. This requirement also involves good readability and facilitates usage for people with cognitive impairments, non-native speakers, and non-experts, including:

• Appropriate font sizes, line and character spacing, adjustable text sizes
• Avoidance of continuous capitalization or italicizing entire paragraphs
• Avoidance of foreign words, technical terms, and abbreviations
• Consistent navigation
• Clear error messages

This principle focuses on technological requirements, specifically cross-browser and cross-platform compatibility. Content must be correctly readable and interpretable by a variety of user agents and assistive technologies (web browsers, screen readers, assistive technologies). Implementation includes:

• Complete, error-free implementation of content
• Semantically high-quality HTML
• Status messages on the success or result of an executed action and the progress of a process

Wer die Richtlinien umsetzen möchte, merkt schnell, dass digitale Barrierefreiheit über einzelne Fach- und Kompetenzbereiche hinausgeht. Insbesondere die EAA-konforme barrierefreie Gestaltung umfasst einen ganzheitlichen Entwicklungsprozess, der sowohl technische und gestalterische als auch redaktionelle und kommunikative Aspekte umklammert. Für die systemische und ganzheitliche Integration spielen u. a. folgende Aufgabenbereiche zusammen:

For accessible design, design teams should consider the following aspects:

• Unified page structure for intuitive navigation
• Typography (font sizes, line and character spacing)
• High-contrast presentation (texts and interaction elements)
• General usability (e.g., avoidance of unannounced effects like autoplay)

Semantically high-quality HTML is the basis for valid codes, accessible features, and a logical page structure. What the IT team must ensure:

• Compatibility (device and browser independence)
• Responsive design
• Readability through alternative input and output devices (e.g., screen readers, voice control)
• Input aids in forms (autofill suggestions, specific hints for missing or incorrect entries)
• Use of ARIA landmarks (HTML attributes)

Accessible information is not only more understandable but also a plus for SEO and findability on the web. Tasks for content creators in creating accessible content include:

• Logical headline hierarchy (H1, H2, H3)
• Avoidance of technical jargon, foreign words, and abbreviations
• Alternative texts for visual content (images and graphics)
• Multimedia alternatives (subtitles, transcripts)
• Clear labeling of interactive elements (e.g., buttons: “Proceed to checkout” instead of just “Continue”)

In addition to an initial analysis of the accessibility level and implementation of appropriate features, the long-term adherence to accessibility guidelines requires a fundamental understanding of the value of digital accessibility and long-term measures to permanently remove access and usage barriers. These include:

• Internal training & workshops to establish appropriate mindsets and work practices within the organization
• Continuous monitoring of systems and platforms
• Automated & manual tests

In practice, manual and automated testing procedures are combined because automated tools cannot identify all issues. Manual usability tests should be conducted by skilled developers and users. An initial Quick Check can provide an overview of existing weaknesses and barriers. A comprehensive Accessibility Audit an reveal additional optimization potentials regarding accessibility and usability, alongside compliance standards. Moreover, in-depth CX monitoring can provide detailed insights into the accessibility level, usability, and performance of a platform.

The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI), a sector within the W3C, provides a list of tools and online services. These can be helpful in certain areas for implementing digital accessibility, such as during development processes, initial assessments, and general understanding of a platform’s accessibility.
Note: These automated, standardized testing tools primarily focus on WCAG and individual criteria for achieving accessibility standards. They do not guarantee complete and EAA-compliant implementation.

In Germany alone, approximately 7.9 million people live with severe disabilities. By designing digital accessibility, companies ensure that these individuals can perceive, understand, and utilize their brand, products, and services. Including these potential customers through inclusive digital offerings is a plus for market reach from a business perspective. Additionally, an accessible web presence offers further advantages and business potentials for companies:

• Expansion of the user base: Accessible design makes offerings accessible to a broader user base and a larger target audience.
• Better usability: Digital accessibility means optimal usability and intuitive online experiences, from which all users benefit.
• Higher customer satisfaction: Understandable, easily operable platforms quickly and reliably guide users to their goals – ideal conditions for higher customer satisfaction, increased purchase willingness, and returning customers.
• Increase in conversion rate: An appealing user experience positively impacts the conversion rate and average cart value, potentially increasing sales.
• SEO effects & performance plus: Since higher code and content standards are considered, accessible platforms rank better in search engine listings, improving findability.
• Simplified quality assurance: Binding guidelines for accessible design provide orientation for content optimization and maintenance, as well as design and development questions.
• Positive brand image: Diversity and inclusion are gaining importance in all areas of life. Digital accessibility contributes to this and conveys values that positively impact brand perception.

In everyday interactions with digital offerings, accessibility is increasingly becoming a standard and quality feature of online presence. Even though laws and guidelines currently only mandate B2C companies and state institutions, digital accessibility is becoming a success and competitive factor in the B2B context. Because what users learn and appreciate in their private lives, they also expect in business and in their work environment. The growing importance of digital accessibility is thus more than a response to legal requirements.

Specialized service providers offer corresponding consulting and guide the entire development process if needed – from initial quick checks or comprehensive accessibility audits to implementing applicable accessibility standards, training, and long-term workflow optimization. Based on experiences of affected individuals and legal guidelines, trained and certified experts assess the holistic potential for online business. Content offerings such as practical guides, checklists, and webinars can be helpful in the first steps towards digital accessibility. valantic provides practical content for these purposes: