Digital accessibility: a driver of inclusion and competitiveness
Accessibility is not just a compliance issue, but an opportunity to foster social inclusion, improve brand reputation, and enhance business impact.
Some key reasons why brands should consider accessibility are:
- Working to include more than 16% of the populationpeople with disabilities who currently encounter digital barriers.
- Improve the user experience and usability of the product.
- Improve the user experience and usability of the product.
- Comply with current regulations, such as the European Accessibility Directive, which will come into force in June 2025.
The importance of complying with accessibility regulations
Digital accessibility legislation has evolved significantly since 2002, when it was first mentioned in Europe. At 2014the first international standard was recognized (WCAG 2.0), followed by the 2016 European Directive, which obliged public entities to ensure accessibility levels.
Subsequently, in 2018the updated version was introduced WCAG 2.1. By 2020 and 2021, deadlines were set for public websites and mobile apps to become compliant.
Finally, in June 2025will come into effect on European Accessibility Actextending the obligations to the private sector, ATMs and other interfaces, marking a milestone to ensure inclusive digital environments, which will affect all those companies that offer any kind of service through the Internet, except those with less than 10 employees and with a turnover of less than 2 million euros.
Consequences of noncompliance
Failure to comply with the accessibility regulations, which come into force in June 2025, will not only lead to financial penalties5,000 to hundreds of thousands of euros, depending on the size and severity of the case, but also other important impacts: corrective actions with specific deadlinesthe suspension of certain services or products until the regulations are complied with, and significant reputational damage of the company, affecting customer confidence.
In Spain, these sanctions will be managed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation.
The 4 fundamental principles of accessible web design
Designing an accessible website is essential to creating more inclusive and user-friendly environments for people with disabilities. There are four basic principles that guide this process:
1. PerceptibleContent should be understandable by screen readers or other assistive technologies.
2. OperableInterfaces must allow interaction via keyboard, mouse or assistive devices.
3. UnderstandableNavigation should be predictable and designs should be intuitive.
4. Robust: Guarantee compatibility with current and future technologies, ensuring stability.
Adopting these principles not only enhances the user experience, but also extends the reach of the content, providing greater independence for people with diverse needs.
Good practices for digital inclusion
To implement these principles, consider the following strategies focused on different types of disabilities:
The most common errors
Identifying and correcting common errors is key to improving accessibility:
–Low contrast textPresent in 89.3% of the cases. Solution: Use WCAG compliant contrasts (minimum 4.5:1).
–Lack of alternative text in images: Affects 66% sites. Solution: Include detailed descriptions in the "alt" attribute.
–Empty or ambiguous linksDetected in 59.9% of the cases. Solution: Clearly define the purpose of each link.
–Form fields without clear labels: A problem in 53.8% of the sites. Solution: Add descriptive tags to each field.
–Buttons without defined functionsSolution: Found in 28.7% of the projects. Solution: Provides clear information about the actions of each button.
Digital accessibility is not only a legal obligation, but also a competitive advantage. Designing with inclusion improves the experience for all users, strengthens the image of companies and ensures a positive impact on society. With tools like Accessibility Cloud and proactive audits, organizations can lead the shift to a more inclusive digital future. Integrating these principles at every stage of development ensures benefits for both users and businesses.
Is your company ready for this challenge? It's time to act. If you want to find out if your website is accessible and learn how to use Accessibility Cloud, contact with us y don't miss this demo with Antonio Lendínez, our Global Head of Experience Design at NATEEVO.
