What does accessibility/web accessibility mean?
Web accessibility involves designing and developing websites and digital content that are accessible to all people, including people with physical, visual, auditory, or cognitive disabilities. The aim is to enable every user to use web content and services barrier-free.
The central principles of web accessibility:
- Perceptibility (Perceivable): Content should be accessible to all users, for example through text alternatives for images, subtitles for videos and flexibly scalable texts.
- Usability (operable): Websites must be designed in such a way that they can also be operated via keyboard navigation or voice control.
- Understandable: Content and navigation elements should be clearly structured and easy to understand, even for people with cognitive disabilities.
- Robustness (robust): Content should be compatible with various browsers and assistive technologies to ensure a consistent user experience.
Accessibility guidelines:
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) define specific criteria for making web content barrier-free. The WCAG guidelines are divided into three levels of compliance: A, AA and AAA, with level AA being the most commonly used and required by law.
Web accessibility is not only an ethical obligation, but is also required by law, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act in the USA. The implementation promotes inclusion and improves the overall usability of websites.
More information:
On the subject of web accessibility and the requirements from 2025, you can find valuable information and practical tips in our detailed blog post onWebsite accessibility 2025 and WCAG AA.
Conclusion:
Implementing web accessibility is crucial for an inclusive digital world. It gives all users equal access to information and services, improves the user experience and meets legal requirements.