What is Accessibility?
Web accessibility ensures that websites and digital products can be used by all people, including those with disabilities: visual impairments, hearing impairments, motor limitations, or cognitive impairments. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) define international standards with three conformance levels: A, AA, and AAA. Important aspects include: sufficient color contrasts, keyboard navigation, alt texts for images, captions for videos, clear heading structure, and ARIA labels for screen readers. In the EU, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) will make accessibility legally required for many digital products starting in 2025.
Key Points
- WCAG 2.1 AA is the common standard
- Contrast ratio at least 4.5:1 for text
- All functions operable by keyboard
- Alt texts for all informative images
- ARIA labels for interactive elements
- EAA makes accessibility mandatory from 2025
Practical Example
“After WCAG AA optimization, blind users can now fully use our shop with screen readers.”