The digital world should be accessible to all. In Austria, 20.5% of the population live with a permanent disability, meaning that accessible websites and apps not only represent an ethical obligation but also offer a significant competitive advantage. Through web accessibility, companies can tap into an expanded user base, as digital content is usable by all. At the same time, accessible websites benefit from improved search engine optimization (SEO), thus increasing their visibility and reach. In addition, an inclusive digital offering strengthens trust in a brand and gives companies a positive reputation. Legal requirements also make web accessibility essential: Starting June 28, 2025, the Accessibility Act (BaFG) will come into effect as part of the European accessibility act, covering apps and audiovisual media services, among other areas.
Standards for Web Accessibility
To ensure digital accessibility, there are international standards that serve as a guide. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are currently available in version 2.2 and define three levels of conformance: A, AA, and AAA. While level A describes the most basic requirements, level AA represents the standard most often aspired to. In the EU, the EN 301 549 standard currently uses WCAG 2.1 AA as a benchmark and will be updated to WCAG 2.2 AA from September 2025.
Best practices for Web Accessibility
An important aspect of digital accessibility is the correct color and font design. According to WCAG 2.2 AA, the contrast between text and background should be at least 4.5:1 for normal text, while a ratio of 3:1 is sufficient for larger text. Colors must be chosen carefully, as, for example, 9% of the male population suffer from red-green color deficiency. To ensure optimal readability, font sizes should be defined in relative units such as rem or em rather than using fixed pixel values, as this would ignore individual browser settings.
Alternative texts for visual content are also essential. Every image should have an alt attribute that describes its content and function. Decorative elements, on the other hand, should be marked up with alt=“” so that they are ignored by screen readers.
The linguistic design of accessible content is based on simple sentence structures. While “simple language” is intended for a broad audience and is reminiscent of tabloid media, “easy-to-read language” follows stricter standards and may only be created by specially trained individuals (Netzwerk Leichte Sprache e.V.). In general, texts should contain short sentences with a clear subject-predicate-object structure and avoid complicated formulations and double negations. Furthermore, lists, headings and images improve readability.
When integrating multimedia content, a few rules should be observed: autoplay must be avoided, all controls must be operable via keyboard, and buttons should be sufficiently large and high-contrast. Videos should also include subtitles and ideally an audio transcription to enable access for people with hearing disabilities. Since maps and visualizations are often not accessible, it is recommended to provide alternative text descriptions or lists.
Keyboard navigation and screen reader support
A barrier-free website must be fully navigable using the keyboard. This includes a visible focus marker so that users can always see where they are. Overlays and menus should be easy to close using the keyboard, and so-called “skip links” should enable users to jump directly to the main content. Many websites, including vienna.gv.at, already offer this function.
Screen reader users can also navigate without barriers. For Windows, there is the preinstalled application “Narrator”. Alternatively, NVDA (free and open source) or JAWS (not free) are available. MacOS and iOS offer an integrated screen reader function with VoiceOver. On Android devices, TalkBack is the common solution.
Accessibility in practice: Mobile Guides and Progressive Web Apps
An outstanding example of the consistent implementation of accessibility is BeauCoup, an international collaboration that develops a variety of tools for older people and people with disabilities to experience culture outside of museums. The three Service Delivery Models (SDMs) – The Bag, The Box and The Screen – combine analog, digital and multisensory tools to create accessible cultural experiences.
While “The Bag” and “The Box” allow a mix of analog and digital artifacts to be explored in participatory group settings, “The Screen” offers a digital solution with interactive tours through museums and exhibitions. The development of the Progressive Web App (PWA) combines various features for technical accessibility, such as sign language (from SignTime), real-time contrast filters (from AIT) or a live talkback function during virtual tours.
From the outset, accessibility was also a key consideration in the case of Eye to Ear – Gallery of Audible Images. This mobile experience conveys visual artworks as audio descriptions, in order to enable blind and visually impaired people in particular to access the exhibition. Via a native app, users can be guided by a screen reader and navigate barrier-free via keyboard or touchscreen.
Another example is the Parlamentarium, the Visitors' Center of the European Parliament. A comprehensive mobile guide has been developed here, offering multilingual audio descriptions, high-contrast interfaces, and clearly structured content for an international and diverse audience. Navigation also supports screen readers and alternative input methods.
Conclusion: Web Accessibility is not an extra, but a must!
Digital accessibility not only improves the user experience, it is also required by law. Companies that adapt to this now will benefit in the long term from an inclusive digital offering. Implementing Web Accessibility not only ensures greater reach and better findability, but also strengthens the corporate image and prevents legal problems. An inclusive digital future is not an optional extra – it is a matter of course.
Tools and links
Browser plugins
- https://www.deque.com/axe/devtools/
- https://wave.webaim.org
- https://accessibilityinsights.io/docs/web/overview/
Web applications and websites