How can websites or apps be made truly accessible?

When we talk about design, we think of creativity and aesthetics. But the primary task of every designer is to create products that are intuitive and enjoyable to use. With the European Accessibility Act, we are taking this a step further. Its purpose is to remove barriers to digital accessibility for people with disabilities.

In this article, we discuss:

• What is meant by digital accessibility
• How to comply with guidelines
• Our approach to accessible design

Accessibility focuses on making a product usable by the widest possible number of people, including those with disabilities. It aims to build digital spaces without barriers or limitations on use.

Legislative Decree 82/2022

Italy has transposed EU Directive 2019/882 – known as the European Accessibility Act (EAA) – with Legislative Decree No. 82 of 27 May 2022, which came into force on 16 July 2022.

The EAA aims to remove accessibility barriers for persons with disabilities in the internal market. Economic operators must:

• Comply with the accessibility requirements set out in Legislative Decree 82/2022 and harmonised technical standards;
• Provide information on the accessibility of their products and services to consumers, as well as a feedback mechanism for reports;
• Appoint a contact person for accessibility who is responsible for the compliance of products and services.

The provisions of the decree shall take effect from 28 June 2025.

Accessible design: guidelines

Accessible design is based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These guidelines are useful for designing websites and apps that can be used by people with visual and hearing impairments, as well as cognitive challenges.

These guidelines are constantly evolving – we are now at WCAG2.2 – and are used to assess whether the system can be used by as many users as possible, without discrimination. They take into account the needs of users with disabilities, those with suboptimal abilities, and those working in suboptimal environments.

Application scenarios

Accessibility regulations mainly apply to:

• Public administrations and other public bodies that provide digital services;
• Private companies that offer public services (e.g. transport, energy, telecommunications);
• Private entities with an average turnover of more than 500 million euros over the last three years, which offer services to the public via websites or mobile apps.

Digital accessibility objectives

It is a priority for companies to make web content more accessible to a wide range of people. This also applies to companies that are exempt from regulatory requirements.

Accessibility affects:

• users with cognitive or learning difficulties;
• users with visual impairments;
• users who have difficulty using mobile devices.

Accessibility requirements

The principles of accessibility are based on the standards set by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The document entitled Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) illustrates all the individual issues that developers may have to deal with, so that they can anticipate them with awareness.

Among the accessibility requirements is the obligation to make information available through more than one sensory channel. This information must be presented in a way that is understandable to users. Texts must have sufficient contrast and suitable fonts, as well as adjustable spacing between letters, lines and paragraphs.

ADIG Guidelines: key principles of accessibility

According to the AGID Guidelines (Agenzia per l’Italia Digitale, Agency for Digital Italy), websites must comply with WCAG 2.2 at level AA. These include several key principles:

• Perceivability: all content must be perceivable even by people with sensory disabilities (e.g., by providing alternative text for images and subtitled videos);
• Operability: interaction must be possible even without the use of a mouse, for example via the keyboard;
• Comprehensibility: content must be easily understandable, thanks to simple language and a clear layout;
• Robustness: the website must be compatible with the various assistive tools used by users with disabilities.

Testing: checking digital accessibility

Two different types of tests allow you to check and analyse the accessibility of a website:

1. Automated
2. Manual with real users

There are several open source tools for testing accessibility (see list of W3C tools). However, these do not meet all requirements. Relying on ICT accessibility experts is definitely a good place to start. The best solution is to work directly with disabled people, who know first-hand the critical issues and limitations of the web.

Are you looking for a partner to make your website accessible? Contact us

Accessibility statement

All entities that offer digital services to the public through websites or mobile applications are required to publish an accessibility statement. Public administrations and private companies that fall under Article 3.1bis of the so-called Stanca Law must file their accessibility statement with AgID. As specified by AgID:

The accessibility statement is the tool through which administrations make public the accessibility status of each website and mobile application they own.

Source: Accessibility Statement

At KeyWe, design systems and user interface kits are valuable tools. We recognise their strengths and differences, and use them to build a cohesive design language.

Authenticity and long-term accessibility

Our mission is to create unique and memorable digital identities, always respecting usability and accessibility guidelines. We do not blindly follow current trends. These are constantly changing and often overlook people’s real needs. That is why we prioritise brand identity and long-term usability.

Authenticity helps to differentiate a product, whether physical or digital. Differentiation means standing out and inspiring trust in the long term.

Read also UX/UI Design – Rules VS Creativity

In conclusion

At KeyWe, we experiment with new solutions that combine trendy design and usability principles. This requires a balance between aesthetics, consistency, readability and accessibility. We ensure that websites and portals are designed and developed in accordance with accessibility criteria. In addition, we carry out periodic checks to ensure compliance with standards over time.

Having an accessible website or app is an ethical approach and promotes online inclusion. Regulatory compliance is significant for a company’s turnover: it avoids penalties, reaches a larger number of users and offers a better user experience.