How to create an accessible website (+ checklist)

Accessible websites: The countdown is on!

All websites in the EU must be accessible by 28 June 2025 at the latest. This is to ensure that they are accessible to all users - even if they have limitations and disabilities.

With the practical tips and tools in this article, you can adapt your website to the EU standards in good time and create an inclusive digital environment.

There is a checklist at the end of the article that you can download. It contains all the important points that your website must fulfil.

Did you know that?

What do these figures tell us?

They emphasise the urgency of designing accessible websites in order to reach a broad user group and not exclude anyone.

Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the WWW, put it in a nutshell: the internet should be accessible to everyone. No matter what limitations someone has.

This statement goes straight to the heart of ithelps. And for good reason.

Why digital accessibility is so important to us at ithelps

One of our corporate values is acceptance.

That's why accessibility is particularly important to us. And that's why we have ...

2 internal accessibility experts for websites

Joachim (web development) and Joe (SEO) - have been studying the topic from various angles for a long time.

They pass on their knowledge of accessible websites to the entire ithelps team in internal training courses. In this way, we want to ensure that our web offerings appeal to and include people with disabilities even more than before.

Joachim has created a webinar on accessible websites that we don't want to withhold from you. In it, he provides valuable insights and instructions that are essential for anyone who wants to design an accessible website.

Video: High penalties from 2025: Expert explains WCAG 2.1 (with instructions ✅)

In the rest of our guide, we highlight the information and insights from Joachim's webinar.

We cover:

• the basics and key principles of accessibility
• concrete measures and examples
• useful tools and resources

Let's start with the basics.

What does accessibility mean in the context of websites?

Accessibility means that people with disabilities can navigate and interact on the internet like everyone else. A website is accessible if everyone has access to its content and functions. Nobody should be disadvantaged because of a disability.

Who is affected?

Web accessibility affects people with different needs. Here are the main target groups:

• People with visual impairments and blindness
• People with hearing impairments and deafness
• People with physical disabilities
• People with cognitive and learning disabilities
• People with mental disabilities
• People with temporary disabilities
• Older people
• People with a migration background

But wait.

Not only the target groups mentioned above benefit from digital accessibility, but also you as a website operator.

OK, I know what you're thinking:

Why is accessibility important for website operators too?

Here are the reasons:

• More users: new user groups that would otherwise be excluded.
• Higher quality: An accessible website is better structured and more user-friendly.
• Better ranking in search engines: Search engines like websites that are easy to understand and simple to use.
• Legal certainty: If you comply with the law, you don't have to fear any legal consequences.
• Good conscience: Those who are inclusive and treat everyone equally sleep better at night.

And here are 3 more reasons given by the European Commission:

• Savings through common accessibility rules in all EU countries
• simplified cross-border trade
• more market opportunities for accessible products and services

Convinced?

Then let's discuss the legal basis for accessible websites and the upcoming deadlines in detail.

Legal basis - EU directives

European Accessibility Act (EAA)

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a law of the European Union. It aims to ensure that certain products and services are accessible to people with disabilities. All EU member states must implement these new standards by 28 June 2025 at the latest.

Web Accessibility Directive 2016/2102

The Web Accessibility Directive 2016/2102 is the basis for the accessibility of websites in the EU. This directive stipulates that websites and mobile applications of public bodies must be accessible to people with disabilities.

EN 301 549

The EN 301 549 standard defines the technical requirements for accessibility. It describes how products and services must be designed and serves as a guideline for implementation.

Summarised:

• EAA: Law that prescribes accessibility for certain products and services in the EU.
• Web Accessibility Directive 2016/2102: Directive requiring accessibility for websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies
• EN 301 549: Technical standard that defines the requirements for accessibility.

The WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)

The WCAG provide website operators with clear and practicable guidelines for designing accessible web content. Published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), they form the international standard for accessible web design.

The 4 principles of accessibility according to WCAG

These four principles are the basis of WCAG and form the framework for creating accessible websites. There are also three conformance levels. They show how accessible a website is.

WCAG conformance levels

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines are divided into three conformance levels: A, AA and AAA. AA is the minimum requirement for many legal requirements.

You can find more information on the WCAG on the official website of the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI).

First steps towards accessibility in the DACH region

Germany: Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSG):

The Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSG) was passed on 15 June 2022 and will come into effect on 28 June 2025. It aims to implement the requirements of the European Accessibility Act (EAA) and affects services such as telephony, messengers as well as private web offers and small businesses that fulfil certain criteria. In some aspects, the law goes beyond the EU directives in order to further promote inclusion.

The following applies to private companies and organisations: from 28 June 2025, new digital products and services may only be offered if they are accessible from the outset. There is a transitional period for existing digital offerings that ends on 27 July 2030. These regulations primarily affect digital services in e-commerce, such as online shops, websites and mobile apps.

The Barrier-free Information Technology Ordinance (BITV 2.0) is the German implementation of EN 301 549 and stipulates that an online presence must fulfil certain criteria for accessibility, including special requirements for German in sign language and easy language. To the Barrier-free Information Technology Ordinance

Exceptions and transitional provisions

• Transition period of 15 years (until 2040) for self-service terminals.
• Micro-enterprises with fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover of less than 2 million euros are exempt from the accessibility requirements.
• Public service broadcasters and certain content such as recorded time-based media published before 23 September 2020 are also exempt.
• Exceptions can be made if the implementation represents a disproportionate burden.

Accessible websites in Austria

In Austria, the EU requirements were implemented through the Web Accessibility Act (WZG) and the Accessibility Act (BaFG).

The WZG, which is based on EU Directive 2016/2102, requires websites and apps of public bodies to be accessible.

The BaFG was adopted in July 2023 and applies to all companies that offer goods or services that are available to the public. It will come into force on 28 June 2025. Violations of the accessibility requirements can be penalised with fines of up to 80,000 euros.

Exceptions to the accessibility requirements:

• Micro-enterprises with fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover of less than €2 million.
• Public service broadcasters are exempt from the requirements.
• Certain content such as recorded time-based media published before 23 September 2020, as well as certain file formats and live time-based media.
• Exceptions can be made if the implementation represents a disproportionate burden .

Transitional periods (Section 37 BaFG)

Service contracts agreed before 28 June 2025 may continue unchanged until their expiry, but no longer than five years from this date (Section 37 para. 2 BaFG). Until then, the contracting parties must either adapt their existing contracts to the accessibility requirements of the BaFG through amendments or terminate them.

This transitional period also applies to digital content such as websites and web shops.

Switzerland: Disability Equality Act (BehiG)

As Switzerland is not part of the European Union, its requirements do not apply. Nevertheless, Switzerland is committed to accessibility.

The Disability Equality Act (BehiG), also known as the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), also regulates the accessibility of digital content. The Act came into force on 1 January 2004 and has been amended several times.

It obliges both public and private organisations to prevent discrimination on the grounds of disability. Public organisations must comply with WCAG 2.1 conformance level AA for digital content. In the event of non-compliance, those affected can demand compensation of up to 5,000 Swiss francs.

So, hopefully we have now created an awareness of the basics.

But how do we put this into practice?

We've put together some practical tips for you.

Practical tips for implementing accessibility for websites

To make your website accessible and fulfil the legal requirements, follow these steps

1. Choose a compliance level

Not every website has to be AAA-compliant. Choose the appropriate level based on the legal requirements and your goals.

• Level A: Basic accessibility.
• Level AA: Advanced accessibility requirements (recommended for most websites).
• Level AAA: Highest accessibility standards (not always practical).

2. Select representative pages

Consider which websites and features to include in the initial analysis. The selection should include pages with diverse content and designs.

• Key pages: Pages that are frequently visited and play a central role for visitors.
• Key functions: Important functions such as navigation, forms and interactions.
• Content types: Texts, images, videos, forms, tables.
• Designs: Different layouts and navigation structures.

3. Check these representative pages

Examine these pages for barriers. Pay attention to the four principles of accessibility: perceptibility, usability, comprehensibility and robustness. Carry out manual and automated tests.

• Manual tests: Check whether you can operate the pages without a mouse. Test the navigation with the keyboard and carry out screen reader tests.
• Automated tests: Use tools such as WAVE, axe DevTools or the Colour Contrast Analyzer to find technical barriers.

4. Create a report

The report serves as the basis for the necessary adjustments. It should contain all barriers and recommendations for remedying them.

• Error log: List all barriers found.
• Recommendations: Give clear instructions on how to rectify the problems.
• Prioritise: Highlight the most important changes that should be implemented immediately.

5. Make your entire website accessible

Take the report and work through it step by step. Start with the most important measures and then extend the adjustments to the entire website.

• Priority 1: Changes that you have marked for immediate implementation.
• Priority 2: Key pages and key functions.
• Priority 3: All other texts, images, videos, forms, tables, etc.

Useful tools and resources

Here are some useful tools and resources to help you check and improve:

• WAVE - Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool
• axe DevTools - Web Accessibility Testing
• Colour Contrast Analyzer

In the next section, I will show you simple quick tests that you can carry out yourself.

Simple quick tests to check accessibility

The following tests identify obvious barriers quickly and efficiently.

1. Check alternative texts for images

Images must have an alternative text (alt text) that describes the content or function of the image. This is particularly important for screen reader users.

Check: Check whether all images on your website have a descriptive alternative text. Decorative images should have an empty "alt" attribute so as not to confuse screen reader users.

Tool: Use the WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool or your browser's developer tools to check alt text.

2. Keyboard navigation

All functions of your website must be operable with the keyboard. This is important for users with motor impairments.

• Check: Use the Tab key to navigate through the website and check that the focus is visible everywhere. All interactive elements (links, buttons, forms) must be accessible and operable.
• Tool: No special tools required. Keyboard navigation can be tested directly in the browser.

3. Correct use of HTML elements

The correct use of HTML elements such as headings, lists and tables is crucial for accessibility.

• Test: Check whether headings are used correctly in the hierarchy. H1 for main headings, H2 for subheadings, etc. Lists should be structured with the appropriate HTML elements (ul, ol). Tables must be structured correctly.
• Tool: Your browser's developer tools are useful for checking the HTML structure.

4. Forms with correct labelling

Forms must be labelled correctly so that screen reader users can understand and complete the input fields.

• Check: Check that all input fields have a visible and linked label.
• Tool: Use tools such as axe DevTools to check forms.

5. Link texts

Link texts should be meaningful and describe the target of the link. Avoid generic texts such as "here", "read more" or "more info".

• Check: Check all link texts on the website and make sure that they clearly describe the target of the link.
• Tool: Manual check or tools such as WAVE.

6. Colour contrasts

The colour contrasts on your website must be sufficient so that visually impaired people can read your content.

• Check: Use tools such as the Colour Contrast Analyzer or WAVE to check the contrast ratios.
• Requirements: The contrast between text and background should be at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.

7. 200% zoom

With a 200% zoom, all website content should still be visible and operable.

• Test: Enlarge the view of your website in the browser to 200%. Check that all content is still displayed correctly and that no elements are hidden.
• Tool: No special tools required, the browser's zoom function can be used.

Additional tips for accessible websites

1. Sensitisation and training:

Ensure that everyone involved in the company is aware of the importance of accessibility and receives regular training. This promotes a shared understanding and commitment to inclusive web design practices.

2. Obtain user feedback:

Get regular feedback from users, especially those with disabilities. This helps to identify real barriers and develop practical solutions.

3. Integrate accessibility into the development process:

Consider accessibility from the beginning of the design and development process. This saves time and costs compared to subsequent adaptations.

4. Continuous review and improvement:

Accessibility is an ongoing process. Review your website regularly and keep up to date with current standards and best practices.

Checklist for checking the accessibility of websites

We wouldn't be ithelps if we didn't give you a practical checklist for accessible websites in addition to the tips and quick test.

Download the checklist, print it out and check point by point whether you have an accessible website.

Download the checklist

Accessibility in Joomla

The following video by Viviana Menzel covers accessibility in Joomla and how this content management system (CMS) helps to create accessible websites. It explains what features and tools Joomla offers to ensure that websites are accessible to all users, including people with disabilities. Viviana Menzel shows practical examples and gives tips for implementation in Joomla.

Conclusion

Web accessibility is crucial to ensure that all people have unrestricted access to information and services. There are numerous benefits to implementing accessible websites, including increased reach, improved usability and compliance with legal requirements.

With the practical tips and tools in this article, you can adapt your website to EU standards in good time and create an inclusive digital environment.

Use the time remaining until 2025 to check and adapt the accessibility of your website. Start with the simple quick tests and then implement targeted measures to fulfil all legal requirements.