In recent years, there has been a growing focus on website accessibility for people with disabilities in the European Union (EU). The lack of accessibility on websites can result in exclusion from the digital world, a major issue in today’s society. Fortunately, there are accessibility norms and guidelines in place to help web developers create accessible websites in the EU. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the accessibility norms and guidelines in France, Germany, and The Netherlands, and provide insights on how to make websites more accessible to people with disabilities. Accessibility Norms in France In France, there are a few accessibility norms in place for websites. The first is the AccessiWeb certification, which is awarded to websites that have met certain criteria for accessibility. Websites can also comply with the RGAA (Référentiel Général d’Accessibilité pour les Administrations) which is a set of accessibility guidelines for public sector websites in France. Both AccessiWeb and RGAA are promoted by Paris-based BrailleNet and can be used for accessibility testing by web developers. Accessibility Norms in Germany In Germany, the most widely used accessibility norm for websites is the BITV (Barrierefreie Informationstechnik-Verordnung), which is based on the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) 2.0 Level AA. BITV is a legal regulation that requires German public authorities and institutions to make their websites and mobile applications accessible to people with disabilities. In addition, there is the Trusted Shops initiative, which provides accessibility guidelines for e-commerce websites. Accessibility Norms in The Netherlands In The Netherlands, websites are encouraged to comply with the WCAG 2.1 guideline, which is a set of international guidelines created by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The guidelines are aimed at making web content more accessible to people with disabilities and are widely accepted internationally. In addition to WCAG, The Netherlands also offers an accessibility label called Drempelvrij, which indicates that a website complies with certain accessibility criteria. Insights for Website Accessibility To create an accessible website, it’s important to follow accessibility norms and guidelines. Here are a few insights on how to make your website more accessible: Use descriptive headings and subheadings to help users navigate your website more easilyEnsure that all images have alt text that accurately describes the content of the imageAvoid using color as the sole means of conveying informationEnsure that all videos have closed captioning or transcriptsProvide keyboard support for all functions and elements on your websiteUse accessible forms with clear labels and instructionsEnsure that your website is compatible with assistive technology such as screen readers and magnifiersIn conclusion, there are accessibility norms and guidelines in place to help web developers create accessible websites in the EU. Following these norms and guidelines can help ensure that your website is more inclusive and accessible to everyone. By understanding the norms and guidelines in France, Germany, and The Netherlands, web developers can take appropriate steps to make their websites more accessible to people with disabilities.
