Many times the norm comes to put order to realities that should be evident. It happens frequently in laws linked to sustainability, where many companies do not begin to act until, in some way, they are forced to do so. A situation that is currently happening with the Web accessibility.
We move in a digital world where practically everything is managed through a screen: We work, we buy, we reserve tables in restaurants, we ask for Friday’s dinner or even concert medical appointments without making a call. But … What happens when a part of the population can’t do this because web pages and applications are not designed for them?
Web accessibility is not a whim or an optional extra, it is a right. And allows companies to communicate for all. Your goal is guarantee that all people can access information and digital services on equal terms. For someone without disabilities, perhaps overlooking a poorly designed button or a text with little contrast is just a nuisance. But for a person with visual disabilities, an inaccessible website is an insurmountable barrier that excludes it from something everyday as making the online purchase or consulting the cinema billboard.
Web accessibility is not a whim or an optional extra, it is a right
Therefore, in Spain, the Information Society Services Law (LSS) states that websites, especially those of public entities or funded with public funds, must comply with certain criteria of accessibility. At European level, the 2016/2102 Web Accessibility Directive obliges administrations to ensure that their pages and mobile applications are accessible. But the regulations go further: the Directive (EU) 2019/882 on the Product and Services Accessibility Requirements He points out that, as of June, accessibility will also be applied to the private sector, affecting electronic shops, banks, transport and telecommunications services, among others.
In this way, to update it is not just about avoiding sanctions, but about making the websites noticeable, operable and understandable to anyone. This means, for example, that They must be compatible with screen readersoffer text alternatives for images, include subtitles in videos, allow navigation by keyboard and ensure that information is clear and easy to understand.
In addition to being a legal imperative, it has advantages that are often overlooked. Companies that invest in accessibility expand their potential marketreaching millions of people who could not access their products or services before. They also improve their search engine positioning and optimize the user experience for all.
In this transition it is better to be accompanied by an expert team. It is better to avoid beliefs such as accessibility is resolved with automatic tools or fast solutions that promise to solve it with just one click. The reality is that this is not only insufficient, but in some cases it can generate more problems than it solves.
Web accessibility requires a serious approachwith evaluations carried out by specialists and with adjustments specifically designed to ensure that any person, regardless of their capabilities or the device you use, can navigate without barriers.
Companies and administrations have a challenge ahead. But in an increasingly digitized society, guarantee that no one is excluded is everyone’s responsibility.
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