Digitally accessible websites.
Digital accessibility is not a luxury but a basic requirement. With the new law that came into force on 28 June 2025, websites must genuinely be usable by everyone. Discover why this concerns your organisation too.
Accessibility matters, for you too
Accessibility is important for everyone, not only for people who always benefit from accessible interfaces because, for example, they have only one arm permanently. Ultimately, it is about the match or mismatch between a person and an interaction. You may also experience a temporary or situational limitation or ‘mismatch’, as Microsoft’s Inclusive 101 guidebook illustrates well. When an interface is adapted to the needs of someone who is deaf, it quickly becomes more usable for people who temporarily benefit from it (for example, due to an ear infection) or in situations with distracting noise, or where you need to be completely silent. Captions on videos are very useful if you are hard of hearing, but they are also ideal if you are in a quiet carriage without headphones and still want to watch a video. Accessible interfaces are therefore good for everyone, and everyone benefits when you avoid mismatches between person and interaction.
Tips for better accessibility
Include a skip link so keyboard users don't have to tab through every link in the navigation bar before reaching the main content of the page.
Write semantically correct HTML. In other words, use code elements that say something about the content. So don't use a <div> when it should be an <h1>.
Make sure there is sufficient colour contrast (at least 3:1). Low contrast is hard to read for many people, especially if a screen isn't set to high brightness or you're viewing it in sunlight.
“Disability happens at the points of interaction between a person and society. Physical, cognitive, and social exclusion is the result of mismatched interactions.” - Microsoft Design
By making websites and other technologies more accessible, we are working together to build a society where barriers to participation are lower. The internet belongs to all of us, and we should make sure it truly works that way.
Want to learn more about accessibility? www.solidstart.info is an excellent place to start!