On 2 June, Pascal Vleugels and Anne-Floor van Nunen shared their insights on digital accessibility during the knowledge session. Because what is currently mainly a responsibility for (semi-)governments, will also become a hard requirement for many commercial organisations from June 2025 onwards. High time, therefore, to look at: "Where are we?", "What needs to be done?" and, above all, "How do you get it right?".
New rules, new reality
Since 1 July 2023, the Digital Government Act (WDO), which obliges governments and semi-governments to offer their digital services safely and accessibly, has been in force in the Netherlands. For example, websites and apps must be secured with HTTPS, comply with the accessibility guideline WCAG 2.1 level AA, as well as publish a publicly accessible accessibility statement. This declaration is not just a formality: it is an official document explaining the status of accessibility, including concrete improvement plans. Moreover, it must be updated annually.
From 28 June 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) will come into force. This European legislation extends the digital accessibility obligation to commercial businesses within the EU. They too will have to comply with WCAG 2.1 AA, including preparing an accessibility statement. Larger commercial organisations in particular will notice this. For (semi-)governments, therefore, little will change in terms of content, but compliance and control will be further tightened.
What does WCAG mean in practice?
The WCAG guidelines are the foundation of digital accessibility. They revolve around four core principles: content must be perceivable, operable, understandable and robust. In practice, this means, for example, that a website should be fully keyboard operable, forms should be logically structured and error messages clearly explained, and all functions should remain usable on different devices and with different screen settings. It is highly recommended to have an official audit carried out so that you know where you stand and what still needs to be done.
Technology and design: more than 'pretty
Digital accessibility is not something you solve with a tool or plug-in. This was firmly emphasised during the event. Accessibility starts with technology. Make sure websites are logically structured, forms are semantically correct, and interaction elements such as buttons and fields work properly. Error messages should indicate not only that something is wrong, but also how it can be fixed.
Design also plays a big role. Colour contrast should be sufficient, and colour should never be the only carrier of information, for instance in graphics or reports. The website should continue to function well when enlarged (up to 400%) and on all screen sizes. And drag-and-drop functionalities? Those should also be usable with buttons. In short: visual attractiveness must never come at the expense of usability.
Content everyone understands
Anne-Floor van Nunen emphasised the importance of accessible content. That means, among other things: the correct use of headings (such as H1, H2 & H3), descriptive link texts ("View climate policy report" instead of "Click here"), and, if necessary, alt-texts for images that contain important information. For decorative images, on the other hand, alt text is usually unnecessary.
Video material also deserves attention. Subtitling is essential, not only for people with hearing loss, but also for non-native speakers or people who watch a video in silence. Furthermore, the use of language on websites is very important. The guideline states that texts should be written at B1 level so that they can be understood by the vast majority (as much as 80%) of the population. Short, active sentences and familiar words are the norm here.
What can you do now?
For organisations that want to know where they stand, Insiders offers an Accessibility Quickscan. This initial analysis quickly shows where areas for improvement lie and is excellent preparation for an official audit. You can also contact Insiders for a technical update, a redesign focused on colour use, workshops 'Accessible writing', and editorial support in optimising content.
There is also a lot you can already do yourself as an organisation. Start by drafting or updating your accessibility statement. Examine content and rewrite texts where necessary. Provide meaningful link texts, subtitle videos, and fill in alt texts only when functionally necessary. This is how you lay the foundation for a website that really works for everyone.
Did you miss the event? No worries! Download the presentation and recording of the Online Event via the links below.
Together we work on digital accessibility
Digital accessibility is more than complying with legislation. It is an opportunity to reach everyone, regardless of disability, language level or technology used. By investing in an accessible website now, you are not only working towards compliance, but also towards inclusion and quality. Are you ready? Insiders is happy to help you with advice, implementation and expertise.
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