Accessibility is a common sight today: from wheelchair-accessible ramps to accessible restrooms and Braille in elevators. However, digitalization is equally affected, even if it’s sometimes less visible.
Digital media that is not designed to be accessible can hinder users with disabilities in their daily lives. This doesn’t just apply to websites or computer applications - even simple digital documents like PDF files are included. To enable seamless use for these individuals, there are regulations and standards for proper implementation.
What Regulations Exist?
For digital media, there are two relevant laws in Austria. The Web Accessibility Act (WZG) and the Disability Equality Act (BGStG).
The Web Accessibility Act specifies concrete criteria that must be met but is only relevant for public institutions. It originates from an EU directive that was subsequently transposed into national law.
In the private sector, only the Disability Equality Act applies, which states that users with disabilities must not be discriminated against - meaning restricted in their use. Therefore, for businesses there are actually no specific requirements that must be met or that can be violated. To still ensure accessibility, there is a criteria catalog called WCAG, which the WZG is also based on, that should be followed. If a person with a disability is unable to use a service and feels discriminated against, they can bring the case to court.
Benefits of Accessible Design
Accessible design primarily helps make digital media usable for more people, but it also has additional advantages.
Search engines, for example, use stored information that is also relevant for screen readers to better understand page content. This can, among other things, improve your page’s ranking. Optimization for mobile devices also already covers some web accessibility requirements, and appropriate design can make digital media more intuitive for all users.
What Additional Effort Does Accessibility Require in Software Development?
It is generally difficult to assess how much effort accessible design entails, as it heavily depends on complexity and special design and interaction elements. In most cases, however, it should not cause significant additional effort. It is also advisable to implement accessibility from the start rather than retrofitting it later, as this reduces effort from the outset.
For custom software from IT service providers, it should be noted that accessible design is often excluded through general terms and conditions and must be explicitly ordered as a service in the proposal.
Disclaimer: This text is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice!
About the author
Marc Kornberger
Co-Founder & Managing Director
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