Accessibility is not an add-on

When you open a physical store, you build a ramp for wheelchair users. Not because you have to, but because you want everyone to walk in. Digital products should be no different — yet accessibility is still too often treated as an optional extra.

What is digital accessibility?

Digital accessibility means your website or application is usable by everyone, regardless of ability. Think of people who are blind and use a screen reader, people with motor impairments who cannot use a mouse, or people with color blindness who cannot distinguish certain color combinations.

In the Netherlands alone, over 2 million people have some form of disability. Add temporary impairments — a broken arm, bright sunlight on your screen, or a slow internet connection — and you realize accessibility affects virtually everyone.

WCAG: the standard

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the international standard for digital accessibility. They are built around four principles:

• Perceivable — Information must be presentable in different ways. Images get alt text, videos get captions.
• Operable — All functionality must be reachable via keyboard. Navigation is predictable, forms provide clear feedback.
• Understandable — Text is readable, forms help with errors, and the interface behaves consistently.
• Robust — Content works across different browsers and assistive technologies like screen readers.

There are three levels: A, AA, and AAA. WCAG 2.1 AA is the standard you should meet at minimum — and it is what the law requires.

The European Accessibility Act (EAA)

Since June 2025, the European Accessibility Act has been in effect. This law requires businesses that offer digital products or services to guarantee accessibility. This applies to webshops, banking, e-commerce platforms, and an ever-growing list of categories.

It is no longer a "nice to have" — it is becoming a legal requirement. Companies that build accessible products now are ahead of the curve instead of playing catch-up.

What we do by default

At OntwerpKracht, accessibility is not a separate phase or add-on. It is embedded in our development process:

• Semantic HTML — We use the right HTML elements for their intended purpose. A button is a <button>, not a <div> with a click handler.
• Keyboard navigation — Every interactive element is reachable and operable via keyboard. Tab order is logical, focus styles are visible.
• Screen reader support — We test with screen readers and ensure correct ARIA labels, live regions, and a logical document structure.
• Color contrast — All text meets the WCAG AA contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text.
• Responsive and adaptable — Content is zoomable to 200% without loss of functionality and works on every screen size.

Accessibility is good for business too

Beyond the ethical argument, there are hard business reasons:

• Wider reach — You do not exclude potential customers or users.
• Better SEO — Search engines reward semantic HTML, alt texts, and structured content.
• Higher quality — Accessible code is almost always better structured, more maintainable code.
• Legal certainty — You comply with the EAA and avoid potential claims.

Start today

Accessibility does not have to be overwhelming. Start with the basics: semantic HTML, keyboard navigation, and sufficient contrast. Build it in from the start instead of retrofitting — it saves time, money, and frustration.

Want to know how accessible your current product is, or want to start a new project the right way? See what we build or start a conversation.

Also read: Better building starts with your user — because accessibility starts with understanding your users.