Why is digital accessibility fundamental?
Accessibility is not just a matter of regulatory compliance, but also of inclusion and usability. Accessible design improves the user experience for everyone, not only for people with disabilities. Considering that 95% of websites are not accessible, it is evident that there is still much to be done to make the web a fair and inclusive environment.The first analyses to perform: accessibility assessment tools
Before undertaking technical interventions, it is essential to evaluate the current state of accessibility of a site or an application. There are several tools that help identify problems and suggest improvements:1. Automated evaluation with online tools
The use of automated analysis tools allows for the rapid identification of the main accessibility issues. Some of the most used are:
- Lighthouse (Google) → A tool integrated into Chrome DevTools that analyzes accessibility, performance, and SEO.
- axe DevTools (Deque Systems) → A browser extension that provides detailed reports on accessibility barriers.
- WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool) → Identifies contrast issues, missing text alternatives, and incorrect page structure.
- Accessibility Insights (Microsoft) → Offers an in-depth analysis and step-by-step guidance to resolve critical issues.
These tools highlight common problems, such as the lack of alternative text for images, an unclear semantic structure, or insufficient color contrasts. However, they cannot completely replace manual verification, especially for more complex aspects related to navigability and interaction with assistive technologies.
2. Manual tests with assistive technologies
After an initial automated analysis, it is necessary to perform manual tests to verify the real experience of users with disabilities. Some tools used for these tests include:
- Screen readers (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver) → To test the navigability and comprehensibility of content for blind or visually impaired people.
- Keyboard-only navigation → Disable the mouse and verify if all functionalities are accessible via the keyboard (TAB, ENTER, SPACE, ESC).
- Color contrast check → Use tools like Contrast Checker to ensure adequate readability.
3. Code analysis and WCAG validation
To ensure compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), it is useful to perform a review of the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code. Some useful tools are:
- Nu Validator (W3C) → To check the correctness of HTML and CSS code.
- WCAG Contrast Checker → To verify text contrast levels.
- Tota11y (Khan Academy) → To quickly analyze accessibility problems directly in the browser.
Technical interventions to improve accessibility
After identifying the main problems, it is necessary to intervene on the code and the structure of the site or app. Here are some of the most important actions that may need to be implemented or corrected:1. Semantic structure and correct HTML markup
The correct use of HTML elements is fundamental to ensure clear and understandable navigation. Some precautions include:
- using headings (H1, H2, H3, …) hierarchically to define a logical structure of the content.
- avoiding the excessive use of and and preferring semantic elements like , or .
What we concretely do at Glacom for digital accessibility
In our approach to accessibility, we accompany clients through a structured path aimed at making their websites compliant with regulatory requirements and truly usable by all people. Our process is divided into three main phases:1. Audit and site check
We perform a technical and functional analysis of the website to identify all critical issues in terms of accessibility. We produce a detailed report with the list of problems found and the suggested methods for their resolution, in line with the WCAG 2.1 guidelines.
2. Resolution of issues
We carry out corrective interventions on the website to ensure full compliance with the required standards. The interventions concern both technical aspects (code, structure) and content aspects (texts, accessible alternatives, etc.).
3. Drafting the accessibility statement
We prepare the accessibility statement, a public document that is published on the site. In it, the following are indicated:
- The level of compliance achieved relative to the accessibility requirements;
- The list of content that may not be accessible and the reasons why;
- Contacts for reporting any accessibility problems;
- Alternative solutions available to ensure access to content.
Contact us to request a free analysis of your website!
