We take limitations into account in daily life. Think of the stripes for the blind at the station or longer exam time for students with dyslexia. But we usually don't do this online. More than three million Dutch people are therefore unable to use digital services, at least not as intended. One in ten has vision, hearing, mobility, or thinking and understanding problems.
In a world where more and more is happening online, these people often fall out of the loop. For example, white text on a light blue background is unreadable for the visually impaired. A video without subtitles is substandard for the deaf. The screen reader of a blind person can do nothing with an image to which no alternative text has been added. It is therefore essential that government agencies and companies become aware of digiaccessibility. Several legal steps have already been taken to this end.
Download our WCAG checklist
In our checklist we give you a complete and clear overview of the rules you have to comply with to be at level AA. For government institutions, this is the mandatory accessibility level.
With our white paper you will discover everything about the rules and guidelines regarding digiaccessibility, the advantages of an accessible website or app and you will receive advice about content, design and development.
In 2016, the Netherlands started implementing this agreement. The Equal Treatment on the Ground of Disability and Chronic Illness Act has been amended to this end. This law now also covers goods and services, including online.
In the same year, the EU adopted the European Accessibility Act and European guidelines have been drawn up for the accessibility of websites and apps of government agencies. In the Netherlands, it has been arranged that all websites of government agencies (including semi-government and independent administrative bodies) must comply with the globally recognized WCAG 2.1.
This is the latest official version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. From June 23, 2021, apps from government agencies must also follow these guidelines. WCAG 2.1 lists 78 digiaccessibility guidelines, and 50 of them must be met by government agencies. That means that there is a lot of work to be done.
Do you want an easy overview of the guidelines for digiaccessibility? Then download our WCAG 2.1 checklist.