Digital Accessibility
Accessible products are user-friendly, easy to reach, and beneficial for your brand. Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we’ll guide you step by step.
What is digital accessibility?
Digital accessibility ensures that everyone can use your website, app, or online service, including people with disabilities. Think of someone who is blind and uses a screen reader, or someone who cannot navigate with a mouse. By making your digital product accessible, you ensure that no one is excluded. It’s not only good for your users, but also for your business.
The components of digital accessibility
Semantic HTML
Using correct HTML tags, such as <header>, <nav>, and <main>, helps screen readers logically interpret and navigate a website’s content.
ALT-texts
Images and visual elements become accessible by adding alternative text, allowing people with visual impairments to understand what is being shown.
Contrast and Colors
Colors must offer sufficient contrast to ensure readability, especially for people with visual impairments such as color blindness.
Navigation and keyboard accessibility
Websites should be easy to navigate without a mouse; for example, using only the keyboard. This is essential for users with motor impairments.
Subtitles and Transcriptions
Videos and audio content should include captions and transcripts, so that people who are deaf or hard of hearing can access the information.
Responsive design
Digital products must function well on different devices, so that users with, for example, a magnified screen or speech recognition technology face no barriers.
Is digital accessibility legally required?
Since June 2025, the European Accessibility Act also applies to Dutch businesses. Where previously mainly (semi-)government organizations were required to make their websites accessible, this obligation now extends to commercial companies as well. Think of webshops, banks, and travel agencies; essentially any organization offering digital products or services. See the list of online products that must comply with the law.
In the legislation, this is called the European Accessibility Act (EAA). In short: if your product or service must be accessible to the public online, you need to meet certain requirements. And that means complying with the WCAG.
What is WCAG?
WCAG stands for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, an international set of rules that explain how to make digital products accessible. The current version, WCAG 2.1, is based on four principles, your content must be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.
Sounds abstract? A few examples:
Perceivable: text must be easy to read, even with high contrast or through a screen reader.
Operable: your site must be fully navigable using only a keyboard.
Understandable: the content must be clear and predictable, no confusing navigation or jargon.
Robust: the code must work well with assistive technologies, such as screen readers.
The advantages of a digitally accessible product
Better visibility (SEO)
Search engines appreciate accessible content. Alt text, clear heading structures, and semantic HTML help both screen readers and Google bots understand your page. This leads to higher rankings, more organic traffic, and lower advertising costs. Accessibility is therefore a practical and lasting way to strengthen your SEO strategy.
Wider reach and higher conversion
The Netherlands has more than two million people with a disability, and many others benefit too, including older users, people with temporary injuries, or travellers on slow connections. By excluding no one you enlarge your potential audience considerably. More visitors who can buy, fill in forms, or book without hurdles translate directly into higher revenue.
Stronger brand value and customer loyalty
Companies that embrace inclusivity build trust and goodwill. An accessible site shows that you take everyone seriously, which encourages positive reviews, word of mouth, and repeat purchases. It is also a powerful signal in tenders and B2B relations where corporate social responsibility counts more every year.
Fewer legal and financial risks
Since 28 June 2025 many digital products must comply with the European Accessibility Act. Following the WCAG guidelines lowers the chance of complaints, lawsuits, or fines. You avoid costs and reputational damage later while the investment up front is usually modest.
Need help with digital accessibility?
Get in touch with us! We’ll guide you step by step. With our self-developed scan, we map out the digital accessibility of your product, analyze the results, and provide you with advice on how to make your product digitally accessible.
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✉️ Email: kantoor@superinteractive.com
📞 Call: +31 (0) 20 845 36 96