Digital Accessibility

Digital accessibility means that your website, ecommerce store, or app is usable by all visitors, regardless of their disability. It involves technical adjustments and design choices that ensure people with visual, hearing, motor, or cognitive disabilities can perceive, understand, and interact with your content. In the United States, many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been subject to the European Accessibility Act since 2025, making digital accessibility no longer optional but a legal requirement.

How Digital Accessibility Works in Practice

You build accessibility in through concrete adjustments to code, design, and content. Think of alt text for images so a screen reader can read aloud what’s on them, sufficient color contrast so text remains readable for the visually impaired, and keyboard navigation for those who cannot use a mouse. Subtitles for videos, clear error messages in forms, and logical headings in your content are also part of this. The international standard is WCAG 2.1 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), with levels A, AA, and AAA. For most Dutch companies, AA is the minimum requirement. With SME clients, we often notice that accessibility only comes into play during a redesign or after a visitor reports an issue, whereas it’s much smarter to incorporate it into your web design and UX approach from day one.

Why digital accessibility is now mandatory

The European Accessibility Act has been in effect in the United States since June 2025. Companies that sell products or services to consumers must make their websites and apps accessible. This applies to ecommerce stores, as well as to platforms where you make appointments, fill out forms, or request information. The law is intended to combat discrimination and promote equal opportunities. Those who fail to comply risk a fine or a lawsuit. In addition, awareness is growing: more and more visitors expect a site that works for everyone. In practice, we see that accessibility also improves your search visibility, because search engines can index your content more effectively when it’s well-structured with headings, alt text, and logical HTML.

What digital accessibility can do for your business

An accessible website reaches a larger audience. Approximately 15% of the Dutch population has some form of disability, whether temporary or permanent. Examples include visual impairment, dyslexia, RSI, or a broken wrist. By building an accessible website, you exclude no one and increase your conversion rate. Your SEO performance also improves: alt text, headings, and a clear link structure help Google better understand your content. Accessibility also forces you to use a well-organized design and clear language, which benefits all visitors. With a strong UX, accessibility isn’t an extra layer—it’s an integral part of the design process.

Digital accessibility isn’t a separate project, but a set of principles you apply in all phases of your website or app. Below are four specific situations in which accessibility makes a difference for your business and your visitors.

Ecommerce stores that can serve everyone

For an ecommerce store, accessibility is directly linked to revenue. If a visually impaired visitor cannot interpret your product photos because there is no alt text, or if someone with a motor disability cannot complete the checkout process because the buttons are too small, you lose that sale. Accessible ecommerce stores offer keyboard navigation, clear error messages when entering address information, and sufficient contrast in prices and calls to action. Support for screen readers when using filters and search functions is also crucial. In practice, we see that ecommerce stores built with accessibility in mind from the start receive fewer complaints and achieve higher conversion rates across all target audiences.

Forms and contact pages that work for everyone

A contact form or request page is often the most important conversion point on your site. If a visitor with a visual impairment doesn’t understand which field is required, or if someone with dyslexia doesn’t receive a clear error message, they’ll abandon the process. Accessible forms use labels linked to input fields, provide inline feedback for errors, and support autocomplete so that screen readers and autofill can assist. Color usage also plays a role: don’t rely solely on red to indicate an error; also include an icon or text. With SMB clients, we often find that these kinds of adjustments also increase conversion rates for all users, simply because the form becomes clearer.

Content and blog articles that are accessible to everyone

Accessible content starts with structure. Use headings (H1, H2, H3) in a logical order, write short sentences, and avoid jargon without explanation. For people with low vision, sufficient contrast between text and background is essential; for people with dyslexia, a clear font and generous line spacing help. Videos and podcasts also deserve attention: add captions or a transcript. Accessible content is also easier to find, because search engines use headings and alt text to understand your page. In your content strategy, accessibility is therefore not extra work, but a quality improvement that helps everyone.

When digital accessibility is the right choice—and when it isn’t

Digital accessibility is always the right choice if you have a public website or ecommerce store. Since 2025, it has been a legal requirement for many companies, but even without that requirement, it pays off: you reach more people, your SEO improves, and you prevent complaints or claims. However, it does require an investment of time or budget, especially if you need to adapt an existing site. For internal tools or prototypes, you can sometimes temporarily work with a lower level of accessibility, but as soon as you go live for customers or the public, the full standard applies. Accessibility is no longer a “nice-to-have,” but a basic quality requirement for digital services.