If you are wondering what are the basic standards to comply with for an accessible website in 2024, it is essential to understand and apply the guidelines established in the legal framework, as well as the best practices to implement in ‘pro’ web accessibility.
Below, we will explore the updated standards and new implementations you should consider to ensure the accessibility of your web portal.
What is the current Legal Regulation in Spain?
RD 1112/2018 and the Web Accessibility Directive:
Royal Decree 1112/2018 and Directive (EU) 2016/2102 establish the accessibility requirements for the websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies.
It is essential to comply with these regulations, which establish minimum accessibility standards and try to guarantee that all users can access online services without any type of barrier.
What does RD 1112/2018 require in relation to web accessibility?
- The web portal must have a communication system so that the user can report possible breaches of web accessibility.
- Regular monitoring of compliance with RD 1112/2018 by each entity will be carried out, with mandatory reports that will be sent to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation.
- Web accessibility criteria are also required for portals that receive public financing, as well as those that are linked to the Public Administration.
- The unit in charge of accessibility will supervise compliance with the Royal Decree.
- Evaluations will be carried out at least once every three years.
- The applicable criteria are described in the WCAG 2.1 standard.
- Public institutions must achieve level AA compliance.
Also pay attention to International Standards:
What are the WCAG 2.1?
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 are a set of international guidelines developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
These guidelines are widely recognized and provide clear criteria for making web content accessible to people with disabilities. It is crucial to follow the recommendations of WCAG 2.1 to ensure the accessibility of your website.
WCAG 2.1 Web Accessibility Principles:
- Perceptibility: Make sure that all users can perceive the information presented on your website. Provide textual alternatives for multimedia content, use appropriate contrast between text and background, and avoid relying solely on colors to convey important information.
- Operability: Make your website easy to operate for all users, regardless of their input device. This includes providing clear and consistent navigation options, ensuring that all functions are accessible via the keyboard, and avoiding elements that may cause photosensitive seizures.
- Understandability: The content and structure of your website must be understandable to all users. Use clear, simple language, organize content logically, and provide clear instructions for complex tasks.
- Robustness: Your website should be robust and compatible with a wide range of assistive technologies and web browsers. It uses clean, semantic code, follows current web standards, and performs regular testing to ensure compatibility with different platforms and devices.
What basic rules do I need to comply with?
- Responsive design (Responsive design): The design of your website must be adaptable to different devices and screen sizes, so that users can access it from desktop computers, laptops, tablets and mobile phones.
- Color contrast: Use colors that provide good contrast between the text and the background to facilitate reading, especially for people with visual impairments or vision difficulties.
- Semantic tags: Use appropriate semantic HTML tags (for example, header, main or footer) to structure your content in a clear and meaningful way. This helps users, including those using screen readers, understand the organization and navigation of the site.
- Textual alternatives: Provides textual alternatives for images, and other multimedia elements using alt and title attributes as appropriate. This is especially important for visually impaired people who rely on screen readers.
- Accessible forms: Make your forms accessible by using appropriate HTML form tags, associating text labels with input fields, and providing clear and descriptive error messages.
Conclusion
Creating an accessible website in 2024 requires continued commitment to web accessibility standards and practices. By complying with legal regulations, following international standards, and adopting basic accessibility principles, you can ensure that your website is accessible to everyone.
Remember that web accessibility is not only about complying with legal regulations, but is also about an ethical and moral commitment to society.
