Digital Accessibility.
Digital Accessibility (Web Accessibility) ensures that websites and apps can be used by all people — including those with disabilities. From 2025, it is legally mandatory in the EU (European Accessibility Act).
Digital Accessibility — Explained in Detail
Digital Accessibility (Web Accessibility, a11y) means that websites and web applications are designed so that they can be used by all people — regardless of physical, sensory, or cognitive limitations. This includes: screen reader compatibility (for blind users), keyboard navigation (for users with motor impairments), sufficient color contrasts (for visually impaired users), subtitles for videos (for deaf users), and clear language (for users with cognitive impairments).
The international standard is WCAG 2.2 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) with three conformance levels: A (minimum), AA (recommended/legally required), and AAA (optimal). In the EU, with the European Accessibility Act (EAA), WCAG AA has been legally mandatory for many digital products since June 2025. Switzerland has its own regulations with the Disability Equality Act (BehiG) — federal agencies must meet WCAG AA, and similar expectations are increasingly applied to the private sector.
Accessibility doesn't just improve usability for people with disabilities — it improves the user experience for everyone: clear structure, good contrasts, and keyboard navigation benefit all users. Additionally, Google positively evaluates many accessibility factors for SEO (semantic HTML, alt texts, heading hierarchy). DLM Digital implements WCAG AA conformance as standard in all web projects.
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UI/UX DesignFrequently Asked Questions About Digital Accessibility
For federal agencies and public law organizations: Yes (Disability Equality Act BehiG). For the private sector: Not yet explicitly mandatory, but the trend is clearly heading in that direction. In the EU, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) applies from June 2025 — Swiss companies serving EU customers should comply with WCAG AA. Recommendation: Implement accessibility now, before legal obligations come into effect.
Automated tools: Google Lighthouse (Accessibility Score), axe DevTools (browser extension), WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool). Manual tests: Test navigation using only the keyboard, try screen readers (NVDA, VoiceOver), check color contrasts with Contrast Checker. Important: Automated tools only find about 30–40% of all accessibility issues — manual tests and user testing are essential.
If planned from the start: Only 5–10% additional effort. Retrofitting an existing website: 15–30% additional costs. The biggest cost drivers are not technical (semantic HTML, ARIA labels are quick to implement), but content-related: alt texts for all images, subtitles for videos, accessible PDFs. DLM Digital integrates WCAG AA conformance as standard — at no extra charge.
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