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Relevance of WCAG for your company
Information about WCAG
WCAG stands for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and contains guidelines for the accessibility of content on the internet. WCAG has shaped the standard of legislation regarding the accessibility of internet content in most countries worldwide.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) were created by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to address the accessibility of websites. The W3C was founded in October 1994 at the MIT Laboratory for Informatics (MIT/LCS).
Originally, the W3C focused on standardizing web protocols to ensure compatibility between websites and web tools.
Internet accessibility was an early topic addressed by the W3C. The first version of WCAG was published in 1999. A revision in 2018 resulted in the WCAG guidelines we know today.
WCAG Principles
The WCAG is extensive and complex, encompassing various aspects and requirements. However, the fundamental principle underlying all the detailed points is based on four essential principles: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.
Perceivable
Perceivable refers to how users perceive online content through their senses of sight, hearing, and touch. This includes aspects such as alternative text for images, contrast adjustments, text size, spacing, and readability improvements.
Operable
Accessibility refers to how easily someone can use a website. An accessible website must be fully navigable via keyboard, sight-assisted navigation, and other alternatives to a mouse.
Understandable
User-friendly pages are easy for everyone to understand. They avoid technical terms or complicated instructions.
Robust
Key factors for a robust website include clean HTML and CSS code that adheres to recognized standards, ensuring compatibility with assistive technologies.
Guideline as a Standard for Laws
WCAG is not a law, but many governments have adopted the guidelines as a standard for their accessibility laws.
Accessibility for Digital Products and Services
Information about EAA / EN 301549
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a regulation adopted by the EU in April 2019 that mandates accessibility for digital products and services.
EN 301549 defines official standards for web accessibility.
When did EAA and EN 301549 come into force?
Regulating web accessibility was a lengthy process that began in the 2000s.
- 2006 – Riga Declaration issued
- 2010 – European Disability Strategy adopted
- 2015 – First version of EN 301549 published
- 2016 – Web Accessibility Directive introduced
- 2018 – Updated EN 301549 based on WCAG
- 2019 – EAA adopted
- June 28, 2025 – Compliance deadline
What are the requirements of the EAA?
The EAA defines usability requirements based on WCAG 2.1 standards.
For example, audio content must also be accessible via captions, and written text must also be accessible through screen readers.
Who must comply with the EAA?
- Computers and operating systems
- Telephone services
- Audiovisual media services
- Passenger transport services
- Banking services
- eBooks
- eCommerce
The EAA also affects private companies offering online services in Europe.
Law on the Equal Treatment of People with Disabilities
German Legislation
Accessibility requirements in Germany are regulated by the law on equal opportunities for disabled people and the Accessible Information Technology Ordinance.
- Accessibility requirements apply directly
- Accessibility statement required
- Federal monitoring body established
- Administrative processes must be accessible
State Laws on Accessible Information Technology
Accessibility regulations also apply to public bodies across German states and municipalities.
- Baden-Württemberg
- Bavaria
- Berlin
- Brandenburg
- Bremen
- Hamburg
- Hesse
- Lower Saxony
- North Rhine-Westphalia
- Rhineland-Palatinate
- Saarland
- Saxony
- Schleswig-Holstein
- Thuringia
Barriano Meets the Standards
- WCAG 2.2
- BITV
- EN 301549
