In an increasingly digitalized world, online accessibility is not just a social responsibility, but a real competitive advantage. Companies that make their websites accessible open themselves up to a broader target group, reduce the legal risk and improve the user experience (UX). In the consulting industry in particular, an accessible website demonstrates a sense of responsibility and a capacity for innovation – values that potential customers and partners increasingly appreciate.
What exactly does digital accessibility mean, which tools help with implementation, and how can consultingheads support you with the implementation?
What makes a website accessible?
Accessible websites ensure that people with disabilities can – Whether they have visual, hearing, motor or cognitive impairments, they have full access to all the content and functions of a website. This includes, among other things:
- Visual impairments
Texts should be easy to read, colors should be rich in contrast and all visual content should be supplemented by alternative texts (alt texts) in order to be read by screen readers. - Hearing impairments:
Videos and audios need subtitles or transcriptions to be understandable without sound. - Motor restrictions:
All functions should be operable via keyboard or assistance technology, not just with the mouse. - Cognitive limitations:
Clear, simple language and intuitive navigation help all users to grasp information quickly.
These requirements are defined by the international Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) defined. Companies that do not comply with these requirements risk being penalized from 2025 by the Accessibility Reinforcement Act (BFSG) legal consequences.
Advantages of an accessible website
- Extended target group:
Around 15% of the world’s population lives with a disability. Accessible websites tap into this large market. - Improved user experience (UX):
Accessible websites often have a clearer and more intuitive design, which benefits all users. - Search engine optimization (SEO):
Search engines prefer accessible websites due to their better structure and user-friendliness. - Legal protection:
Companies that do not comply with legal requirements such as the BFSG risk legal consequences and fines.
Tools for accessible websites
There are a variety of tools available to help companies check and improve the accessibility of their website. Here is a selection of the best tools on the market:
- WAVE:
WAVE is a free tool that has been specially developed to check the accessibility of web content. It identifies common problems such as missing alternative texts and offers detailed suggestions for improvement. With browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Edge, a quick and efficient check is possible in real time.
- axe DevTools:
axe DevTools offers comprehensive accessibility testing and is available as a free basic version as well as an extended premium version. It can be integrated directly into development environments and helps developers to identify and resolve accessibility problems at an early stage.
- NVDA:
NVDA is a free screen reader that makes it possible to test websites from the perspective of visually impaired users. It is an essential tool for consultants who want to ensure that web content is accessible to all who rely on screen readers. - Tenon:
Tenon provides detailed reports on accessibility errors in HTML code. It is primarily aimed at developers and companies who want to continuously improve the accessibility of their websites.
- Color Contrast Analyser:
This tool analyzes color contrasts to ensure that text and graphics are easy to read even for people with color vision deficiencies. It is often used to maximize visual accessibility.
- Web Developer Toolbar:
This browser extension for Firefox and Chrome allows you to check various aspects of accessibility. The function to deactivate CSS to test the logical structure of a page is particularly helpful.
- HeadingsMapHeadingsMap visualizes the headings hierarchy of a website, which is particularly advantageous for users of screen readers, as a clear structure of the content is crucial for navigation.
- Landmark Navigation via Keyboard:
This tool enables keyboard navigation between different website landmarks and ensures that all sections are correctly labeled.
- Accessibility Insights:
Accessibility Insights is a powerful tool for Chrome and Edge that provides both automated and manual WCAG compliance checks and helps identify common accessibility issues.
These tools offer comprehensive support in ensuring digital accessibility and enable companies to make their websites accessible to all users. accessible. By combining these solutions, you can not only meet legal requirements, but also significantly improve the user-friendliness and reach of your website.
How to implement digital accessibility successfully
The introduction of digital accessibility requires careful planning and a structured approach. Here are the key steps to help companies create and maintain an accessible website in the long term.
- Inventory and analysis
The first step towards implementing accessibility is a thorough analysis of the existing website. Potential barriers are identified, such as missing alternative texts for images, insufficient keyboard navigation or a lack of color contrasts. A detailed review of the site shows which areas need to be improved in order to meet the requirements of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Such an inventory provides the basis for a concrete action plan. This analysis is important for both technical and content elements to ensure that all user groups – regardless of physical limitations – can access the content.
- Selecting and using the right tools
The implementation of digital accessibility can be facilitated through the use of special tools. These tools help to identify and resolve accessibility problems. By using these tools, accessibility problems can be identified at an early stage and addressed in a targeted manner. This not only reduces the effort involved, but also ensures that accessibility is incorporated into development right from the start. - Simple adaptations to improve accessibility
Even small changes can have a big impact when it comes to the accessibility of a website. The basic measures include Text alternatives for images:
All visual elements should be provided with alternative texts so that they can also be recognized by screen readers. Keyboard operation:
The entire website should be navigable using the keyboard so that userswho cannot use a mouse can easily navigate through the site. Clearly structured headings:
A logical hierarchy of headings not only makes it easier to understand the content, but also to navigate using a screen reader. These adaptations are often easy to implement, but make a significant contribution to making the website more accessible and thus reaching more users. reach more users.
- Training of the internal team
To ensure that accessibility remains an integral part of the website in the long term, it makes sense to train the internal team. Employees should understand the basics of accessibility in order to always pay attention to accessibility when creating new content or maintaining the website. Through targeted training, they learn how to integrate accessibility into their day-to-day work, be it by taking color contrasts into account in the design or creating clearly structured content for screen readers. - Continuous monitoring and optimization
Digital accessibility is an ongoing process. Technologies and legal requirements continue to evolve, so it is crucial to regularly monitor and adapt the website. Tools like Accessibility Insights or Tenon enable continuous accessibility checks and offer suggestions for improvement to ensure that the site always complies with current standards.
Regular audits and updates help not only to fulfill legal requirements such as the Barrier-Free Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG), but also to continuously improve the user experience for all visitors. for all visitors.
Digital accessibility as a competitive advantage
Digital accessibility is more than just a legal obligation – it is an opportunity to improve user-friendliness and tap into new target groups. Companies that make their websites accessible benefit from an improved user experience, better search engine rankings and compliance with legal requirements.
Would you like to make your website accessible and future-proof?
consultingheads and our experienced consultants are at your side. Get in touch with us today to find out more about customized solutions for digital accessibility!
