According to a report from the Swedish Agency for Participation published in 2021, the number of people in Sweden with disabilities is approximately 1.3 million. This corresponds to about 13 percent of the population.
The Accessibility to Digital Public Services Act (SFS 2018:1937) came into force on January 1, 2019. All public agencies providing digital services and content must comply with the law. This includes authorities, municipalities, county councils, regions, and universities. Private organisations receiving public funding are also covered by this law.
About the accessibility regulations on Digg website (in Swedish)
Official web guidelines for the public sector (in Swedish)
What is digital accessibility?
Digital accessibility is about ensuring that digital environments are accessible to people with disabilities or other limitations. Everyone, regardless of physical or cognitive abilities, should be able to use websites, apps, and documents. An accessible website offers many positive effects. Here are a few examples:
Increased reach
An accessible website reaches a wider audience, including 1 billion people with disabilities globally and 1.3 million in Sweden.
Better user experience
Accessible websites enhance the user experience for everyone through easier navigation, clearer layout, and faster loading times.
Improved reputation
By showing care for accessibility, you can strengthen your company's reputation and build loyalty among users.
Better SEO
Accessibility measures, such as alternative text for images and descriptive link text, can improve your website’s search optimisation and increase visibility for potential customers.
Five ways to get started with digital accessibility
So, where to start? Here are some tips along the way:
1. Educate yourself
Start by learning what digital accessibility means and why it is important. There are many online resources, including guidelines and standards that you can use as a starting point.
2. Test your website
Use tools such as Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool (WAVE) or AChecker to test your website and identify areas that need improvement.
3. Focus on key areas
Start with the areas that are most critical for accessibility, such as navigation, forms, and multimedia.
4. Create accessible documents
Use tools like Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat to create documents that are accessible to people with disabilities.
5. Keep improving
Digital accessibility is a process, not a one-time event. Continue to monitor and improve your website and other digital resources over time. By making your digital environments accessible to everyone, you can enhance the experience for all users and make your organisation more inclusive.
What is required to meet accessibility requirements on a website?
Meeting accessibility requirements on a website requires a combination of technical and non-technical measures. Here are some of the key factors:
Standards and guidelines
Follow international standards and guidelines for web accessibility, such as WCAG 2.1 from W3C, to maximise accessibility for people with disabilities.
Usability testing
Test the website with people with different disabilities to identify areas for improvement and ensure it works well for everyone.
Design and layout
Create readable text, clear headings, images with alternative text, and user-friendly forms to promote accessibility.
Technical implementation
Use correct HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, including semantic HTML for better screen reader interpretation and descriptive text for interactive elements.
Training
Educate everyone involved in the development and maintenance of the website about the importance of web accessibility and the measures needed to achieve it.
In summary, achieving web accessibility requires a holistic effort from the entire organisation. This includes following standards and guidelines, usability testing, design and layout, technical implementation, and training.
Get help from Esatto
Does it seem extensive and complicated to make a website accessible on your own? At Esatto, we are happy to assist with an accessibility audit of your website. We will examine the website and check that it meets international standards and guidelines for web accessibility, such as Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
After the review, we will provide a report summarising our observations and offering concrete recommendations on how you can improve your web accessibility. The report includes, for example, recommendations for technical implementation, design and layout, and user experience.
At Esatto, we are committed to helping our clients achieve high levels of web accessibility. For us, it is a given that all digital services are inclusive and more accessible!
