Implementing WCAG for the office - how to ensure digital accessibility for citizens

Pexels / Andrea Piacquadio

2025-02-06 10:18
3 articles.read_time.few_minutes

Ensuring digital accessibility is becoming one of the key responsibilities of public administrations. Offices, as entities acting in the public interest, must ensure that all their websites and mobile applications are accessible to all citizens - regardless of sensory, motor or cognitive limitations. The implementation of WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standards underpins this policy, enabling a user-friendly digital environment.

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Legal basis for the implementation of WCAG in administration

According to the law of 4 April 2019 on the digital accessibility of public entities' websites and mobile applications, all public administration entities are obliged to adapt their digital content to WCAG standards. These standards, developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), are based on four principles: perceivability, functionality, comprehensibility and robustness. In practice, this means that every website of an authority must enable:

  • Perceptibility: Ensure that content is presented in a form that is accessible to the different senses, e.g. by using alternative text to graphics and appropriate colour contrast.
  • Functionality: Enabling full keyboard navigation and operation by assistive technologies.
  • Comprehensibility: Presenting content in a simple and intuitive way that facilitates the reception of information.
  • Robustness: Using coding standards that guarantee compatibility with assistive tools such as screen readers.

Such solutions not only meet legal requirements, but also contribute to the quality of the service provided by the office to citizens , .

Steps for implementing WCAG in an office

Analysis of the current state

The first step is to conduct an accessibility audit to identify barriers and areas for improvement. The audit may include:

  • Automated assessment tools: Tools such as Google Lighthouse or Axe provide a quick technical analysis.
  • Manual testing: Verification by people using assistive technologies, which allows real user experience to be taken into account.

Development of an implementation strategy

Based on the results of the audit, create a detailed action plan that includes:

  • Identifying priorities (e.g. key navigation elements, contact forms, information sections).
  • Establishing a timeline and budget that allows for a phased implementation of changes.
  • Selecting appropriate tools, such as ICEberg CMS 5, which automates many of the processes involved in implementing accessibility.

Implementation of technical and content solutions

The work of the developers and the editorial team plays a key role in this phase:

  • Modifying the source code: Adapting pages to WCAG requirements, including adding ARIA attributes and correct formatting of content.
  • Content optimisation: Adding alternative texts, transcriptions, subtitles for multimedia and ensuring the readability of content through appropriate colour contrast.

Testing and validation

Once the changes have been implemented, it is necessary to carry out tests to confirm the site's compliance with the WCAG guidelines:

  • Automatic and manual tests.
  • Gathering feedback from users, including people with disabilities, to see if the changes made actually improve accessibility.

Monitoring and continuous improvement

Digital accessibility is an ongoing process. Offices should:

  • Regularly monitor the accessibility status of their websites.
  • Update content and technology to meet new guidelines and changing user needs.
  • Conduct periodic accessibility audits to respond quickly to any non-compliance.

Key challenges and benefits for the authority

Challenges

  • Limited resources: Modernising existing sites can require significant financial resources and time, which can be a challenge in public administration.
  • Changing existing processes: Implementing new standards requires staff training and changes to existing content publishing procedures.
  • Continuous technology updates: The WCAG guidelines are regularly updated, which means that the authority must constantly monitor and adapt its solutions.

Benefits

  • Compliance with the law: Meeting the requirements of the Act minimises the risk of financial penalties and increases the credibility of the office.
  • Improved communication with citizens: Accessible content allows every citizen, including those with disabilities, equal access to information, which improves the image of the office.
  • Increased efficiency of operations: Automation and standardisation of content publication processes leads to increased productivity and resource savings.

The role of tools to support implementation - ICEberg CMS 5

The implementation of WCAG in an office can be greatly facilitated by using modern CMS tools such as ICEberg CMS 5. This system offers:

  • Automatic alternative text generation and contrast optimisation.
  • Responsiveness and support for keyboard navigation.
  • Easy integration with accessibility audit tools and the ability to generate accessible versions of documents.
  • Rapid implementation of ready-to-use accessibility modules to reduce upgrade time.

With these solutions, the office can focus on the strategic aspects of communicating with citizens, confident that the technical aspects of accessibility are automated and in line with current standards.

Summary

Implementing WCAG in an office is a multi-stage process that starts with an audit, through developing a strategy, implementing changes, testing and monitoring. With the use of tools such as ICEberg CMS 5 and the support of experts, the office can effectively meet the statutory requirements, and provide citizens with equal access to information. Such activities result not only in compliance with the law, but, above all, in building a positive image of a public administration that cares about the needs of all its users.

Implementing WCAG standards in an office is an investment in inclusiveness, efficiency and transparency - qualities that are essential in a modern, digital world.

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