A recent report reveals that fewer than 6% of Belgian websites are accessible to people with disabilities, underscoring widespread unpreparedness among European countries to meet the criteria of the upcoming 2025 Accessibility Act.
The findings are part of The Digital Trust Index report, which highlights significant deficiencies in digital accessibility across Europe.
The study, conducted by Belgian digital advisory firm Craftzing, analyzed over 260,000 European websites, including 7,408 Belgian sites.
The evaluation was based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), a set of internationally recognized standards designed to make web content more accessible.
The results were disheartening: 94% of the websites tested across 18 evaluated countries failed at least one accessibility test. More alarmingly, one in four websites failed more than three tests. Belgium, with a compliance rate of less than 6%, ranked seventh among the countries evaluated.
Common accessibility issues identified in the study included insufficient color contrast and the lack of descriptive text for buttons, links, and images. These problems can significantly hinder the user experience for people with disabilities, particularly those with visual impairments.
Despite the high frequency of these issues, most are relatively straightforward to fix for those with the requisite knowledge of accessibility standards.
Craftzing attributes this widespread non-compliance to a general tendency to treat accessibility as an afterthought. “You shouldn’t just consider accessibility; you should start with it,” emphasized the digital advisory company.
They advocate for starting all digital projects with accessibility in mind, rather than attempting to retrofit solutions later. Furthermore, Crafting asserts that companies failing to make their digital services accessible should face financial penalties.
The urgency of addressing these deficiencies is underscored by the approaching deadline of June 2025, when companies will be legally required to provide equal access to essential digital products under the European Accessibility Act.
Adopted by the EU in 2019, the directive aims to enhance access to products and services, which will benefit businesses, elderly people, and those with disabilities.
The report’s findings highlight a significant gap between current practices and the impending legal requirements. With over 100 million people over the age of 16 in the EU living with some form of disability, according to 2022 figures from Eurostat, the need for accessible digital services is critical.
In Belgium alone, around 25.6% of the population has a disability, underscoring the necessity of addressing these issues urgently.
Craftzing’s report is a call to action for companies across Europe to prioritize digital accessibility. The potential benefits are substantial: making websites and digital services accessible can improve the user experience for a significant portion of the population, fostering inclusivity and enhancing brand reputation.
Moreover, accessible design often leads to better overall usability, which can benefit all users. In conclusion, while the findings of The Digital Trust Index report paint a bleak picture of current digital accessibility standards, they also offer a clear path forward.
By prioritizing accessibility from the outset, companies can not only comply with forthcoming regulations but also create a more inclusive digital environment for all users.
As the 2025 deadline approaches, the hope is that more companies will recognize the importance of this issue and take the necessary steps to address it.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
