Imagine walking into a store only to find the entrance blocked by a heavy door with no handle. Or trying to read a menu, only to discover it's written in tiny, faded print. Frustrating, right? Now apply that same logic to the web.

Digital accessibility is exactly that: ensuring that everyone—and we mean everyone—can navigate a website without barriers. And by everyone, we also mean people with visual, hearing, motor, or cognitive impairments.

Here comes the million-dollar question: is your website accessible? If your answer is “uh, I don’t know” or “never thought about it,” you might be in trouble—not just ethically, but legally too.

What is Website Accessibility?

Web accessibility refers to the practice of designing and developing websites that can be used by people with various disabilities. This includes users with visual, auditory, motor, cognitive, and neurological impairments.

An accessible website ensures that everyone can perceive, understand, navigate and interact with it effectively.

Why Accessibility Matters

Making a website accessible isn’t just about inclusivity—it brings several concrete advantages:

  1. Reach a wider audience: around 15% of the global population lives with some form of disability. Ignoring accessibility means excluding a significant group of potential users.
  2. Improve overall usability: accessibility practices often enhance the user experience for everyone, making the site more intuitive and easier to navigate.
  3. Ensure legal compliance: in many countries, laws require websites—especially those of public institutions or companies offering services to the public—to be accessible. For example, in Italy, Law 4/2004 (known as the "Stanca Law") sets out measures to improve access to digital tools for people with disabilities.

What the Law Says About Web Accessibility

It’s not just about good digital etiquette—there are clear legal frameworks too:

  • Globally, the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) define the standards for web accessibility.

Never heard of them? Here’s a guide worth checking out: How to Make Your Website Accessible According to WCAG..

  • In Italy, Law 4/2004 (Stanca Law) requires public administrations and companies offering digital public services to follow WCAG
  • The EU Directive 2016/2102 sets accessibility rules for websites and mobile apps of public sector bodies across the EU.
  • In Europe, the European Accessibility Act (Directive 2019/882) imposes clear standards for public websites and, from 2025, also for private companies offering essential services (like banking, e-commerce, telecom providers, etc.).
  • The Decree-Law No. 76/2020, known as "Simplification Decree”, introduced important innovations regarding digital accessibility in Italy. In particular, it also extended the obligations under the “Stanca Law” to certain private companies.
  • The Accessibility Guidelines by AgID (Agency for Digital Italy) provide detailed instructions to ensure websites and apps from public and private entities are accessible. These are based on WCAG 2.2, aiming for at least Level AA compliance, with AAA as the ideal goal.

If you thought this only applies to big corporations, think again. Your site might also be affected (and even if it’s not mandatory—accessible is always better).

Should I Be Worried?

If you run a private company and have a website or an app, it might be time to start taking accessibility seriously. Not every business is legally required to make its digital content accessible, but there are specific cases where accessibility stops being a choice and becomes a legal obligation.

What does the law say?

In Italy, there are two key laws that define when a private company must make its digital content accessible:

  1. The Stanca Law, which only applies to very large companies—those with an average annual turnover exceeding €500 million.
  2. Then there’s Legislative Decree 82/2022, a much more recent and impactful regulation that significantly lowers the threshold. Under this law, accessibility becomes mandatory if your company has an annual turnover of more than €2 million, or if it receives public funding equal to or greater than €1 million.

In both cases, your website or app must meet specific technical standards—namely, the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)—designed to ensure people with disabilities can use your digital services without barriers.

Who does this really apply to?

You don’t have to be a multinational to fall under these rules. A fast-growing SME or startup might also be affected—especially if you receive government grants, subsidies, or your business is scaling up. That’s why it’s important to take a close look at your company’s financials and its connections to public institutions. Understanding whether you're affected helps you avoid unpleasant surprises and gives you time to act.

What happens if I ignore it?

Ignoring accessibility rules can lead to serious consequences. There are penalties, which may include fines or other actions enforced by AgID.

But it’s not just about the money. Failing to comply could mean losing access to public funding and tenders, and your company’s reputation could take a hit. Reports of inaccessible websites are public and easy to find—so your brand image could suffer.

Long story short: accessibility regulations primarily apply to public entities and providers of essential services, but they are becoming increasingly relevant for private companies as well.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

In Italy, failing to comply with web and mobile app accessibility laws can lead to significant consequences:

For Public Institutions (PA):

  • Nullified Contracts: PAs cannot sign contracts for websites or apps that don’t meet accessibility standards. Doing so renders the contract void.
  • Managerial and Disciplinary Responsibility: Managers responsible for non-compliance may face disciplinary actions, from reprimands to removal from their role.

For Private Companies:

Under the European Accessibility Act (Italy’s Legislative Decree 82/2022), private companies offering services to the public via websites or apps must meet accessibility requirements. Penalties for noncompliance may vary depending on the severity of the violation and the size of the company:

  • Fines: if your company violates Legislative Decree 82/2022 you could face fines ranging from €5,000 up to €40,000. Breaching the Stanca Law, on the other hand, could cost you as much as 5% of your annual revenue. ​
  • Market Surveillance: authorities can ban or remove non-compliant products or services from the market.

Keep in mind: the coexistence of the Stanca Law and Legislative Decree 82/2022 means that companies may be required to comply with obligations stemming from both sources, potentially facing different monitoring and sanctioning mechanisms.

To avoid penalties, both public bodies and private companies must comply with accessibility guidelines and ensure their digital services are usable by everyone—including users with disabilities.

Companies that do not comply with the accessibility requirements of the regulations by June 28, 2025, risk these penalties.

Website Owners and Developers: Who’s Responsible?

Accessibility is often thought to be the sole responsibility of web developers. However, site owners also play a crucial role. It is critical that both work together to ensure that the site is designed and maintained with accessibility in mind.

  • Site Owners: must ensure that accessibility is a priority from the earliest stages of design and development. This involves allocating adequate resources and setting clear goals in terms of accessibility.
  • Developers and Designers: should be trained on best practices and WCAG standards to deliver an inclusive user experience.

What Are the Responsibilities of Developers and Web Agencies?

Web agencies and site owners must ensure their platforms meet current accessibility regulations. Here’s what they need to do:

1. Follow WCAG Guidelines

The go-to reference for web accessibility is the W3C's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. These are based on four principles:

  • Perceivable: content must be available to all users, including those using assistive technologies.
  • Operable: navigation must be possible without obstacles, even using a keyboard or screen reader.
  • Understandable: content must be clear and easy to follow.
  • Robust: the website must work across browsers and assistive tools.

Web agencies that design Web sites for their clients must design the sites following these guidelines to avoid accessibility problems.

2. Accessibility Statement and Feedback

Since 2022, public administration sites and those subject to the EU Accessibility Act must publish an accessibility statement that includes:

  • An assessment of the site's WCAG compliance.
  • A feedback tool to report accessibility issues.
  • Contact info for the accessibility manager.

This is mandatory for public entities and highly recommended for private companies.

3. Training for Developers and Designers

Agencies must train their teams on accessibility best practices.

A well-trained team delivers more inclusive, legally compliant results for clients.

Why Make Your Website Accessible?

Beyond avoiding fines and legal headaches, here are three solid reasons to invest in accessibility:

  1. More users = more customers: An accessible site reaches more people. Millions of users with disabilities are excluded from many websites today. In Italy alone, that’s at least 3 million people. Globally? Over 1 billion.
  2. Better SEO: Google loves accessible websites. Clean code, clear content, descriptive alt text, and solid structure all boost your search engine ranking. More visibility = more traffic = more conversions.
  3. Stronger Brand Reputation: Accessibility shows inclusivity and social responsibility. Companies that invest in it are seen as modern, ethical, and trustworthy—by both customers and the media.

Need a step-by-step guide on how to make your website accessible? Here’s an insight that will turn your day around: WCAG Guide: How to Make Your Website Accessible.

Conclusion

Accessibility isn’t just an ethical or legal matter—it’s a smart move for boosting your online presence, expanding your audience, and establishing yourself as a modern, inclusive brand.

Now that you know why it matters… the real question is: when will you start?