{"id":6044,"date":"2025-04-22T12:53:30","date_gmt":"2025-04-22T12:53:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/avacysolution.com\/?p=6044"},"modified":"2025-11-06T12:42:16","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T12:42:16","slug":"accessibilita-dei-siti-web-cose-perche-e-importante-e-cosa-dice-la-legge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/avacysolution.com\/en\/blog\/news\/accessibilita-dei-siti-web-cose-perche-e-importante-e-cosa-dice-la-legge\/","title":{"rendered":"Website Accessibility: what it is, why il matters, and what the law says"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Digital accessibility is exactly<\/strong> <strong>that<\/strong>: ensuring that everyone\u2014and we mean everyone\u2014can navigate a website without barriers. And by everyone, we also mean people with visual, hearing, motor, or cognitive impairments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here comes the million-dollar question: <strong>is your website accessible<\/strong>? If your answer is \u201cuh, I don\u2019t know\u201d or \u201cnever thought about it,\u201d you might be in trouble\u2014not just ethically, but legally too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is Website Accessibility?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\">Web accessibility refers to the practice of <strong>designing and developing websites<\/strong> that can be used by <strong>people with various disabilities<\/strong>. This includes users with <strong>visual, auditory, motor, cognitive, and neurological<\/strong> impairments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An accessible website ensures that <strong>everyone <\/strong>can <strong>perceive<\/strong>, <strong>understand<\/strong>, <strong>navigate <\/strong>and <strong>interact <\/strong>with it effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Accessibility Matters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Making a website accessible isn\u2019t just about <strong>inclusivity<\/strong>\u2014it brings several concrete advantages:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Reach a wider audience<\/strong>: around <strong>15% of the global population<\/strong> lives with some form of disability. Ignoring accessibility means excluding a significant group of potential users.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Improve overall usability<\/strong>: accessibility practices often enhance the <strong>user experience<\/strong> for everyone, making the <strong>site more intuitive and easier to navigate<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ensure legal compliance<\/strong>: in many countries, laws require websites\u2014especially those of <strong>public institutions<\/strong> or companies offering <strong>services to the public<\/strong>\u2014to 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.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What the Law Says About Web Accessibility<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s not just about <strong>good digital etiquette<\/strong>\u2014there are clear <strong>legal frameworks <\/strong>too:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Globally<\/strong>, the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/avacysolution.com\/en\/blog\/guide\/guide-wcag-how-to-make-website-accessible\/\">WCAG<\/a> <\/strong>(<strong>Web Content Accessibility Guidelines<\/strong>) define the <strong>standards for web accessibility<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Never heard of them? Here\u2019s a guide worth checking out: <a href=\"https:\/\/avacysolution.com\/en\/blog\/guide\/guide-wcag-how-to-make-website-accessible\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/avacysolution.com\/blog\/guide\/guida-wcag-come-rendere-sito-web-accessibile\/\"><a href=\"https:\/\/avacysolution.com\/en\/blog\/guide\/guide-wcag-how-to-make-website-accessible\/\">How to Make Your Website Accessible According to WCAG<\/a>.<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>In Italy<\/strong>, Law 4\/2004 (<strong>Stanca Law<\/strong>)  requires public administrations and companies offering digital public services to follow WCAG<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>The EU Directive 2016\/2102<\/strong> sets accessibility rules for websites and mobile apps of <strong>public sector bodies<\/strong> across the <strong>EU<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>In Europe<\/strong>, the <strong>European Accessibility Act<\/strong> (<a href=\"https:\/\/commission.europa.eu\/strategy-and-policy\/policies\/justice-and-fundamental-rights\/disability\/union-equality-strategy-rights-persons-disabilities-2021-2030\/european-accessibility-act_en\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/commission.europa.eu\/strategy-and-policy\/policies\/justice-and-fundamental-rights\/disability\/union-equality-strategy-rights-persons-disabilities-2021-2030\/european-accessibility-act_en\"><a href=\"https:\/\/commission.europa.eu\/strategy-and-policy\/policies\/justice-and-fundamental-rights\/disability\/union-equality-strategy-rights-persons-disabilities-2021-2030\/european-accessibility-act_en\">Directive 2019\/882<\/a><\/a>) imposes clear standards for <strong>public websites<\/strong> and, from 2025, also for <strong>private companies <\/strong>offering essential services (like banking, <strong>e-commerce<\/strong>, telecom providers, etc.).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>Decree-Law No. 76\/2020<\/strong>, known as \"<strong>Simplification Decree<\/strong>\u201d, introduced important innovations regarding digital accessibility in Italy. In particular, it also extended the obligations under the \u201cStanca Law\u201d to certain <strong>private companies<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\">The <strong>Accessibility Guidelines by AgID<\/strong> (<strong>Agency for Digital Italy<\/strong>) provide detailed instructions to ensure websites and apps from public and private entities are accessible. These are based on <strong>WCAG 2.2<\/strong>, aiming for at least <strong>Level AA<\/strong> compliance, with <strong>AAA<\/strong> as the ideal goal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you thought this only applies to big corporations, think again. Your site might also be affected (and even if it\u2019s not mandatory\u2014accessible is always better).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Should I Be Worried?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\">If you run a <strong>private company<\/strong> and have a <strong>website<\/strong> or an <strong>app<\/strong>, 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 <strong>accessibility<\/strong> stops being a choice and <strong>becomes a legal obligation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What does the law say?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\">In Italy, there are <strong>two key laws<\/strong> that define when a private company must make its digital content accessible:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\">The <strong>Stanca Law<\/strong>, which only applies to <strong>very large companies<\/strong>\u2014those with an average annual turnover exceeding \u20ac500 million.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\">Then there\u2019s <strong>Legislative Decree 82\/2022<\/strong>, a much more recent and impactful regulation that significantly <strong>lowers the threshold<\/strong>. Under this law, accessibility becomes mandatory if your company has an <strong>annual turnover of more than \u20ac2 million<\/strong>, or if it receives <strong>public funding<\/strong> equal to or greater than \u20ac1 million.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\">In both cases, your website or app must <strong>meet<\/strong> specific technical standards\u2014namely, the <strong>WCAG<\/strong> (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)\u2014designed to ensure people with disabilities can use your digital services without barriers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who does this really apply to?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\">You don\u2019t have to be a multinational to fall under these rules. A fast-growing <strong>SME<\/strong> or <strong>startup<\/strong> might also be <strong>affected<\/strong>\u2014especially if you receive <strong>government grants<\/strong>, <strong>subsidies<\/strong>, or your business is scaling up. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to take a close look at your company\u2019s financials and its connections to public institutions. Understanding whether you're affected helps you avoid unpleasant surprises and gives you time to act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What happens if I ignore it?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\">Ignoring accessibility rules can lead to serious consequences. There are <strong>penalties<\/strong>, which may include <strong>fines<\/strong> or other <strong>actions<\/strong> enforced by AgID.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\">But it\u2019s not just about the money. Failing to comply could mean <strong>losing access to public funding and tenders<\/strong>, and your company\u2019s <strong>reputation could take a hit<\/strong>. Reports of inaccessible websites are public and easy to find\u2014so your brand image could suffer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\">Long story short: accessibility regulations primarily apply to public entities and providers of essential services, but they are becoming <strong>increasingly relevant<\/strong> for <strong>private companies<\/strong> as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Penalties for Non-Compliance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In Italy, failing to comply with web and mobile app accessibility laws can lead to significant consequences:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>For Public Institutions (PA)<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Nullified Contracts<\/strong>: PAs cannot sign contracts for websites or apps that don\u2019t meet accessibility standards. Doing so renders the contract void.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Managerial and Disciplinary Responsibility<\/strong>: Managers responsible for non-compliance may face <strong>disciplinary actions<\/strong>, from reprimands to <strong>removal from their role<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>For Private Companies<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\">Under the <strong>European Accessibility Act<\/strong> (Italy\u2019s Legislative Decree 82\/2022), private companies offering <strong>services to the public<\/strong> via websites or apps must meet accessibility requirements. Penalties for noncompliance <strong>may vary depending on the severity of the violation<\/strong> and the size of the company:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Fines<\/strong>: if your company violates <strong>Legislative Decree 82\/2022<\/strong> you could face fines ranging from <strong>\u20ac5,000 up to \u20ac40,000.<\/strong> Breaching the <strong>Stanca Law<\/strong>, on the other hand, could cost you as much as <strong>5% of your annual revenue<\/strong>. \u200b<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Market Surveillance<\/strong>: authorities can ban or <strong>remove non-compliant products or services from the market<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\">Keep in mind: the <strong>coexistence<\/strong> of the <strong>Stanca Law<\/strong> and <strong>Legislative Decree 82\/2022<\/strong> means that companies may be required to comply with obligations stemming from both sources, potentially facing <strong>different monitoring and sanctioning mechanisms<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\">To avoid penalties, both <strong>public bodies<\/strong> and <strong>private companies<\/strong> must comply with <strong>accessibility guidelines<\/strong> and ensure their digital services are usable by everyone\u2014including users with disabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\">Companies that <strong>do not comply with the accessibility requirements<\/strong> of the regulations <strong>by June 28, 2025<\/strong>, risk these <strong>penalties<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Website Owners and Developers: Who\u2019s Responsible?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Accessibility<\/strong> is often thought to be the <strong>sole responsibility of web developers<\/strong>. However, <strong>site owners<\/strong> also play a <strong>crucial role<\/strong>. It is critical that both work together to ensure that the site is designed and maintained with accessibility in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Site Owners<\/strong>: must ensure that accessibility is a <strong>priority from the earliest stages of design<\/strong> and development. This involves allocating adequate resources and setting clear goals in terms of accessibility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Developers and Designers<\/strong>: should be <strong>trained on best practices<\/strong> and WCAG standards to deliver an <strong>inclusive user experience<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Are the Responsibilities of Developers and Web Agencies?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Web agencies<\/strong> and <strong>site owners<\/strong> must ensure their <strong>platforms<\/strong> meet current accessibility regulations. Here\u2019s what they need to do:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Follow WCAG Guidelines<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The go-to reference for web accessibility is the <a href=\"https:\/\/avacysolution.com\/en\/blog\/guide\/guide-wcag-how-to-make-website-accessible\/\"><a href=\"https:\/\/avacysolution.com\/en\/blog\/guide\/guide-wcag-how-to-make-website-accessible\/\">W3C's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines<\/a><\/a>. These are based on four principles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Perceivable<\/strong>: content must be available to all users, including those using assistive technologies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Operable<\/strong>: navigation must be possible without obstacles, even using a keyboard or screen reader.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Understandable<\/strong>: content must be clear and easy to follow.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Robust<\/strong>: the website must work across browsers and assistive tools.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\">Web agencies that design Web sites for their clients must design the sites following these guidelines to <strong>avoid accessibility problems<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Accessibility Statement and Feedback<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Since 2022<\/strong>, <strong>public administration<\/strong> sites and those <strong>subject to the EU Accessibility Act<\/strong> must publish an accessibility statement that includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\">An <strong>assessment of the site's WCAG compliance<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\">A <strong>feedback tool<\/strong> to report accessibility issues.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Contact info for the accessibility manager<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is mandatory for public entities and highly recommended for private companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Training for Developers and Designers<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\">Agencies <strong>must train their teams<\/strong> on accessibility best practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\">A <strong>well-trained team<\/strong> delivers more inclusive, legally compliant results for clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Make Your Website Accessible?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\">Beyond <strong>avoiding fines and legal headaches<\/strong>, here are three solid reasons to invest in accessibility:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>More users = more customers<\/strong>: An accessible site reaches more people. Millions of users with disabilities are excluded from many websites today. In Italy alone, that\u2019s at least <strong>3 million people<\/strong>. Globally? <strong>Over 1 billion<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Better SEO<\/strong>: <strong>Google loves accessible websites<\/strong>. Clean code, clear content, descriptive alt text, and solid structure all boost your search engine ranking. More <strong>visibility<\/strong> = more <strong>traffic<\/strong> = more <strong>conversions<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Stronger Brand Reputation<\/strong>: Accessibility shows <strong>inclusivity<\/strong> and <strong>social responsibility<\/strong>. Companies that invest in it are seen as modern, ethical, and trustworthy\u2014by both customers and the media.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Need a step-by-step guide on <strong>how to make your website accessible<\/strong>? Here\u2019s an insight that will turn your day around: <a href=\"https:\/\/avacysolution.com\/en\/blog\/guide\/guide-wcag-how-to-make-website-accessible\/\"><a href=\"https:\/\/avacysolution.com\/en\/blog\/guide\/guide-wcag-how-to-make-website-accessible\/\">WCAG Guide: How to Make Your Website Accessible<\/a><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\">Accessibility isn\u2019t just an <strong>ethical or legal matter<\/strong>\u2014it\u2019s a <strong>smart move<\/strong> for <strong>boosting your online presence<\/strong>, <strong>expanding your audience<\/strong>, and establishing yourself as a <strong>modern<\/strong>, <strong>inclusive brand<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\">Now that you know why it matters\u2026 the real question is: <strong>when will you start?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Immagina di entrare in un negozio e trovare l\u2019ingresso sbarrato da una porta pesantissima, senza maniglia. O di voler leggere un men\u00f9, ma scoprire che \u00e8 scritto con caratteri minuscoli e sbiaditi. Frustrante, vero? Bene, ora applica lo stesso ragionamento al web. L\u2019accessibilit\u00e0 digitale \u00e8 esattamente questo: garantire che tutti, ma proprio tutti, possano navigare&#8230;<\/p>","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":6058,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6044","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/avacysolution.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6044","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/avacysolution.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/avacysolution.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/avacysolution.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/avacysolution.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6044"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/avacysolution.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6044\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6569,"href":"https:\/\/avacysolution.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6044\/revisions\/6569"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/avacysolution.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6058"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/avacysolution.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6044"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/avacysolution.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6044"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/avacysolution.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6044"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}