PIPELINEGuide
Accessible website: where to start without losing focus
The most common mistake when starting is not the wrong technology, but the wrong first step. A sequence that has proven itself in small businesses.
Getting started with an accessible website doesn't begin with technology, but with a week of note-taking: what repeats, what costs the most time. Then a single, clearly defined process with a measurable goal — only with clear scope do quotes become comparable at all.
01 — Getting started
Where to begin
Name the bottleneck
Not the most interesting thing, but what takes the most time. A week of tracking what repeats delivers a more realistic list than any workshop.
Define a small scope
One process, one measurable goal. What works gets expanded — what doesn't costs little.
Survey the starting situation
Which content, data and access are available. For an accessible website, this is the factor that most strongly influences effort and timeline.
Decide who is responsible
For the implementation and for operations afterward. Without this definition, every system becomes outdated.
Only then request proposals
With a clear scope, proposals become comparable. Without it, you get numbers that have nothing to do with each other.
02 — Fit
When it's worth it
- The process in question occurs at least weekly.
- It follows rules you can write down — even if there are exceptions.
- Today it's manual work that no one enjoys doing.
- There's one person who decides, not three who need to coordinate.
- You can name what would tell you it worked.
03 — Checklist
Clarify before the first quote
- What should improve? In one sentence, no jargon.
- How will you know? One number that should change.
- Who decides? One person, not a committee.
- What budget is available? A range is enough — it makes quotes comparable instead of arbitrary.
- By when? And what the deadline depends on.
- Which systems are involved? And who has access to them.
- What do you already have? Content, data, preliminary work — this reduces the cost.
04 — Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common error?
Forms without linked labels and controls that cannot be reached with the keyboard. Both go unnoticed by anyone working with a mouse — and make the site unusable for others.
Is an accessibility overlay sufficient?
No. These overlays do not fix the underlying problems and are largely rejected by disability advocacy groups. They can even create additional barriers. Accessibility is created in the markup, not in a layer on top.
What happens in case of violations?
The Sozialministeriumservice is responsible. Administrative penalties of up to 80,000 euros are provided for. In the initial phase, the focus was mainly on advice rather than penalties, but that's no guarantee for the future — proceedings are already underway.
How much work is involved for an existing site?
It varies widely. A well-built site often only needs contrast corrections, alternative texts, and focus indicators. A site with custom-built controls without keyboard support can be more work than building from scratch.
Are we affected by the Barrierefreiheitsgesetz?
The Austrian Accessibility Act has been in force since June 28, 2025, and primarily applies to online services in the consumer sector: online shops, bookings, e-ticketing, banking services. Microenterprises with fewer than ten employees and less than two million euros in revenue are exempt for services — but not for the sale of products. A purely informational site without sales is generally not covered.
Does this also apply to PDF documents on the website?
Yes, if they contain essential information — such as price lists or downloadable forms. PDFs must also be structured with alternative texts.
How long does a complete audit take?
For a medium-sized website, one to two weeks, depending on the number of different page types and interactive elements such as forms or filters.
05 — Next
Related pages
- Accessible Website — Overview
- Accessible Website — Duration
- Accessible Website — Value
- Accessible Website — Process
- Accessible Website — Checklist
- Accessible Website — Common Errors
- Accessible Website — Funding
- Accessible Website — Provider Comparison
- Have a website created
- Web design
- Website relaunch
- All guides
Accessible Website by Region
Next step
Let's talk briefly about whether this makes sense for you.
A twenty-minute conversation is usually enough to clarify whether a project makes sense. If not, we'll say so — that's cheaper for both sides than an offer nobody needs.