PIPELINEGlossary · Web and technology
What does accessible website mean?
An accessible website can be used by people with disabilities — operable with keyboard alone, readable by a screen reader, with sufficient contrast, and clear error messages. The standard is typically WCAG 2.1 Level AA.
01 — Context
Web accessibility in detail
In Austria, the Accessibility Act has been in effect since June 28, 2025, implementing the European Accessibility Act. It mainly affects consumer-facing services: online shops, online bookings, e-ticketing, banking services. A purely informational website without sales usually doesn't fall under it.
Four checks quickly reveal where a site stands: Can it be fully operated using the tab key? Is the focus visible? Do all form fields have linked labels? Are the contrasts sufficient? If you pass all four points, you've covered most of it.
02 — Practice
What this means for small businesses
Overlaid accessibility overlays do not solve the underlying problems and are predominantly rejected by disability advocacy organizations. They do not replace compliance and can create additional barriers.
03 — Questions
Frequently asked questions
Does this apply to small businesses too?
For services, there is an exception for micro-enterprises, but not for selling products through an online shop.
What does the conversion cost?
It depends heavily on the starting point. A well-built site often only needs targeted corrections; one with custom-built controls can be more complex than a rebuild.
04 — Continue
Related terms and services
- Landing page
- Conversion
- Core Web Vitals
- Content Management System (CMS)
- AI agent
- Prompt
- Hallucination
- Indexing
- All terms
Related services
Next step
Initial assessment, no obligation.
Briefly describe what you need. You'll get an honest answer about what's realistic and what it will roughly cost.