"Accessibility is for government sites, not for me." That was true a few years ago. It isn't anymore. Since 2025, the scope has widened to many private businesses, and the subject deserves a closer look, well beyond the simple obligation.
What are we talking about?
An accessible site is one that everyone can use, including people with disabilities: those with low vision, blind people (who use a screen reader), people with reduced mobility (who navigate with a keyboard), people with colour blindness, or simply those in a difficult context (in bright sunlight, on an old phone).
Two frameworks govern this: WCAG (the international reference) and the RGAA (the French version, stricter on some points).
Who's affected since 2025?
The European Accessibility Act, in force since 28 June 2025, extends the accessibility obligation to many private players, notably in e-commerce, banking, transport, and more broadly the services offered online to consumers.
In plain terms: if you sell or offer a service online to individuals, you're very likely affected. Micro-businesses benefit from certain exemptions, but the spirit of the law is clear: accessibility is becoming the norm, not the option.
The hidden benefit: simply a better site
Accessibility rules almost always overlap with general good practice:
- More visitors: roughly one person in five needs accommodations. Without accessibility, you lose them.
- Better ranking: clear headings, described images, clean structure... what accessibility requires is also what Google loves.
- More comfort for everyone: good contrast, large enough buttons, logical navigation benefit every visitor, disability or not.
Where to start, concretely
No need to audit everything by hand to begin. A few points already cover the essentials:
- Sufficient contrast between text and background (testable in two clicks with our contrast tester).
- Keyboard navigation, without a mouse.
- Described images (alt attribute) for screen readers.
- A logical heading structure and a declared language attribute.
Our free audit already spots a good share of these points. For full compliance, support from an expert remains the safest route.
In short
Accessibility is no longer reserved for the public sector. It's now an obligation for many, and above all an opportunity: reach more people, rank better, and offer a better experience to everyone. Best to see it as an investment rather than a constraint.