European Union’s Web Accessibility Directive (WAD) is defining 23th of September 2020 to be the deadline for “old” public sector webpages to be accessible!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Public sector websites published before 23 September 2018 must be compliant by 23 September 2020.<\/p>Web Accessibility Directive of European Union<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
WAD is not a new directive and has been enforced since 22th of December 2016, but it tried to be practical regarding existing websites in the public sector (inside EU) so they included a “grace” period that ends on 23. September 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What does this really mean, technically speaking?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It means that all public sector webpages must conform to the current harmonized standard EN 301 549 V2.1.2 (2018-08) PDF (opens in new window)<\/a>, which is in fact in line with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 (opens in new window)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So it is a giant step towards more inclusive public sector in the whole European Union that will surely benefit millions of users and contribute to better public services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It will also have a positive impacts on the private sector webpage accessibility – I am confident – as market will see all the benefits of accessible and inclusive online products and services and demand no less from privately own services and products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n