More than half a million Irish websites failing on accessibility
A report from Inclusion & Accessibility Labs (IA Labs), commissioned by the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI), has found that 73% of Ireland’s Top 100 companies have inaccessible websites, meaning they cannot be used by 600,000 people in Ireland who live with a disability.
The Digital Accessibility Index highlights the concerning fact that 95% of education institutions and 17 of Ireland’s top 20 hospitals have inaccessible websites, yet there’s a positive trend with three out of eight audited political parties showing improved website accessibility since 2021.
Under EU Web Accessibility Directive 2020, public sector websites are mandated to meet the requirements of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 AA standard, and ensure that they can be accessed by all users. This legislative mandate has been extended, under the European Accessibility Act, to businesses in the private sector so all websites, digital assets and applications of private sector bodies must be fully digitally accessible by June 2025.
Kyran O’Mahoney, chief executive officer, IA Labs, said: “The findings of the Digital Accessibility Index 2023 demonstrate that, while tangible progress has been made, we still have a way to go towards becoming a fully inclusive society, where digital spaces are accessible to all. With the forthcoming European Accessibility Act, the clock is ticking for many businesses across Ireland, who must now work to ensure that their websites and mobile applications can be accessed by all users.
“Technology is the single greatest enabler for any person living with a disability; and for businesses, having a fully accessible website ensures that you can reach every single customer. Digital accessibility is a win-win.”
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