Meet Raiff #6 – Technology for Everyone: How to Design Accessible Digital Solutions

Accessibility is increasingly discussed not only in technological terms but also from social and legal perspectives. Here are the key takeaways from Meet Raiff #6:

Technology should be made for people. A well-designed product isn’t the result of chasing universal, perfect solutions. Instead, it’s about enabling different people to use digital tools in different ways. It’s not the user who should adapt to the product, but the product that should adapt to the user.

Accessibility is not just about code or design. It’s a design approach that assumes the product will be usable by the widest possible group of users. There are many people with disabilities, and their needs vary widely. This means there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Products must be designed flexibly, with adaptable interfaces.

If a product doesn’t introduce revolutionary changes, it’s better to stick with familiar design patterns. Users don’t want to relearn how to navigate a product, and familiar solutions enhance usability. The same applies to accessibility: using established standards is better than forcing users to figure out new interaction methods.

Code is not just a way to display content in a browser. It also conveys information to assistive technologies like screen readers, braille keyboards, or breath control devices. That’s why using correct HTML semantics is crucial. A button that looks like a button must also be marked up as - otherwise, assistive tech users may miss it entirely.

Accessibility isn’t the job of one person. It’s the result of collaboration among designers, developers, testers, content creators, and analysts. If any one of these elements fails—for example, if the content is written in overly complex language or if color contrast is too low—the entire site may become inaccessible.

On June 28, new requirements from the European Accessibility Act will take effect. They extend accessibility obligations to more industries, such as e-commerce and banking, building on existing regulations for public entities.

However, the European Accessibility Act doesn’t specify penalties or enforcement procedures. These are defined in the Polish Act of April 26, which outlines potential consequences (e.g., financial penalties or product withdrawal), responsible authorities, and the specific criteria that must be met. 

Both European and Polish regulations do not start with punishment – their primary goal is education and supporting the market towards accessibility. However, a lack of action can eventually lead to legal consequences. The system includes multiple stages – from informing, through advising and monitoring, to sanctions – making punishment a last resort, preceded by numerous opportunities for improvement.