Adopted by the European Union (EU), EN 301 549 is a standard on digital accessibility that mandates full accessibility for all Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) used in the public sector. This standard aims to ensure that everyone can access the same information regardless of their disability.

EN 301 549 covers various types of digital content such as software, mobile applications, websites, and other digital technologies. Content owners, producers, and administrators are responsible for ensuring that the ICT they use complies with EN 301 549 standards.

Developed by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), EN 301 549 was created to define the requirements for products and services purchased by public institutions in the EU. The standard has been updated over time to expand accessibility in line with technological advancements.

There are different versions of EN 301 549, for example:

It is important that accessibility standards created by different groups worldwide are compatible with each other, as this makes it easier for software developers and other vendors to offer their products as a single version that can be used in multiple markets. When harmonization is not achieved, each country demanding its own unique design requirements necessitates products to be designed differently to meet various standards.

To fulfill the compliance requirements of EN 301 549, EU member states needed to implement the relevant laws and regulations by September 2018.

The latest update of EN 301 549 has adopted the WCAG 2.1 AA (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) criteria to support the writing and structuring of websites in an accessible way that can interact seamlessly with users who rely on assistive technologies.

Accessiblee is a brand specialized in digital accessibility. Accessiblee offers various solutions to ensure compliance with EN 301 549 and other relevant standards. The Accessiblee Accessibility Tool is the easiest way to make websites compliant with EN 301 549 standards. The Accessibility Tool facilitates access to the content on your website for individuals with disabilities while also ensuring that future added content remains compliant.

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are international standards developed and continuously updated by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). WCAG publishes standards that are generally accepted as official specifications for HTML, CSS, and other web technologies. The purpose of WCAG is to guide the accessibility of web content for individuals with disabilities.

WCAG provides detailed instructions to website owners, designers, and developers on creating accessible websites, digital content, and markup that work in harmony with assistive technologies.

WCAG has been developed over time through a series of revisions and is currently at version 2.1. The guidelines are divided into three levels of conformance, indicated by an increasing number of "A"s: A, AA, and AAA. These levels can be thought of as grades indicating the extent to which standards are met.

Information and user interface components must be presented to users in ways they can perceive. This means that content must appeal to at least one or more of the senses. Requirements of this principle include ensuring that texts are compatible with screen readers or other assistive technologies, providing alternative text for non-text content, and allowing content to be presented in different ways.

User interface components and navigation must be functional. It is important that users can use and interact with the interface. Requirements of this principle include making all functions accessible from the keyboard, providing users sufficient time to read and use content, and avoiding content that causes seizures or physical reactions.

Information and the operation of user interfaces must be understandable. Clarity must be provided on how users will use the interface and understand the information. Requirements of this principle include making texts readable and comprehensible, ensuring content appears and operates in predictable ways, and helping users avoid and correct mistakes.

Content must be robust enough to be reliably interpreted by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies. As technologies evolve, it is important that users can access content and that it remains accessible. Using standards-based presentation methods helps meet the requirements of this principle.

The Accessiblee Accessibility Tool is an easy and effective way to make websites compliant not only with EN 301 549 but with all relevant standards. By helping websites meet accessibility requirements, Accessiblee improves the user experience and ensures that everyone has equal access to the internet. This step towards making the digital world accessible for everyone contributes to the advancement of society towards an inclusive and equitable structure. Please contact us to learn more about the Accessibility Tool by getting in touch with Accessiblee.