Governments worldwide are increasingly taking digital accessibility legislation seriously and recognizing it as a human and fundamental right. Public-facing businesses worldwide are being required to ensure that their processes and platforms are accessible to people with disabilities. Some countries are even making it a part of their procurement requirements.
Are you a business owner looking to expand or facing accessibility lawsuits? Businesses can’t feign ignorance and shy away from this responsibility anymore. Knowing the key accessibility laws is the first step to compliance. Our blog lists major accessibility regulations across countries to help you get started.
Accessibility Legislation in the USA
In the US, the Americans with Disabilities Act or ADA and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are the primary laws for ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities. Brought into law in 1990, the ADA focused on prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities in various aspects of life. The law guaranteed equal opportunities in areas like transport, employment, telecommunication, etc.
The law is enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission of the US and the Department of Justice. Individuals who feel discriminated against because of disabilities can file a complaint as per the ADA. Introduced in 1973, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act required all federal agencies to make digital content accessible to people with disabilities. Standards for compliance with Section 508 were developed by the US Access Board. As of today, agencies are required to comply with version 2.1 of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.
Accessibility Legislation in India
In India, the Rights of Persons With Disabilities or RPWD Act lays down the standards for protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. Introduced in 2016, the act is an update of the Persons with Disabilities or PWD Act of 1995. The RPWD Act expands the definition of disability and mentions a total of 21 disabilities. The act aims to keep the key areas of life accessible to everyone, including persons with disabilities.
A total of 7 sections in the act talk about accessibility. Section 40 mandates the Central Government to set standards for accessibility in consultation with the Chief Commissioner. Updated in 2023, the act introduced Indian Standard or IS 17802, laying down the standards for accessibility requirements for Information and Communication Technology or ICT-based products and services in India. This update aligns with the WCAG, which is a globally accepted accessibility standard.
Accessibility Legislation in the European Union
The European Union, or EU, introduced the European Accessibility Act in 2019. The EAA acts as a uniform accessibility standard for all 27 states under the EU. The focus of this act is on making digital services accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. The act talks about accessibility in physical spaces as well, and not just the digital world. It uses standard EN 301 549 to define accessibility for all digital services and EN 17161 to make sure that the design of web-based services is inclusive.
Although the act does not mention WCAG directly, the act uses technical standards as per the WCAG and applies them across the EU. All concerned organizations must comply with the EAA by June 2025. EU member states must implement the standards and determine effective penalties to ensure compliance.
If you want to learn more about the European Accessibility Act, you can read our blog that breaks down all the necessary elements of the act and lays down easy-to-follow ways for compliance. Link to the blog: The European Accessibility Act Explainer
Accessibility Legislation in the United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, or the UK, the Equality Act was introduced in 2010 and combined and strengthened various anti-discrimination laws into one place. One of these laws also prohibited discrimination against persons with disabilities and required service providers to make sure digital content is accessible to everyone.
This was followed by the introduction of the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations in 2018 for mobile applications and websites. This act picked up compliance standards from the WCAG 2.2 and required all Public Sector bodies to comply with the same. While no longer a member of the European Union, accessibility standards in the UK are influenced by those of the European Accessibility Act or EAA.
Accessibility Legislation in China
In China, the law on Protection of Persons With Disabilities was introduced in 1990, prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities in various sectors, including major areas like education and employment. They have a national standard called GB/T 37668-2019. Based on WCAG 2.0, the GB/T 37668-2019 provides requirements and methods for making web content accessible for everyone. The China Disabled Persons’ Forum, or CDPF, promotes designs and standards aiming at accessibility.
Although the law does not explicitly require organizations to follow digital accessibility standards, the CDPF actively promotes accessibility and allows individuals to file complaints regarding noncompliance. In 2021, China introduced the Regulation on Barrier-Free Construction. Focusing on physical accessibility, it requires barrier-free construction of buildings, transport, and other public spaces.
Accessibility Legislation in Germany
In Germany, the Disability Equality Act, introduced in 2002, acts as the foundation of accessibility in the country. The act talks about prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities in several areas, including access to information and technology. The German government passed the Accessibility Reinforcement Act in 2009, implementing the European Accessibility Act in German law. Germany also introduced the Barrier-Free Information Technology Ordinance or BITV 2.0.
This is a technical regulation providing standards for the digital accessibility of websites, mobile apps, and other web-based services provided by public authorities in Germany. It uses guidelines from WCAG 2.0 and is a key for ensuring compliance with accessibility standards in Germany. Passed in 2022, the Accessibility Strengthening Act or BFSG extends accessibility requirements to the private sector, requiring them to ensure that their products and services are accessible to everyone.
Accessibility Legislation in Japan
In 2000, the Basic Act on the Formation of an Advanced Information and Telecommunication Society was enforced in Japan, laying the foundation for bringing accessibility to the digital world. The JIS X 8341-3:2016 standard, developed by the Web Accessibility Infrastructure Committee or WAIC, provides guidelines for making web content accessible to people with disabilities and is the major standard for accessibility in Japan. The standard uses guidelines from WCAG 2.0.
Though not enforceable as of now, the government encourages compliance with the 8341-3 standard. The Japan Web Accessibility Consortium, or JWAC, is a non-profit organization that plays a role in promoting accessibility for people with disabilities and the elderly.
| Name of Country/Union | Name of Law/Standard | WCAG Version Referenced | Enforcement Status |
| European Union | European Accessibility Act or EAA | No mention of WCAG | Enforceable |
| USA | Americans with Disability Act or ADA | WCAG 2.0 | Enforceable |
| India | Rights of Persons with Disabilities or RPWD | No mention of WCAG | Enforceable |
| UK | Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulation | WCAG 2.2 | Enforceable |
| China | Protection of Persons With Disabilities | WCAG 2.0 | Not enforceable |
| Germany | Disability Equality Act | WCAG 2.0 | Enforceable |
| Japan | Basic Act on the Formation of an Advanced Information and Telecommunication Society | WCAG 2.0 | Not enforceable |
| France | Referential General d’Accessibilite pour les Administration or RGAA | WCAG 2.0 | Enforceable |
| Italy | Stanca Act or Law No. 4/2004 | WCAG 2.1 | Enforceable |
| Dubai | UAE Disability Act | WCAG 2.0 | Enforceable |
| Canada | Accessible Canada Act | WCAG 2.0 | Enforceable |
| Spain | Ley 11/2023 | WCAG 2.1 | Enforceable |
Accessibility Legislation in France
Passed in 2005, Law No. 2005-102 mandates accessibility in France. The law focuses on providing equal rights and opportunities to people with disabilities. France recognizes the Referential General d’Accessibilité pour les Administrations (RGAA) as its official accessibility standard. This standard builds on WCAG 2.0, which outlines guidelines for web accessibility. Public sector websites and digital services in France must publish accessibility statements that explain their level of accessibility.
The scope of accessibility laws and standards extends to all public and private organizations that provide web-based services. To ensure accessibility for all, Frances imposes penalties in the form of fines and other legal consequences against public or private sector bodies that do not comply with the law.
Accessibility Legislation in Italy
In Italy, the Stanca Act or Law No. 4/2004 lays the foundation for accessibility. It requires public and private organizations to make sure that their services are accessible to everyone. The law covers a wide range of web-based services, including mobile apps, websites, e-readers, and audiovisual media. The European Accessibility Act or EAA is implemented in Italy in the form of Legislativo 27 Maggio 2022, which expands the Stanca Act to include a broader range of products and services. This also requires web-based services to comply with the WCAG 2.1. To ensure compliance, Italy imposes fines and other penalties against services that do not comply with the Stanca Act.
Accessibility Legislation in Dubai
The UAE Disability Act, introduced in 2006, laid the foundation for accessibility in the UAE. It focused on access to education, employment, and other public services for people with disabilities. They also have a National Digital Accessibility Policy to ensure accessibility to digital services for people with disabilities and the elderly. The Human Rights Committee of the UAE believes that people with disabilities should have equal rights throughout all the processes involved in employment. Government and private websites and services are required to adhere to WCAG 2.0, ensuring they are accessible to all.
Accessibility Legislation in Canada
In Canada, the Accessible Canada Act is the primary law for accessibility. Enacted in 2019, it aims to create a barrier-free Canada by 2040 by identifying barriers to accessibility and solving them. In 2021, the government introduced the first set of regulations under the ACA, known as the Accessible Canada Regulations (ACR). The ACA governs both the government sector and private organizations registered with the federal government. It addresses accessibility in both web-based services and physical environments. The Accessibility Commissioner enforces the ACA. Federally regulated organizations must develop a plan to demonstrate how they will comply with their requirements.
In case of non-compliance, there are provisions to impose fines and penalties. (AODA)
Accessibility Legislation in Spain
Ley 11/2023 is the primary law for accessibility in Spain. Based on the EN 301 549 standard of the European Accessibility Act, this law mandates accessibility for both physical and digital spaces and will be in full effect from June 2025. Spain uses WCAG 2.1 to lay down guidelines for digital accessibility. While accessibility in Spain is mainly focused on the public sector, the private sector is also affected by EAA and its requirements. Organizations are also required to publish information bout their accessibility status and how users can report any issues they face around the same. Non-compliance with accessibility in Spain can lead to fines and other legal penalties.
What to do to ensure compliance with Accessibility Legislation?
With increasing awareness of users and stringent laws coming up in major countries, it is becoming important for businesses to make sure they are digitally accessible. No matter what corner of the world a business operates from, abiding by accessibility guidelines has become a major requirement.
Implementing accessibility within your organization or platforms and products can be challenging, especially if you don’t have a dedicated digital accessibility department. At Pivotal Accessibility, our team of IAAP-certified professionals can help you integrate, scale, and maintain accessibility throughout your processes. We have been working with both government and public bodies throughout the world to help them achieve their accessibility goals effectively. If you want a quote or just want to discuss the accessibility needs of your organization, contact us, and we will respond promptly. Let’s work together to create a more equitable and accessible world for everyone.