Service · Accessibility

Accessible website design: usable by everyone

Accessible website design means your site works for all visitors. BAROIAN builds and fixes websites to WCAG 2.2, level AA, in line with the European Accessibility Act. With clean code and real tests, without overlay tricks.

Direct answer

What is an accessible website?

An accessible website can be used by everyone, including people who use a screen reader, navigate only by keyboard or have limited vision. It covers contrast, headings, forms, images and navigation. All visitors benefit, because clear structure and readable text also help on phones, on Google and in AI search.

BAROIAN is an agency in Berlin that builds accessible websites to WCAG 2.2 level AA and retrofits existing sites. The company was founded in 2016.

Legal background

Does accessibility law apply to your website?

The European Accessibility Act has applied since June 28, 2025. It covers websites and apps aimed at concluding contracts with consumers. This overview helps with a first assessment for offers in the EU.

Your situation	First assessment
Online store or booking for consumers, 10 or more employees	Affected
Online appointment booking with a contract for consumers	Probably affected, check your case
Microenterprise providing services: fewer than 10 employees and at most 2 million euros in annual turnover or balance sheet	Exempt
Company website with no contract, only information and contact	Usually not affected
Offer for business customers only	Usually not affected

Rules differ from country to country, and other accessibility laws may apply to you. We build to the current version of WCAG 2.2, level AA, which is the most widely used benchmark. We are your agency, not your lawyer.

What we test

What does accessible website design involve?

The basis is the 4 WCAG principles: perceivable, operable, understandable, robust. Automated tests only find part of the errors. So we also test by hand, with a keyboard and a screen reader.

Contrast of text and controls.
Keyboard-only use and a visible focus.
Order and logic of headings.
Forms with labels and clear error messages.
Alt text for images, names for links and buttons.
Layout at 200% zoom.
An accessibility statement where one is required.

Accessible website design: diagram showing the 4 WCAG principles perceivable, operable, understandable and robust

Why we do not install overlay widgets

A widget at the edge of the screen promises accessibility in one click. But it does not change your code. Missing labels and broken keyboard navigation stay where they are. That is why we fix the cause directly in your website.

Benefits

Does accessibility also help SEO and AI search?

Yes. Clean HTML, clear headings and good alt text make your website readable for crawlers as well as screen readers. In its guide to generative AI features, Google recommends semantic HTML. The same guide says AI agents may read websites through the accessibility tree, among other things. So if you build accessibly today, you also build for those agents. Read more under AI SEO.

In 5 steps

How accessible website design works with us

Test

We check your key pages and flows, automatically and by hand.

Assess

You get a list of issues sorted by severity and a fixed-price offer.

Fix

We correct code, content and design directly in your website.

Retest

We test again with a keyboard and a screen reader.

Document

You get the documents for your accessibility statement.

FAQ

Common questions about accessible website design

Does my website have to be accessible?

If you sell to consumers in the EU, the European Accessibility Act may apply. It has applied since June 28, 2025 and covers websites and apps aimed at concluding consumer contracts, such as online stores. Microenterprises that provide services are exempt. Rules differ by country, so check your own case with a lawyer.

What is WCAG?

WCAG stands for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. It is the international standard for accessible websites, published by the W3C. The current version is WCAG 2.2. Level AA is the usual benchmark.

Is an overlay widget enough?

No, we advise against them. An overlay does not change your code. Missing labels and broken keyboard navigation stay where they are. That is why we fix the cause.

Can you retrofit my existing website?

Usually, yes. First we check how large the effort is. If the technology can hardly be adapted, a website redesign may be the more honest solution.

Do I get a certificate or a legal guarantee?

No. We are your agency, not a law firm and not a certification body. We document what we tested and fixed. That also helps with your accessibility statement.

What does accessible website design cost?

That depends on the size of your website and the state of the code. After a first check, you get a fixed-price offer.

Accessibility belongs in from the start

Accessible website design is easiest when it is planned from the start. That applies to new web design projects as well as online stores. For an older website, look at a website redesign.

How accessible is your website today?

We check the key points for free and tell you what to fix first. Honest, and without scare tactics.