Skip to content

Digital accessibility

Your website may beexcluding users

WCAG standards call for precise changes to a website’s structure. As experts, we translate those guidelines into concrete implementation, giving you full compliance and legal peace of mind.

Talk to us about your website’s accessibility

Standard

What is WCAG?What does it cover?

The WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standard is a set of guidelines developed by the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) to make the internet accessible to everyone, so that anyone can use it - including people with different limitations or types of disability, whether visual, hearing, motor, cognitive, or neurological.

The WCAG standard is built on 4 principles

  1. 01

    Perceivable

    e.g. alternative text for images

  2. 02

    Operable

    e.g. keyboard navigation

  3. 03

    Understandable

    e.g. clear language and a predictable interface

  4. 04

    Robust

    content that is readable across different devices and assistive technologies (screen readers)

We distinguish 3 levels of conformance

Level AA is the minimum required by law in Poland and the EU.

A(minimum)

WCAG 2.1 level A

Level A covers the fundamental elements of accessibility that allow a site to be navigated and its content taken in.

A website or application meeting level A:

  • can be operated using only a keyboard and shows which element currently has focus,
  • has alternative text for the graphics on the page,
  • has no flashing elements that could trigger a seizure,
  • does not block content when something fails to load,
  • provides a logical navigation order for screen readers.
AA(recommended)

WCAG 2.1 level AA

Level AA covers everything required at level A, plus:

  • adequate text-to-background contrast (min. 4.5:1),
  • correct scaling of content up to 200% without errors,
  • clear headings and content hierarchy,
  • clear error messages (e.g. in forms),
  • no keyboard-navigation traps,
  • alternative ways of presenting video and audio content (captions, transcripts),
  • full accessibility for screen readers and assistive technologies.

Under the legal regulation, the website or application of a business covered by the Polish Accessibility Act must meet the WCAG 2.1 level AA accessibility rules.

AAA(highest)

WCAG 2.1 level AAA

Level AAA is the highest accessibility standard for a website or application, as defined by the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium).

A site conforming to WCAG 2.1 at level AAA meets all the requirements of the previous levels, plus:

  • Very high contrast (e.g. black on white),
  • Simple, clear language,
  • Sign-language interpretation for video content,
  • Extended captions describing not only dialogue but also background sounds,
  • Flexible response time for interactive elements,
  • Additional tools that support understanding of the content (e.g. summaries).

Quick test

Does WCAGapply to you?

Take the test and find out.

Number of employees

Does your company employ, on average annually, more than 10 people?

Who this applies to

Start by askingwhether the obligation is yours

  • 01Public institutions

    Do public institutions have to meet the WCAG standard?

    Yes. Under the Act of 4 April 2019 on the digital accessibility of websites and mobile applications of public entities, all websites and mobile applications of public entities must meet the WCAG 2.1 level AA guidelines.

    The obligation covers, among others, government offices, schools, universities, cultural institutions, libraries, hospitals and other public bodies, as well as the electronic documents they publish.

    Failing to meet digital accessibility requirements is not just a reputational problem - it is also a real risk of financial penalties.

    • Failing to ensure digital accessibility can result in a fine of up to PLN 10,000
    • A missing or unreliable accessibility statement carries an additional fine of up to PLN 5,000

    Citizen complaints are handled by the Minister of Digital Affairs, and oversight is carried out by PFRON (the State Fund for Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons), which can impose fines and conduct proceedings.

    In other words - WCAG is not just a formality, it is an obligation and proof that an institution takes all of its users seriously.

  • 02Businesses

    Do businesses have to meet the WCAG standard?

    From 28 June 2025, some businesses will be subject to a digital accessibility obligation in line with WCAG 2.1 AA, under the Act of 26 April 2024 on ensuring compliance with accessibility requirements for certain products and services.

    The obligation applies to companies that offer consumers, among other things:

    • e-commerce services (e.g. online stores, booking platforms, e-learning),
    • software, terminals, computers, e-readers, online banking, phones, interactive devices,
    • and other products and services listed in the act.

    The obligation does not apply to microenterprises (businesses that employ, on average annually, fewer than 10 people and whose annual turnover does not exceed EUR 2 million).

    Companies that fail to ensure accessibility risk inspection by the President of PFRON and administrative sanctions. Just as importantly - a lack of accessibility means losing customers, reputation, and search-ranking position.

    Today, WCAG is not just an obligation - it is a mark of professionalism in business.

  • 03Sole proprietorships

    Does a sole proprietorship have to meet the WCAG standard?

    In most cases - no. If you run a sole proprietorship and meet the criteria for a microenterprise (fewer than 10 employees and annual turnover of no more than EUR 2 million), the act does not cover you.

    Exception: if you manufacture or sell products covered by the act (e.g. computer hardware, software, terminals, e-readers), you must ensure their accessibility.

    Even without a legal obligation, it is worth applying WCAG:

    • it improves your site’s visibility in Google,
    • it increases usability (UX),
    • it widens your customer base - including older users and people with disabilities.

    For a sole proprietorship, WCAG is a competitive advantage, not just a legal obligation.

  • 04Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

    Do non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have to meet the WCAG standard?

    NGOs are not always, but are often, covered by accessibility regulations.

    If an NGO carries out public tasks (e.g. under grants, subsidies, or contracts from local governments or ministries), it must meet the digital accessibility requirements set out in the Act of 4 April 2019 (Journal of Laws 2023, item 1440).

    If it operates solely on its own funds, there is no formal obligation, but it is still worth applying WCAG.

    WCAG increases the accessibility of materials for blind, low-vision, deaf, and cognitively impaired people - in other words, for many of the beneficiaries an NGO genuinely wants to reach.

    Accessibility is not only a legal matter - it is part of the mission and values of the non-profit sector.

Benefits of WCAG

Why it pays toinvest in accessibility

Complying with WCAG can be a legal obligation if:

  • you run e-commerce, an e-learning platform, banking, media, or transport;
  • you offer terminals, readers, or other interactive solutions;
  • you use financing (e.g. the Development Services Base, grants);
  • you serve customers, citizens, or end users.

Complying with WCAG is a business opportunity

  • you reach more customers - older people, people with disabilities, mobile users;
  • you cut support costs - fewer questions, issues, and errors;
  • you boost SEO and UX - better indexing, usability, and conversion;
  • you demonstrate modernity and responsibility.

A real 21st-century problem

Digital exclusion

A lack of digital accessibility is not just a technical flaw - it is real social exclusion. For millions of people in Poland - blind, low-vision, older, or with a motor or cognitive disability - a website can be the only way to handle official business, get information, or reach an institution.

When a site fails to meet basic WCAG rules, it becomes a barrier rather than a help. Visitors are forced to ask for support, call, write, or - worse - give up. That, in turn, leads to a loss of trust and a sense of marginalization, especially for public institutions and NGOs whose mission is often to support exactly these people.

How we help

Make your websiteaccessible

We help you meet the legal obligation and make your website more accessible to your customers.

  • WCAG 2.1 AA audit

    A detailed review of your site against the requirements of the Polish Accessibility Act

  • Accessibility implementation

    Adjusting page layout, contrast, forms, files, and media

  • Development Services Base (BUR) support

    We help you choose and secure funding for accessibility improvements

Order an audit

FAQ

Frequently asked questionsabout WCAG

We’ve put together answers to the questions about WCAG and the Polish Accessibility Act that we hear most often. Read on to learn more about the details of compliance and implementing accessibility on websites.

Does every government or NGO website have to comply with WCAG 2.1 AA?

Yes - if you are a public entity (e.g. a government office, school, library, museum) or an NGO carrying out publicly funded tasks, the digital accessibility act applies to you. Your website and applications must comply with WCAG 2.1 AA.

Do I need to add captions to videos?

Yes - if you publish video content, you need to provide captions for it (audiovisual and text-based) so it is accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing users. This is one of the key perceivability requirements in WCAG.

Do PDF documents also need to be accessible?

Yes, documents published on a website (e.g. for download) should also be accessible - among other things, they should have structural tags, alternative text for graphics, adequate contrast, and keyboard navigation support.

Does the obligation also apply to older websites?

Yes - regardless of when a site was launched, the WCAG 2.1 AA compliance obligation applies to all websites of institutions covered by the act. If a site is very old, it is worth considering a redesign or an audit.

What if my website does not meet WCAG?

First, it is worth running an audit to check the scale of the shortcomings. They can then be fixed on your own or with the help of specialists. Keep in mind: non-compliance can lead to financial penalties and complaints from citizens.

Can I get funding for training or implementation?

Yes - many institutions can get funding through the Development Services Base (BUR). We can help you choose the right training and go through the process of securing that support.

Contact form

Act in line withthe law - and with intent

Don’t wait for a problem to show up. Get an audit of your website or store, along with a concrete solution tailored to your situation.

Order an audit+48 513 648 088info@sixteractive.com