In today’s increasingly digital world, a company’s website is often its showcase and first point of contact with customers. Yet for millions of people with disabilities, that showcase remains effectively closed, and their potential contribution is rejected before they even enter. This is because over 20% of the world’s population encounters barriers to using the internet, and an estimated 98% of websites are still inaccessible. “In other words, many companies are more or less unknowingly excluding the world’s largest minority group, with an estimated global purchasing power of £13 trillion. It is difficult to find a business logic in leaving this market unexplored,” explains Amit Borsok, CEO and co-founder of AccessiWay, a company that combines automation and human expertise to offer audits, corrective actions, compliance support and training, to Startupbusiness. Founded in Italy in 2021, it now also operates in France, Austria, Germany and the United Kingdom. With a team of over 100 people (pictured), AccessiWay has already helped more than 1,500 customers integrate accessibility into their digital platforms.
“Making a website accessible means creating a barrier-free online experience for everyone, including people with disabilities,” adds Borsok. “This includes a wide range of needs: blind or visually impaired people who use screen readers or need text alternatives for images; deaf or hard-of-hearing people who need subtitles or transcripts for audio and video content; people with motor disabilities who navigate without a mouse; and users with cognitive or neurological differences who benefit from clear structure, simple language and consistent navigation.”
Accessible design is guided by international standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) and regulations such as the European Accessibility Act (EAA), which came into force on 28 June 2025. These standards ensure that the design, structure and functionality of a website do not exclude any users. But accessibility goes beyond regulatory compliance: it is about creating an inclusive digital environment where everyone can participate fully. Just as physical spaces are expected to provide ramps or accessible toilets, so too must the digital world ensure equal access.
Now that digital accessibility is required by law, there is only one way forward: we must act immediately. From a technical standpoint, however, it is essential to understand that accessibility should not be a last-minute addition, but rather an element that is integrated into the design and development process from the outset. Adapting an existing website to make it accessible can be more expensive and complex than making it accessible from the start. Every redesign, feature update or content change is an opportunity to check accessibility.
The first step is to audit the state of the site at a given moment. Automated tools can identify some issues, but the involvement of human experts is essential. Once a clear picture has been obtained, priority should be given to interventions with the greatest impact on usability, especially those that prevent access to key functions such as navigation, forms or purchases. Working with accessibility specialists ensures that compliance and usability go hand in hand. It is equally important to train internal teams so that accessibility is maintained over time and not treated as a one-off project. Finally, it is essential to test your digital tools with real users with disabilities: this is the only way to ensure that the solutions work in the real world.
There are many reasons why accessibility is essential. First and foremost, it is a moral issue: ensuring accessibility means respecting human rights, allowing everyone to participate in digital life. Secondly, it is a legal obligation. The European Accessibility Act, WCAG guidelines and local regulations make accessibility a mandatory requirement, with penalties that can include fines or, in some countries, even imprisonment in the event of violation.
The economic aspect should not be underestimated either. People with disabilities have an estimated global purchasing power of 13 trillion dollars. Making your website accessible means opening it up to millions of potential customers, while improving the user experience for everyone. Features such as subtitles help those watching videos in noisy environments, clear navigation is useful for mobile users, and keyboard shortcuts benefit advanced users.
Finally, accessibility represents a competitive advantage. Inaccessible competitors will lose customers to those who invest in inclusive design. Accessibility communicates innovation, responsibility and inclusion: values that strengthen brand reputation.
The internet connects businesses, customers and communities around the world, but for too long, digital inaccessibility has excluded millions of people. The tools and skills to solve this problem already exist, and with them comes the opportunity to reach a vast and still underserved market.
If it were a physical shop, it would be unthinkable to turn away one in five customers. So why do it online? Companies that take action now on accessibility will not only avoid penalties, but will gain market share, strengthen their brand and lead the next wave of digital innovation.
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