Since 25 June 2025, European legislation on digital accessibility for the private sector has been in force in Italy, implementing the European Accessibility Act (EAA)
This means that many websites and apps—especially those intended for the public or for online transactions—must guarantee a minimum level of accessibility.
Companies that fail to comply risk penalties and loss of customers in a context where digital inclusivity is no longer optional, but a regulatory obligation and a requirement for competitiveness.
What is web accessibility and why is it essential?
Web accessibility means designing websites and applications that can be used by all people, including those with visual, motor, auditory, or cognitive disabilities.
It’s not just about aesthetics—it's about the right to access information and services.
An accessible site removes barriers that prevent users from:
✅ Reading text with sufficient contrast
✅ Navigating via keyboard without a mouse
✅ Using screen readers to understand content
✅ Understanding the page’s logical structure
Regulatory obligations as of 25 June 2025
With the implementation of the EAA, Italian companies that sell products or services online must meet minimum accessibility requirements, in line with WCAG 2.1 Level AA.
This applies to:
- E-commerce sites
- Online services
- B2B/B2C platforms
- Corporate websites intended for the public
Neglecting these requirements can lead to:
❌ Legal action or fines
❌ Losing customers with specific needs
❌ Reputational damage
Real advantages of an accessible website
Investing in accessibility isn’t just about avoiding penalties—it’s a competitive advantage:
⭐ Improved user experience for everyone
⭐ A wider potential audience (including 11–20% of the population with disabilities)
⭐ Better SEO and indexing through improved semantic structure
⭐ Demonstrates corporate social responsibility (CSR)
Common accessibility issues on websites
Many websites still have avoidable barriers such as:
- Insufficient contrast: text that's hard to read on bright or complex backgrounds
- Generic labels: buttons labeled “Click here” without meaningful context for screen readers
- Mouse-only navigation: making it impossible for keyboard users
- Images without alternative text: preventing screen readers from conveying their meaning
- Disordered heading structure: confusing the page’s semantic outline
How Webflow helps build accessible sites
Webflow natively integrates accessibility tools, making it easier to design sites that comply with WCAG 2.1 AA standards.
Here are the key tools:
🟢 Audit Panel
The Audit Panel flags accessibility issues directly in the Webflow Designer:
✅ Images missing alternative text
✅ Duplicate IDs
✅ Skipped heading levels
✅ Non-descriptive links
Each alert is interactive, guiding you to the exact location so you can fix it in real time.
🟢 Color Contrast Checker
Webflow includes a contrast checker in the Style panel:
✅ Shows if text-to-background contrast meets WCAG AA/AAA levels
✅ Helps select inclusive color combinations
✅ Reduces readability errors for users with color blindness
🟢 Vision Preview
Vision Preview simulates common types of color blindness and visual impairments:
✅ Lets you preview the experience for users who perceive colors differently
✅ Helps designers avoid mistakes like indistinguishable red/green icons
🟢 Integrated Accessibility Checklist
Webflow’s Accessibility Checklist offers best practices and useful resources:
✅ Step-by-step guidance so you don't miss critical elements
✅ Detailed explanations of WCAG standards
✅ Resources for learning more about each criterion
✅ Best practices for accessible design in Webflow
When designing in Webflow, keep these best practices in mind:
- Use clear and descriptive labels for buttons (e.g. “Download the guide”)
- Ensure full keyboard navigation
- Add meaningful alternative text to images
- Maintain a logical heading hierarchy (H1, H2, H3…)
- Don’t rely on color alone to convey information (use icons, shapes, or text)
📌 Conclusion: Accessibility as a Standard, Not an Option
Accessibility isn’t an optional extra—it’s a quality standard. And from 25 June 2025, in many sectors, it’s also a legal requirement.
With Webflow’s integrated tools, you can build more inclusive, high-performing, and future-proof websites, reducing legal risks while improving the experience for all users.
🎯 Want to make your website accessible?
Miramedia is one of the few Webflow Premium Certified Partners in Italy. We’ll help you:
✅ Audit and verify your site’s accessibility
✅ Migrate to Webflow with a modern, compliant design
✅ Train your team to manage accessible content independently
👉 Contact us today for a no-obligation consultation.
📌 Useful resources
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
- Webflow University — Accessibility
- Official Gazette — Transposition of the European Accessibility Act