Why accessibility widgets are no longer enough in the Digital Kit
Accessibility widgets promise quick solutions, but do they really comply with WCAG and current laws?
The problem with "magic solutions" ⚠️
Many organizations implement accessibility widgets, hoping to quickly comply with legal regulations or improve the experience for their users with disabilities. These widgets typically promise "automatic" accessibility by simply copying and pasting code into the website. But the reality is different.
While these tools can offer useful functions—such as contrast enhancement, font size changes, or text-to-speech—they don't correct errors in the source code nor guarantee real compliance with WCAG 2.2. Moreover, they don't replace an audit or structural adaptation of the site.
During the first years of the Digital Kit, web accessibility was evaluated quite leniently. It was enough to present an Excel sheet that digital agents filled out with generic statements about WCAG guideline compliance.
However, this has changed. And it's an important change.
Technical limitations of widgets 🛠️
- They don't detect or correct semantic errors (such as incorrect use of HTML tags).
- They don't improve keyboard navigation or guarantee logical heading structures.
- They don't resolve barriers in forms, sliders, menus, or video players.
Legal and reputational risks ⚖️💥
In the European context, and particularly in Spain, laws such as Royal Decree 1112/2018 require that websites of public administrations and certain private sectors comply with WCAG 2.2 level AA. Relying solely on widgets is not a legally valid solution and can expose you to sanctions or claims.
Additionally, some entities that use only widgets have been reported for poor accessibility, which negatively affects their reputation and credibility.
The real alternative: audit, improvement and commitment 💡✅
For a site to be truly accessible:
- 🔎 A complete technical evaluation is needed (ideally combining automatic tools like Inclusif's analyzer and manual review).
- 🛠️ Changes must be applied to the code and design that benefit all users.
- 📜 A transparent accessibility statement must be published.
- 👥 It's advisable to train the team so they can maintain that level of accessibility over time.
How Inclusif helps you 🚀🌍
At Inclusif, we combine automatic analysis with manual audits supported by experts.
We offer you a clear roadmap, without needing to depend on third parties: you can implement the changes yourself or count on our consulting service.
📄 We also help you generate your accessibility statement and justify possible cases of disproportionate burden if necessary.
✨ The goal is not to cover up, but to transform your website into a truly accessible space.
Conclusion 🧠
Widgets can be a complement, but they should never be the only measure. Real accessibility requires commitment, technical verification, and concrete action.
The next step? Make your site truly accessible. You won't just comply with the law: you'll also improve the experience for all your users.
If you want to try our accessibility scanner to check some of the points where your page's accessibility is lacking, you can try it for free here.
Our goal is clear: to make the greatest number of websites truly accessible. Because an accessible website doesn't just avoid sanctions or remediation: it improves the experience for all users.