70% of websites in Spain present accessibility barriers for people with disabilities

More than seven out of ten websites in Spain include barriers that limit their use by people with disabilities, and only 25% meet minimum accessibility standards. These findings come from data by the Web Accessibility Observatory and the inSuit Digital Accessibility Barometer, compiled in a report by Fundación VASS and the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC).

This situation directly affects access to essential digital services, excluding a significant portion of the population. In Spain, more than 4.3 million people live with some form of disability, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE).

An accessible website allows barrier-free navigation and interaction for all users. It should feature a clear and well-structured layout, alternative text for images, adequate color contrast, and keyboard navigation options. It must also ensure accessible multimedia content, user-friendly forms, plain language, and compatibility with assistive technologies such as screen readers, following international standards like WCAG.

In a rapidly advancing digital landscape, accessibility remains an ongoing challenge. This issue is becoming more pressing with new European regulations that will require companies to adapt their digital environments.

In this context, Fundación VASS, through VASS University, together with the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), has launched a new edition of the “Barrier-free digital transformation: employability and inclusion” program. This initiative aims to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities in the digital sector.

The program seeks to train professionals to integrate accessibility from the earliest stages of digital product design.

“Universal access to technology is essential. Without it, part of society is excluded from the digital environment,” said Antonio Rueda, director of Fundación VASS.

This context is further reinforced by the upcoming implementation of the European Accessibility Act in 2025, which will require companies and institutions to ensure accessibility in their digital products and services.

This regulatory framework positions accessibility as a legal requirement and a key competitive factor. The training also includes accessible design and applied artificial intelligence.