More than 90% of Belgian websites offer insufficient access to blind and visually impaired people

Maria Van Rymersdael is a blind woman. She told VRT Radio 2’s consumer affairs programme ‘WinWin’ that she often encounters obstacles when using websites or apps. “When a new app or website is created, accessibility for people with visual impairments is often forgotten. For example, there are tags missing from images, so my screen reader cannot explain what can be seen in the photos.

Often, the issues are resolved after a while, but then new arise each time there is an update.  Major software updates can create new issues and result in solutions to issues that had previously been resolved no longer working”. 

VRT News’ Digital media expert Tim Verheyden explains that government bodies and local authorities are already legally obliged to make their websites and apps accessible to all. Nevertheless, there still work to be done here too. “There are still many websites with poor colour contrast between the text and background or with no description accompanying links or images. Of course, local authorities in larger towns and cities have more staff and resources to make their websites more accessible. This is much less the case among local authorities in smaller towns and villages.” These websites should contain an accessibility statement.

“However, this is not always the case. In an accessibility statement you can read which parts of the website are already accessible for those living with a visual handicap and where further efforts will be made in the future to ensure this. There are even some town councils that don't have an accessibility statement on their site.”

Amongst others, the local authorities in De Panne (West Flanders) and Leuven (Flemish Brabant) show that things can be done differently. “De Panne works together with people that are living with disabilities to assess their needs and to take these needs into account when developing their online platfotms. Leuven City Council also has a DIGI team. This is a group that is solely responsible for the city’s digital agenda. The DIGI team has made accessibility a top priority. 

Things should get better pretty soon though as from 28 June 2025 new EU legislation in the form of the Accessibility Act will come into force. This will require, amongst others, banks, public transport providers, media platforms and other large companies to be digitally accessible to all. “This applies not only to people with visual impairments, but equally to people that, for example, are on the autism spectrum. A lot of industries and individual companies will have to adapt their websites and make them more accessible”.

Bart Simons was born blind and works as an accesibility expert at AnySurfer, an organisation that issues quality labels to companies and organisations that make their sites and apps accessible. Mr Simons told the VRT that “Many tools exist, but they can only be effective if some consideration is given to how, for example, e-mails are drafted or documents are structured. In terms of technology, the blind and visually impaired are often pioneers for the sighted. We had a computer or technical aids to help us in the past.”

VRT News’ Tim Verheyden adds that technological innovation will further increase accessibility in the coming years. “Smart glasses with artificial intelligence are ideal for blind and visually impaired people. They can interpret the whole online environment and help them navigate or learn to recognise objects.”