The evolution towards a digital society has made new ways of accessing information and services available to users, and providers of these services, such as public sector bodies, have increasingly relied on the internet to produce, collect and make available a wide range of information and services electronically, which are essential for the citizen.

With regard to persons with disabilities, in addition to the issues of access to information and communication technologies that are raised by the general population and relate, for example, to training or economic constraints, specific digital accessibility issues arise that may severely restrict their functionality and social participation.

Like general accessibility, digital accessibility can be described as the characteristic of an environment, equipment, product, object or service that gives it the possibility to ensure all its potential users an equal opportunity for use, in a friendly manner and with dignity and safety.

In fact, the development and expansion of digital technologies at a global level has paved the way for the access of most people with disabilities to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and, therefore, enhance their autonomy, inclusion and social participation, as these technologies are increasingly present in a very wide range of realities ranging from support products to the multiplicity of equipment, products and services that are currently part of the most diverse areas of life.

However, in order for this potential for inclusion to become effective and, at the same time, free of accrued charges, such equipment, products and services should be designed in accordance with the principles of Universal Design, both at the level of Hardware - that is, the instruments that produce, transmit and transmit the information - and at the level of Software - which consists of software programs and applications that make the entire information circuit viable.

To this end, and more specifically, the following four principles of digital accessibility should be respected:

• Perceivable - all information and interface must be readable and perceived by all;
• operable - navigation and access to all functionalities must be guaranteed, regardless of user profile and navigation devices used;
• Understandable - all information should be understood by everyone and provide for error tolerance;
• Robust - should ensure interoperability between systems and technological compatibility

“These accessibility principles translate into verifiable success criteria, such as those forming the basis of the European standard EN 301 549 V1.1.2 ‘Accessibility requirements for the procurement of information and communication technology products and services in Europe’ (2015-04) (European standard EN 301 549 V1.1.2 (2015-04)), through harmonised standards and a common methodology for verifying compliance of content on websites and mobile applications with these principles.” (Directive)

However, it is of utmost importance that stakeholders, including but not limited to organisations representing the interests of persons with disabilities and older persons, social partners, the sector involved in the development of accessibility software and civil society, are regularly consulted in the process of implementing the principles and rules on digital accessibility. Ensuring accessibility is therefore a fundamental condition for people's quality of life and is essential for the full exercise of the rights and duties conferred on any member of a democratic society in the exercise of his or her citizenship.

It was published on October 19, 2018 or Decree-Law No 83/2018, which defines the accessibility requirements for the websites and mobile applications of public bodies, transposing the Directive (EU) 2016/2102.

This measure aims to make public sector websites and mobile applications more accessible to all, in particular persons with disabilities.