Website Accessibility: Why It Is a Must for Your Business

In Israel, about 20% of the population live with some form of disability, whether visual, hearing, motor, or cognitive. A site that is not adapted for them shuts those users out, and it also puts the business on the wrong side of the law. The Equal Rights for People with Disabilities Regulations (Service Accessibility Adjustments) from 2017 require most businesses in Israel to make their websites accessible. But beyond the law, accessibility is also a business opportunity that opens the door to 1.7 million additional potential customers. In this article we explain the requirements, how to meet them, and how much it costs.

The law in Israel - what must be on the site

The Equal Rights for People with Disabilities Regulations adopt the international WCAG 2.1 standard at AA level. In practice, that means:

• Alt text for images: every image needs an alternative description a screen reader can announce.
• Easy navigation: the site must be navigable with the keyboard alone (Tab), without a mouse.
• Color contrast: black text on light gray is not enough. A minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 is required.
• Adjustable text size: the option to enlarge text without breaking the layout.
• Form support: clear labels, friendly error messages, the ability to correct mistakes.
• Captioned video: for every video on the site.
• Accessibility statement: a separate page on the site with accessibility contact details.

Who is required? (Almost everyone)

The law applies to:

• Public bodies: government ministries, local authorities, publicly funded entities.
• Private businesses with 5 or more employees.
• Service providers to the public: restaurants, shops, salons, clinics.
• Companies with annual revenue above a certain threshold.

The bottom line is that if your business is more than a single freelancer working from home, you are likely required to comply. Non-compliance can lead to civil lawsuits, statutory damages with no proof of harm (up to 50,000 NIS per claim), and administrative fines.

What it means technically - what needs to change

1. Semantic HTML structure: proper use of headings (h1, h2…), nav, main, article. Screen readers rely on this structure.

2. ARIA labels: hidden labels that tell screen readers what each element does. For example, a button with only a search icon needs aria-label="search".

3. Logical tab order: when a user presses Tab, the order must be logical (top to bottom, right to left in Hebrew).

4. Colors: verify contrast with tools like WebAIM Contrast Checker. A small color tweak can solve the entire problem.

5. Accessibility widget: a floating button that lets the user enlarge text, switch contrast, enable a readable mode. EqualWeb, UserWay, and AccessiBe are the popular solutions in Israel.

Accessibility widget - not a substitute for real work

Many businesses think adding a widget solves the problem. That is a mistake. A widget does play a part in the solution, since it gives the user adjustment options. But if the site's underlying code is not accessible, the widget will not help.

Example: a widget can enlarge text. But if an important image on the site has no alt text, even the most advanced widget will not read it. So the correct order: first fix the underlying HTML, then add a widget.

How much it costs

• Accessibility widget only: 70–200 NIS per month. Pays for the appearance of compliance, not real accessibility.
• Academic accessibility audit: 1,500–4,000 NIS one-time. A WCAG 2.1 AA auditor provides a detailed report.
• Accessibility fixes for an existing site: 3,500–15,000 NIS one-time. Depends on the current state.
• A new site built accessible from the start: no extra cost if the agency works to the standards. At Simple Web, accessibility is the default.

The business benefit - beyond the law

An accessible site gets a higher SEO score on Google (Google prefers sites with semantic HTML and alt text). Better user experience for everyone. And of course, there are the 1.7 million potential customers that others simply cannot serve.

Summary: Accessibility is an investment, not another expense. It protects you legally, opens markets, and improves SEO. At Simple Web we build every site to meet WCAG 2.1 AA from the start. Shall we talk?