Web Accessibility Directive:
Frequently Asked Questions

These are frequently asked questions and answers on the EU Web Accessibility Directive.

The objective of this website is to support the implementation of the Directive and to provide reliable information and resources to those involved in buying, designing and monitoring websites or mobile applications, as well as users. This website is maintained by the Web Accessibility Initiative - Communities of Practice (WAI-CooP) Project.

17. Where can I find a list of web accessibility evaluation tools?

The W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) has a list of web accessibility evaluation tools as well as advice on how to select the right evaluation tool for your needs.

21. How do I write an accessibility assessment report?

The W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) has resources on conformance evaluation. This includes the WCAG-EM Report Tool to help you create evaluation reports in line with steps defined by the W3C Website Accessibility Conformance Evaluation Methodology (WCAG-EM).

22. How to monitor accessibility on websites and apps?

The European Commission set out a monitoring methodology for the Web Accessibility Directive in an implementing decision.

The conformity of websites and mobile applications with the accessibility requirements in the directive is monitored using the following methodology:

  1. an in-depth monitoring method to verify compliance, in accordance with the requirements listed in point 1.2 of annex 1 of the implementing decision;
  2. a simplified monitoring method to detect non-compliance, in accordance with the requirements listed in point 1.3 of annex 1 of the implementing decision.

The monitoring methodology also describes how to carry out the sampling of websites and mobile applications.

Article 9 and annex 2 of the implementing decision describe what Member States must provide in their monitoring reports, including:

28. Who monitors the implementation of the Web Accessibility Directive in Member States?

There are designated national monitoring bodies for the Web Accessibility Directive in all Member States. They are also responsible for reporting on the implementation of the Directive by submitting a report to the Commission every three years, setting out the outcome of monitoring as well as enforcement activities in their country.

The first set of Member States' monitoring reports were published in December 2021.

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