Winterthur to Launch Fully Accessible Website by 2026
Winterthur, a Swiss municipality, has announced plans to launch a new, fully accessible website by 2026. This move comes after a joint investigation by CORRECTIV.Switzerland and the 'Access for All' foundation revealed significant accessibility issues on the current site, which left some residents, like Brigitte Stahel, unable to access important information.
Brigitte Stahel, who has cognitive impairments due to childhood brain inflammation, struggles with dense text blocks, confusing layouts, and poor visual separation on Winterthur's current website. Assistive tools such as screen readers and keyboard navigation either fail to work or function partially, exacerbating the accessibility challenges. The investigation evaluated five key accessibility criteria, finding that Winterthur's website fell short in providing equal digital access.
The joint investigation, involving 70 Swiss municipalities and cities, found a widespread lack of digital accessibility. Not a single website was fully accessible, with 50 failing accessibility standards entirely and 20 offering partial accessibility. The complexity of digitalization and regular content updates pose significant challenges for municipalities in providing fully accessible digital services. The Swiss law requires public institutions to eliminate barriers and provide equal access to public information and services, making Winterthur's planned website launch a step towards compliance.
Winterthur's commitment to launching a fully accessible website by 2026 is a positive step towards ensuring equal digital access for all residents. The planned improvements address the current site's shortcomings, which left some residents, like Brigitte Stahel, unable to access important information. The municipality's actions align with Switzerland's legal requirements for public institutions to provide barrier-free access to public information and services.
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