The Ukrainian government’s Center of Competence in Digital Accessibility has launched comprehensive audits of state web resources and mobile applications to eliminate barriers for people with visual, hearing, or motor impairments.
5 Key Rules for Ensuring Digital Accessibility
- High contrast of elements: Texts, focus markers, buttons, and key graphics must meet standardized contrast requirements. This allows users with visual impairments to easily perceive content and interact with it.
- Full keyboard navigation: All interactive elements (buttons, toggles, dropdown menus, forms) must be fully operable without a computer mouse. This is a fundamental requirement for blind users and individuals with motor impairments.
- Optimization for assistive technologies (Screen Readers): Graphic button‑icons and elements lacking text labels need special programmatic names, such as via the aria-label attribute. It is also important to convey element states (e.g., “pressed” or “collapsed”) using appropriate accessibility attributes.
- Quality alternative text (Alt Text) for media: Diagrams, graphics, infographics, and illustrations must contain accompanying descriptions that fully explain their content for users who rely on screen‑reading software.
- Quick jump to main content (Skip Links): Providing a special anchor link or button enables mouse‑less users to instantly bypass the page header and navigation menu, jumping directly to the main content block.
Specifications and Accessibility Audit Checklist
| Optimization Direction | Key Requirements and Tools | Target Audience |
| Color and contrast | Compliance with WCAG 2.1 standards (minimum contrast ratio 4.5:1) | Users with visual impairments, color blindness |
| Keyboard focus | Visible focus indicator, logical tab order | People with motor impairments, mouse‑less users |
| Assistive attributes | Use of ARIA labels (aria-label, aria-expanded) | Blind users who rely on screen readers |
| Page structure | Presence of a “Skip to Content” link, clear H1‑H3 headings | All users of assistive technologies |
How to Request an Accessibility Audit
The Center of Competence in Digital Accessibility continues regular audits of government websites and applications. Representatives of state bodies and developers of governmental platforms can submit a request for an independent audit by emailing accessibility@thedigital.gov.ua.
Additional methodological materials, standards, and recommendations are available on the dedicated digital accessibility portal.
Xpert Take
Implementing digital accessibility principles in government services goes beyond formal compliance with international WCAG standards; it is a cornerstone of building a modern, inclusive digital society. As essential government services, social benefits, and verification processes shift online, guaranteeing access for every citizen becomes a matter of national inclusivity and security.
