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In Japan, web accessibility ismustHowever, in recent years, there has been a growing awareness that it is important.

As you may know, the Act on the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities will be revised in April 2024, making it mandatory for private businesses to provide "reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities." Although the law does not stipulate specific standards or obligations, there is a growing trend in society as a whole to "take it for granted" to do so, regardless of whether there are penalties or not.

Accessibility is not something special, but is spreading as a natural effort to deliver services to more people.

So, what is the awareness and response to accessibility overseas?

When compared with representative countries such as the United States, the EU, and Canada, the differences between the situation in Japan and the US become clear.

Web Accessibility in Japan

Web accessibility in Japan is mainlyJIS X 8341-3:2016This standard is based onWCAG 2.0This was formulated with reference to the above, and future JIS revisions willWCAG 2.2It is recommended to build in accordance with the following flow.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is supporting compliance with this JIS (WCAG2.0).miCheckerWe provide a checking tool.

miChecker is an accessibility diagnostic tool that automatically checks parts that can be judged mechanically. As a result, there are many items that it cannot cover, and ultimately human judgment is required, but this is often neglected.

In addition, while "reasonable accommodation" is a major legal principle in the Act on the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities, it does not specify specific standards or compliance obligations for web accessibility, and there is no obligation to disclose the status of accessibility.Differences with other countries (such as the US and EU) that have clear legal obligations and disclosure systemsstands out.

The format of the report is also optional in Japan.VPAT（Voluntary Product Accessibility Template）With reference toInformation Accessibility Self-Assessment Form (Japanese VPAT)However, it is not widely used at present.

Web Accessibility in America

In America,Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires federal agencies to ensure accessibility when procuring information and communications technology (ICT).
The standard complies with WCAG 2.0 AAAs such,WCAG 2.1 AA compliance is recommendedIt has been done.

In the private sector,Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)Due to the high risk of lawsuits based on this, web accessibility is being actively addressed.

Many companies seek to demonstrate their accessibility compliance status in order to avoid the risk of lawsuits.VPAT（Voluntary Product Accessibility Template）UsingACR（Accessibility Conformance Report）The VPAT is used to evaluate each achievement criterion using the categories Supports, Partially Supports, Does Not Support, Not Applicable, and Not Evaluated, and the reasons for this are detailed and published as an ACR.

While utilizing automated testing tools such as axe-core and WAVE,Emphasis on humans making the final decisions and detailed evaluationsWe are doing it.
This is in contrast to Japan, where mechanical checks are the norm.

EU Web Accessibility

In the EU,EU Web Accessibility DirectiveBased on
EN 301 549Centered on the technical standardWCAG 2.1 AA compliantThe public sector's websites and mobile apps should also have the following features:Accessibility StatementThere are some points that require disclosure.

This declaration is like an expanded version of what is called an accessibility policy in Japan, and it is necessary to describe in detail the accessibility status of the site, any non-compliant parts, and alternative methods, and also to provide a means for users to report problems.Feedback Mechanismis also required to be provided.
A major difference is that while Japan's accessibility policy is in the form of publishing test results, the EU Declaration of Conformity also places emphasis on a system that allows users to directly report problems.

Among the items that are judged to be non-compliant according to the WCAG standards, we will pick out the most important and impactful non-compliant areas and clearly explain the reasons for this and future improvement plans.

In addition, from June 2025European Accessibility Act (EAA)The law imposes obligations on the accessibility of products and services offered by not only the public sector but also certain private companies operating in the EU market. This law applies to e-commerce sites, banking services, e-books, passenger transport services, etc., and these websites and apps must also meet WCAG 2.1 AA.EU Declaration of ConformityYou must provide documentation demonstrating compliance with the EAA.

Web Accessibility in Canada

Federal Laws Enacted in 2019ACA（Accessible Canada Act, 2019）provides the main framework for web accessibility. This law, like the EU Web Accessibility Directive,Refers to EN 301 549 as technical standardThis is a major feature.

Under the ACA, government agencies and certain private businesses (such as banks, telecommunications, and public transportation) are required to:Develop an organization-wide accessibility policyand progressPeriodically submitting Accessibility Compliance Reports to the governmentIt is mandatory to do so.
This report does not have to be made publicly available to users, but in practice it is often published as an Accessibility Statement, and the web portion is summarized in a form that shows the status of WCAG 2.1 AA compliance.

Apart from federal law, OntarioAODA（Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act）Like,If it is determined independently at the state levelAODA requires public sector organizations and large private businesses to comply with WCAG 2.0 AA (WCAG 2.1 AA is recommended), and requires accessibility conformance reports and, for large organizations,Multi-Year Accessibility PlanIt is required that the following be formulated and made public.

In Ontario, we are not only using automated testing tools,Usability testing with real users with disabilitiesThere is also a trend towards placing emphasis on accessibility. Educational institutions such as the University of Toronto are providing practical guidelines for developers, aiming to improve accessibility based on more realistic user experiences.

summary

Compared to other countries that are advanced in terms of web accessibility, Japan's web accessibility measures are still largely "obligation to make an effort" or "optional."
On the other hand, due to amendments to the Act on the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities and increased awareness in society as a whole, there is a good chance that more specific obligations and disclosure systems will be put in place in the future.

While tackling this as a task is important, making it accessible is more than just a natural step to deliver services to more people.

If you start making adjustments little by little now, you will be able to respond smoothly to future changes and it will also help users choose your site as a "safe and secure site."

It's not "I'm doing it because it's my duty," but "I'm doing it because I want to reach more people."
It seems that it will become increasingly important to incorporate accessibility with such a positive attitude!

Liberogic Accessibility Diagnostic Service

Liberogic offers an accessibility assessment service.
The unique feature of this service is that it provides professional diagnosis aimed at complying with international standards.

Instead of using miChecker, we use our own checklist, which is compatible with WCAG2.0 A to WCAG2.2 AAA, and utilize tools such as axe-core to thoroughly check even the areas where human judgment is essential, and provide a detailed diagnosis from identifying issues to specific methods of correction.

Our service also supports VPAT formatting and can provide an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) along with the inspection certificate.

Of course, we don't just provide diagnostic services; we also provide accessible website production/development that maintains creative quality!

As a member of the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP), Liberogic is committed to going beyond mere formal compliance.Inherent AccessibilityWe will support you in achieving this.