Digital architectural barriers: what they are and how to break them down

When we think of architectural barriers, we imagine stairs without ramps or doors that are too narrow, but in the digital world, on websites, apps, and online services, there are invisible obstacles that can exclude millions of people: digital barriers.

In this article we will discover what they are and how we can eliminate them, with concrete examples, tools already available and an essential reference to international accessibility standards.

What are digital barriers?

Digital barriers are any obstacles that prevent a person with a disability from using a website, app, or online service in a perceptible, usable, understandable, and robust way.

Examples:

• A site without alt text for images. If a blind person uses a screen reader and the image doesn't have a text description, they'll only hear the file name (e.g., "image.jpg") and won't know what it represents.

• Video without subtitles. Those who are deaf or hard of hearing, or simply have the volume turned down, cannot follow the content.

• Some people don't use a mouse and navigate exclusively with the keyboard. If form fields or website entries aren't programmed correctly, they may be unable to navigate or fill out forms (incorrect tab order, focus missing, unreachable elements).

• Text with colors that do not meet the minimum contrast, such as light gray text on a white background, may be illegible to people with low vision or visual impairments.

  
  

These are just some of the many examples we can give.

I personally happened to try to watch an informational video on a university, therefore institutional, website and discover that it had no subtitles.

It was accessible to me, but I immediately put myself in the shoes of many of my deaf friends who wouldn't have been able to follow it.

This topic is very important to me because I have many friends with whom I communicate in LIS (Italian Sign Language), and over the years I have taken several LIS courses precisely to get closer to their reality.

For this reason, I always add subtitles to my videos on my social media too, so that everyone can follow them without barriers.

So, can we break down these invisible barriers? Of course!

Here are some tips:

• Use simple language and not the usual big words → write short sentences, avoid unnecessary technical jargon

• We plan to test with people with disabilities, because reading a guide is not enough → co-design and usability testing with real users

• We evaluate specialized accessibility consultancies (for example: dedicated companies like AccessiWay ), open-source tools and independent audits.

• We also train developers, friends, and acquaintances to recognize accessibility issues, because digital barriers are often hard to spot and silently exclude some users.

  
  

Basic technical mini-checklist

• Alt text for images

• Subtitles/captions for videos

• Keyboard navigation

• Visible focus on selected items

• Clear labels in forms

• Sufficient contrast between text and background

• Understandable error messages

Making the web accessible means giving everyone (not just people with disabilities) the same opportunities to participate.

Helpful resources:

• “How to Meet WCAG 2.2 – Quick Reference” (W3C)

• Standard EN 301 549 (EU)

• AgID Guidelines (Italy)

• European Accessibility Act

Have you encountered any digital barriers? Tell us about your experience!