Digital accessibility is a right, not a feature

When we think about accessibility in digital spaces, it is often seen as something extra.
A nice improvement. A “bonus” if there is enough time or budget.

But what if that thinking is completely wrong? What if accessibility is not an addition, but a right?

More than good practice

In youth work, we often talk about inclusion, participation, and equal opportunities.
But in digital environments, these values only become real if people can actually access what we create.

A young person cannot participate in an online workshop if they cannot follow the content.
They cannot learn if materials are not accessible.
They cannot express themselves if the platform itself creates barriers.

This is why digital accessibility is not just about improving quality.
It is about ensuring basic rights.

Accessibility as a human right

At the global level, accessibility is clearly recognised as part of human rights through the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This convention establishes that people with disabilities have the same rights as everyone else, including the right to access information and communication technologies.

In simple terms, this means:

digital spaces must be designed so everyone can use them.

Accessibility is not optional. It is a responsibility.

What this means in the European context

At the European level, this responsibility is further defined through policies such as the EU Web Accessibility Directive.

This directive requires publicly funded organisations (including many youth organisations working on Erasmus+ projects) to ensure that their websites, platforms, and digital materials are accessible. In practice, this includes:

• providing text alternatives for images
• ensuring content is readable and structured
• enabling navigation without a mouse
• making videos accessible through captions

Another important framework is the European Accessibility Act, which expands accessibility requirements to digital products and services more broadly.

Together, these frameworks send a clear message:

Accessibility is not a choice – it is a standard.

From obligation to everyday practice

Hearing about laws and policies can sometimes feel distant from everyday youth work.
But in reality, these frameworks directly affect how we design and deliver our activities.

If you are:

• creating an online course
• sharing materials with participants
• running a digital campaign
• managing a project website

you are already part of the digital environment where accessibility applies. And even beyond legal obligations, there is a deeper question:

What kind of spaces do we want to create?

Responsibility within youth work

The SEOywd curriculum highlights that youth organisations are not only facilitators of learning,
they are also duty-bearers when it comes to inclusion.

This means:

• recognising accessibility as part of quality standards
• planning activities with inclusion in mind from the beginning
• continuously improving digital practices
• and ensuring no one is unintentionally excluded

Especially in projects funded through programmes like Erasmus+, accessibility is part of the responsibility toward participants and communities.

Accessibility reflects our values

At its core, this is not only about compliance. It is about values. If youth work stands for:

• inclusion
• participation
• empowerment
• equality

then accessibility is the way those values are put into practice in digital environments. Without accessibility, inclusion remains an idea and not a reality.

A shift in thinking

Instead of asking:

“Do we have time to make this accessible?”

We need to start asking:

“Can we afford not to?”

Because every inaccessible document, platform, or activity sends a message, even if unintentionally:

This space is not for you.

And that is the opposite of what youth work aims to achieve.

This article is part of the SEOywd project, which developed a comprehensive curriculum to support youth workers in designing and implementing accessible digital content and inclusive online activities. Want to go further? Explore the SEOywd curriculum and discover practical tools to make your digital youth work more accessible and inclusive.