Web Accessibility Compliance: The Big Picture
The ultimate goal is a fully accessible internet — one that works for people with disabilities that make standard browsing difficult: low or no vision, limited motor control, or cognitive differences that affect how information is processed.
However, because meeting accessibility standards involves real costs, lawmakers have defined clear boundaries around who must comply — and under what conditions an exemption may apply.
Who Is Required to Make Their Website Accessible, and Why?
First, the obligation applies to websites that provide a public-facing service — that is, a service intended for the general public. If your website is the platform through which that service is delivered, it must be made accessible. By contrast, a purely personal website that doesn't sell, advertise, or offer any service isn't subject to this requirement. "Public service" is defined broadly under the law and covers commerce, welfare, education, leisure, sports, hospitality, tourism, culture, communications, and more. In practical terms: any private business that delivers its services through a dedicated website — a law firm, an architect, a medical clinic, a dance studio, a pizzeria, a repair service, and so on — rather than simply being listed on a third-party site, is required to ensure its website meets the accessibility standard set out in the law.
Second, the following types of organizations are required to make their websites accessible:
- Any private entity operating a website for commercial purposes.
- Organizations offering services to the general public, even if they are non-profit — including charities and associations.
- Public authorities, such as government ministries and local or municipal bodies.
That said, even if your business or service meets the criteria above, there are situations where no accessibility obligation applies. Here are the conditions under which an exemption may be granted:
Automatic Exemptions
- A business with annual revenue below 100,000 ILS qualifies for an automatic exemption from the accessibility requirement — no action needed.
- A business with annual revenue below 1,000,000 ILS whose website was launched before October 26, 2017, also qualifies for an automatic exemption. In other words: any business whose website was built after October 26, 2017 and whose annual revenue exceeds 100,000 ILS is required to make its website accessible.
Applying for an Accessibility Exemption Based on Financial Hardship
Business owners may apply to the Equal Rights Commission for Persons with Disabilities for an exemption from the accessibility requirement on the grounds of significant financial burden. Applicants will need to substantiate their claim — and the bar is high. The Commission weighs a full range of factors alongside financial considerations: the nature of the service offered, the availability of alternatives, the size of the target audience, site traffic, the cost of remediation, and any alternative accessibility measures already in place. It then balances the values underlying the accessibility obligation against the specific circumstances of the applicant. The following businesses are eligible to apply:
- A business with annual revenue exceeding 100,000 ILS whose website was launched after October 26, 2017.
- A business with annual revenue exceeding 1,000,000 ILS.
Summary
When enshrining web accessibility into law, legislators were mindful of cases where imposing the full cost of compliance on lower-revenue businesses would be unjust — and rightly so. At UA, we work to eliminate that barrier from the outset: we offer small and medium-sized businesses a web accessibility package at a price that is genuinely fair and competitive, because we believe in real equality and a truly accessible internet for everyone with a disability.