Designing inclusive and accessible websites means creating user-friendly experiences that also meet the needs of people with disabilities. In this context, developing accessible user experience design also enables users with disabilities to interact with digital products and services, whileusability testing allows for concrete evaluation and improvement of these experiences. This approach not only meets an ethical and social responsibility value, but is also a regulatory obligation. In fact, conforming to accessibility criteria is a requirement established by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) at the international level and by the Stanca Law in Italy. In addition, making one’s digital products and services accessible allows one to expand the pool of users who can interact with them. In fact, according to the World Health Organization, nearly 16 percent of the global population has a disability: making yourself accessible means opening up communication to a wider audience, overcoming barriers that limit access to content.

Meeting accessibility criteria is not only a good practice, it is also a regulatory obligation. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) set international standards to ensure inclusive websites, while in Italy the Stanca Law imposes minimum requirements for accessibility in public websites. From June 2025, with the entry into force of theEuropean Accessibility Act, this legislation will be extended to all private companies, excluding microenterprises under 10 employees and with an annual turnover not exceeding 2 million euros. This means that many companies will necessarily have to adapt and implement accessible solutions, not only to avoid penalties, but also to respond to a growing awareness of issues of inclusiveness.

User Experience (UX) Design refers to a design process that aims to create meaningful, enjoyable and useful experiences for users of a digital product, service or system: this requires the adoption of a number of technical and stylistic arrangements to ensure that everyone can interact with digital content without difficulty. This includes implementing elements compatible with assistive technologies, such as screen readers, keyboard navigation for users who cannot use a mouse, oroptimizing readability for those with cognitive disabilities. Another example of assistive technology is LIS2Speech, an open platform that uses neural networks, deep learning and computer vision to develop applications that can recognize and translate sign language in real time.

However, in addition to the design phase, the testing and feedback phase is essential, allowing the effectiveness of the user experience to be evaluated and any improvements to be made. This validation process, known as usability testing allows UX to be optimized in a focused and iterative manner because it is based on repeated cycles of design, testing, analysis and improvement.

An important role in the accessible design process is played by design systems, which are collections of rules, principles, and design components that enable designers and developers to design inclusive digital experiences that are accessible to all.
But what does it mean in concrete terms to design for accessible design?
To answer this question, it is essential to consider several essential aspects of accessibility and usability. Here are the main ones:

• Readable text: ensure that text is easily readable, using adequate contrast between text and background to reduce eye fatigue
• Intuitive navigation: design clear and intuitive navigation, with menus that are easily accessible even by keyboard. This allows all users to move easily between sections of the site, including people who do not use a mouse.
• Images with alt-text and captioned videos: provide descriptive alt-text for each image, allowing screen reader users to correctly interpret visual content. Include subtitles for all video content, ensuring access for hearing-impaired users.
• Accessible forms: create accessible forms with clear labels and simple instructions. Ensure that each field is navigable by keyboard and readable by assistive devices, so that interaction is easy for those with mobility or visual impairments.

To assess the degree of accessibility of Web sites, there are several tools that allow for targeted analysis and testing. Here are some of the tools available:

• WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool) and Axe Accessibility: both of these platforms offer analysis of web pages, identifying accessibility errors according to WCAG standards and proposing practical solutions to correct them.
• AccessScan and Pa11y: online and open-source tools that automate accessibility testing on Web sites, helping to detect issues according to ADA and WCAG standards.
• Google Lighthouse: an open-source, automated tool for improving the performance, quality, and correctness of web applications that assesses accessibility along with other performance metrics.

Although automated tools can identify technical accessibility problems, feedback from firsthand users is irreplaceable in fully understanding the effectiveness of the solutions adopted.Usability testing is an essential step in evaluating and optimizing the accessibility of digital products, ensuring that designed solutions work effectively for all users, regardless of their disabilities.

To conduct an effective usability test, it is critical to recruit participants with different disabilities, such as visual, hearing, motor, or cognitive impairments, to ensure that the product meets the needs of a wide range of users. Participants can use their devices configured with assistive technologies, such as screen readers or magnification software, in order tosimulate real-world conditions of use. Involving not only the project team (designers, developers, and content writers), but also researchers and experts in usability testing is crucial at this stage.

Designing accessible digital experiences is not just a matter of necessary compliance with regulatory guidelines, but represents a real opportunity for companies to grow and differentiate. Indeed, investing in inclusive UX design enables companies to break down digital barriers, promoting broad access to their products or services and meeting the needs of a diverse community. Moreover, proactive engagement from this perspective strengthens corporate reputation, communicating values of inclusiveness, respect and social responsibility.