Royal Decree 1112/2018: Spain’s Public Sector Web Accessibility Law
Overview
Royal Decree 1112/2018 is a Spanish law that ensures websites and mobile apps owned by the public sector are accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. The goal is to make digital services easy to use for all citizens, regardless of their abilities.
Key Requirements
- Accessibility Standards: Public sector websites and apps must meet specific accessibility standards (mainly the UNE-EN 301549 standard). This includes features like readable text, keyboard navigation, and compatibility with screen readers.
Compliance Deadlines:
- New websites: Those published after September 23, 2018, had to comply by September 23, 2019.
- Older websites: Those published before September 23, 2018, had until September 23, 2020, to meet the requirements.
- Mobile apps: Had to be accessible by June 23, 2021.
- Accessibility Statement: Organizations must publish an accessibility statement on their website, explaining how accessible their content is and how to report any issues.
- Exceptions: Some content, like archived documents or third-party tools, may be exempt if making them accessible is impossible.
Why It Matters
This law helps ensure that everyone, including people with visual, hearing, or motor disabilities, can access public services online without barriers.
Official Source
This explanation is based on the official document *Royal Decree 1112/2018*, published in the BOE (Spain’s Official State Gazette). You can read the full text here: BOE-A-2018-12699.