How the Municipality of Leudal makes digital accessibility a matter of course
Digital services are now the norm. Residents expect to be able to submit applications at their convenience and no longer have to make unnecessary trips to the town hall. But the smarter and more digital processes become, the greater the risk that the human element will fade into the background.
We were astonished.
That's how Lisanne, web editor at the Municipality of Leudal, describes the moment when she and fellow web editor Fenny truly understood what digital accessibility means. It all started with a workshop in which a visually impaired participant demonstrated how he navigates a website using a screen reader. "It was hectic, frustrating, and above all, a revelation," says Lisanne. "That's when we knew: this has to change."
From law to awareness
The initial reason was simple: legislation. Municipalities must comply with accessibility standards. But at Leudal, it went beyond just ticking a box. "Everyone should be able to participate," says Lisanne. "Not only physically, but also digitally." That workshop made it clear that accessibility is not just for a small group, but for anyone who has difficulty with language, concentration, or digital skills.
Learning and improving together
After that wake-up call, Leudal enlisted the help of Frits Karskens, consultant at Shift2 and the leading accessibility expert. "He walked us through the rules, but more importantly, how to apply them," explains Fenny. "Accessibility isn't just one thing; it's about videos, texts, images, everything." The process was intensive and still is: every few weeks, we brainstorm together, come up with solutions, and improve step by step. "We are always looking for balance: how do you make it accessible and attractive?" adds Lisanne.
What Leudal improved in concrete terms
- Website audit by Cardan → A status achieved
- Alt texts and headings organized
- Videos with subtitles and audio scripts
- Replace PDFs with HTML pages where possible
- Accessibility button added for contrast settings
- New websites built according to WCAG as standard → also A status
“PDFs remain a challenge,” Fenny admits honestly. “But we will continue to push to make that change internally.”
Internal awareness increased
The biggest difference? Lisanne and Fenny have ensured that awareness is also increasing internally. "In the past, we only got involved at the end of a project, but now colleagues are increasingly asking us in advance to check whether communications meet accessibility requirements," says Lisanne. "That saves time and frustration. We are now sparring partners." Awareness is also growing internally. "We've even added subtitles to internal videos. That may seem like a small thing, but it makes a big difference."
Vision for the future
In five years' time, Lisanne and Fenny hope that accessibility will no longer be an extra step. "It should just be normal," says Fenny. Lisanne adds: "And it should be seen in a broader context: not only for the visually impaired, but also for people who have difficulty with language or digital skills. Everything is becoming more digital, so it must remain understandable for everyone."
Accessibility as an opportunity, not an obligation
The municipality of Leudal shows that digital accessibility is not an obligation, but an opportunity to allow everyone to truly participate. This starts with awareness, cooperation, and a good dose of perseverance.
Fenny puts it aptly: "We remain committed to sharing our knowledge of digital accessibility with our colleagues and strive to work together to raise the digital accessibility of the municipality of Leudal to a higher level."
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