Leaders - Widzialni
Understandability – A New Dimension of Accessibility
Accessibility is just the beginning. Today, we go further – toward understandability.
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) introduces the obligation to communicate information in an understandable way but doesn't explain what understandability is or how to measure it. And since it has become mandatory, it must be researched and reported.
Widzialni (the Visibles) has developed a research methodology that fills this gap and helps organizations genuinely meet EAA requirements. We combine technology, plain language, and user experience – the three pillars of modern accessibility.
Three Pillars
The model is based on three mutually complementary elements:
- Expert evaluation – assessing compliance with WCAG principles,
- User testing – analysing the experiences of people with specific needs,
- Plain language assessment – evaluating language, logic, and structural intuitiveness.
Because a website, an app, or a document can be technically accessible yet still not understandable. True accessibility begins only when users understand where they are, what they need to do, and what the outcome of their action will be.
What Affects Understandability
Understandability is influenced by technical, linguistic, and cognitive factors. Our methodology combines these into one coherent model that analyses complexity, depth, texts, and navigation structure – so that content is logical, predictable, and cognitively friendly.
To truly measure understandability, we consider criteria from the three WCAG Understandable principles. We overlay technology with a linguistic layer – plain language. And plain language here isn't decoration but a tool for equal access to information. It's a communication standard that helps audiences quickly find the content they need, understand it better, and act more effectively.
Combining these two perspectives – technical and linguistic – is precisely what understandability means. Even the best-designed, technically accessible content won't be effective if users don't understand its meaning. Because accessibility without understandability is only half the journey.
This Method Works
This methodology is a tool that organizes processes, supports reporting, and helps genuinely fulfil legal requirements. But most importantly – it transforms the user experience: from "I'll manage" to "I'll do this efficiently."
Because WCAG compliance is just the beginning. Understandability is the goal.