Website accessibility means adapting your site for use by people with disabilities. In Israel, it is a legal requirement for most business websites. The binding standard is Israeli Standard 5568, which adopts WCAG 2.0 AA guidelines. When building a new site, planning ahead pays off: in a professional website design process, accessibility is integrated during the strategy phase, saving time, money, and legal risk later. This guide answers the questions every business owner asks: what the law requires, how to implement it, and the costs involved.
What you need to know
- Israeli Standard 5568 adopts WCAG 2.0 AA guidelines and is the basis for website accessibility requirements in Israel.
- A non-accessible website exposes its owner to financial lawsuits, in some cases without the need to prove actual damage.
- Making an existing business website accessible usually costs ₪1,500 to ₪10,000, depending on the size and complexity of the site.
- Hundreds of thousands of users in Israel rely on screen readers, keyboard navigation, or display magnification. An accessible site reaches them too.
What does Israeli law say about web accessibility?
The legal framework is based on the Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities Law and the 2013 Service Accessibility Regulations, which state that services provided via the internet must be accessible. The practical meaning is simple: any website that sells, provides information, or offers a service to the public in Israel must comply with Israeli Standard 5568. Non-compliance leaves you exposed to lawsuits, where in some cases, the claimant is not even required to prove that actual damage was caused.
Who is required to comply
The obligation applies to most websites providing a public service: online stores, business websites, service sites, and institutions. However, there are certain exemptions and leniencies, mainly for small businesses based on their annual turnover. Requirements vary by business type and scale, so before making a decision, you should consult with a certified accessibility expert or a lawyer specializing in the field.
Website accessibility statement
Beyond technical adjustments, regulations require publishing an accessibility statement: a page detailing what has been made accessible, what exceptions exist, and who to contact if an issue is encountered. A proper statement also serves as a legal layer of protection: it shows the business is acting in good faith to meet requirements, even if specific gaps remain.
What does Standard 5568 actually include?
IS 5568 is based on the four principles of the WCAG guidelines: content must be perceivable, the interface must be operable, information must be understandable, and code must be robust for assistive technologies. The full text of the guidelines is published on the website of the W3C standards organization, the body that drafts global web standards.
In practice, requirements translate to tangible details: alt text for every image so screen readers can describe it, sufficient contrast between text and background for low-vision users, and full keyboard navigation. It also includes proper heading hierarchy, clear form labels, and the ability to stop flashing animations. Each item may seem small, but together they determine if a person with visual, hearing, or motor disabilities can use your site at all.
How to make an existing website accessible, step by step
A structured accessibility process prevents redundant work and ensures no part of the site is left behind. This is what a typical project looks like:
- Scanning and gap analysis. Automated and manual auditing of every template on the site: contrast, alt-text, heading structure, forms, and keyboard navigation.
- Code and template fixes. Adding ALT descriptions, fixing heading hierarchy, labeling form fields, and providing full keyboard navigation support.
- Design adjustments. Improving color contrast, increasing button and clickable area sizes, and marking a clear focus state for keyboard users.
- Testing with assistive technology. Running an actual screen reader through key scenarios: the homepage, contact forms, and the checkout process in an online store.
- Publishing the accessibility statement and ongoing maintenance. Every new page and plugin must be checked, or compliance will degrade over time.
For WordPress sites, the process is relatively simple because most templates are centralized. If you are unsure how to approach this on your site, you can find helpful background in our guide to website design and our guide on website design for small businesses.
Is an accessibility plugin enough?
An accessibility plugin alone is rarely enough. Common tools on the market add a useful functional layer: text enlargement, high contrast, animation freezing, and link highlighting. This is a real part of the solution, but it doesn't fix what is broken in the core code: an image without an ALT description will remain invisible to a screen reader even with the plugin, and a form without labels will remain unusable for anyone navigating by keyboard.
The right approach combines authentic code and content accessibility with a plugin that adds user-facing features. This ensures the site actually meets requirements, rather than just displaying a button for show. For those looking to dive deeper, there is a good overview in the Web accessibility entry on Wikipedia.
Common mistakes that fail website accessibility audits
The most common mistake is relying solely on automated testing. Automated tools only detect a fraction of issues. They can identify an image without a description, but they cannot tell if the written description actually describes the image. Only human testing, using actual screen readers and keyboard navigation, reveals the real gaps.
A second mistake is treating accessibility as a one-time task. The site is made accessible, a certificate is issued, and then ten new pages are uploaded without image descriptions or testing. Within six months, the site no longer complies. A third mistake concerns downloadable files: PDF documents scanned as images are unreadable by screen readers, so forms and price lists must be available as live text or on a parallel accessible page.
There is also the matter of video. Brand and tutorial videos require subtitles for the hearing impaired, and videos that autoplay with sound make it difficult for screen reader users. These are details that are easy to miss, which is exactly why you should work with experts who know the standard inside and out and audit every page on multiple levels.
How much does web accessibility cost in Israel?
The cost is derived from the size of the site, template complexity, and the state of the existing code. This table summarizes common ranges in the Israeli market:
| Website type | Accessibility cost range | Typical timeframe | What's included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small business website (up to 10 pages) | 1,500-₪4,000 | 1-2 weeks | Code fixes, image descriptions, accessibility statement |
| Medium business website | 4,000-₪10,000 | 2-4 weeks | All of the above plus forms, menus, and screen reader testing |
| Online store | 8,000-₪20,000 | 3-6 weeks | Full checkout process, product pages, filtering, and search |
| Ongoing Maintenance and Support | ₪200 to ₪800 per month | Ongoing | New content audits, statement updates, and fixes |
These figures reflect standard market ranges, and an exact quote is only determined after auditing the site itself. For a precise estimate, you are welcome to request a free initial accessibility audit.
How does web accessibility affect SEO?
Accessibility and organic SEO share a broad common infrastructure. ALT descriptions for images help screen readers and also help Google understand what is displayed on the page. Proper heading structure serves both. Fast loading and clean code improve the experience for every visitor and boost site rankings. Therefore, a site that undergoes a proper accessibility process usually gets a boost in search results as part of a broader organic SEO strategy.
There is also simple business logic at play here. An accessible website opens the door to more customers: older users with limited vision, people with motor disabilities who rely solely on keyboards, and even anyone browsing in bright sunlight who needs high contrast. Investing in accessibility pays for itself through both customer reach and legal protection.
Unsure if your site meets accessibility requirements?
Get a website accessibility audit and a full remediation quote from SGO, no obligation and in plain English.
Next steps
Website accessibility is a legal requirement, but it is also an opportunity to improve your site for all users. The first step is an audit to see where your site stands today. After the audit, prioritize fixes by severity, publish your accessibility statement, and establish a maintenance routine. For specific legal questions, we recommend consulting a certified accessibility expert, as requirements vary by business type. If you want to handle this as part of a broader upgrade, you are invited to get a structured plan that combines accessibility, speed, and SEO.
Frequently asked questions
Does every website in Israel have to be accessible?
What is an accessibility statement and why is it important?
Is an accessibility plugin enough to comply with the law?
How long does it take to make a website accessible?
What is the risk of not making the site accessible?
Last updated: July 2026. The information in this article is general and does not constitute legal advice.
Want more customers from your website? SGO specializes in digital marketing and SEO that brings traffic and leads.