RGAA – French Accessibility Standard for Digital Accessibility
The Référentiel Général d’Amélioration de l’Accessibilité (RGAA) is France’s official standard for ensuring digital accessibility. It provides a clear and enforceable framework for public websites and applications to be accessible to people with disabilities. The RGAA is based on international standards, particularly the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), but adapted to French legal, linguistic, and technical contexts.
RGAA is a cornerstone of France’s efforts to make the digital environment inclusive and barrier-free for everyone, including people who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, or have cognitive or motor disabilities.
What Is RGAA?
The RGAA is a regulatory framework created under the Law No. 2005-102 on the equal rights and opportunities, participation, and citizenship of persons with disabilities. It has been updated several times, with RGAA version 4 (v4) being the current standard as of its latest update.
It is mandatory for:
- Public sector bodies (ministries, local governments, public hospitals, etc.)
- Organizations with public service missions
- Some private companies, especially those exceeding certain thresholds of annual revenue and web traffic
Key Objectives of RGAA
- Ensure equal access to digital content and services for all users
- Reduce digital exclusion
- Align national accessibility with WCAG 2.1 Level AA criteria
- Provide a testable, actionable, and language-adapted checklist for developers and designers
Structure of RGAA
RGAA is built around a set of technical criteria and tests derived from WCAG 2.1 but written specifically for French-speaking developers and site owners. It contains:
- 13 accessibility themes (e.g. images, colors, forms, multimedia, navigation)
- 106 test criteria across all themes
- Detailed test methods, expected outcomes, and failure examples
The structure allows for systematic auditing, whether manually or with the support of automated tools, and serves as a guide throughout the entire lifecycle of a digital project.
Legal Requirements
Public websites in France must:
- Comply with RGAA 4 requirements (WCAG 2.1 Level AA equivalent)
- Publish an accessibility statement (déclaration d’accessibilité) outlining compliance and any known issues
- Include a feedback mechanism for users to report accessibility problems
- Update their compliance status regularly (at least annually)
Enforcement is overseen by the Direction interministérielle du numérique (DINUM) and monitored by authorities such as La Défenseure des droits.
Why RGAA Compliance Matters
More than 12 million people in France live with a disability. RGAA compliance ensures they have equal access to:
- Government services
- Healthcare and education portals
- Employment platforms
- Public information and cultural content
RGAA also improves usability and quality for all users, not just those with disabilities. For developers, compliance helps avoid legal risk, supports ethical design, and meets growing expectations for inclusive digital services.
