guide
RGAA on Joomla: complete compliance checklist
Implementing RGAA compliance on Joomla means addressing the platform's specific failure modes (older third-party templates, extension ecosystem inconsistency) while applying Référentiel général d'amélioration de l'accessibilité success criteria across content, code, and editorial workflow.
RGAA in 60 seconds
France's Référentiel général d'amélioration de l'accessibilité (RGAA) is the French government's national web accessibility methodology, currently at version 4.1, that operationalises EN 301 549 / WCAG 2.1 AA with 106 control tests and is mandatory for public-sector and (since the EAA transposition) large-private-sector French websites.
Joomla accessibility — what you are starting with
Joomla has improved accessibility significantly since version 4. The default Cassiopeia template targets WCAG 2.1 AA. Smaller ecosystem means fewer accessibility-ready extensions.
RGAA setup checklist for Joomla
1. Use Joomla 4+ and Cassiopeia: The most accessible reference template.
2. Audit extensions individually: Each extension brings its own template.
Common RGAA failures on Joomla
• Older third-party templates
• Extension ecosystem inconsistency
• Inaccessible component overrides
Putting it together
Combine RGAA's Level AA requirements with Joomla's native tooling. Bake accessibility into your component library and editorial workflow; instrument axe-core in CI for regression.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Cited answers. Sourced. Updated as standards and case law change.
Is Joomla RGAA-compliant out of the box?
Joomla 4+ core matches WordPress core in accessibility. Joomla's smaller extension ecosystem makes the ecosystem-level risk lower in some dimensions and higher in others.
What is the easiest path to RGAA compliance on Joomla?
Start with the platform's most-accessible default theme (where applicable), audit each installed plugin/extension/module, train content authors on alt text and heading hierarchy, and instrument axe-core in your CI pipeline.
Is Joomla as accessible as WordPress?
Joomla 4+ core matches WordPress core in accessibility. Joomla's smaller extension ecosystem makes the ecosystem-level risk lower in some dimensions and higher in others.
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