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RGAA on Webflow: complete compliance checklist

Implementing RGAA compliance on Webflow means addressing the platform's specific failure modes (visual-first design ignoring heading hierarchy, custom interactions without keyboard fallback) while applying Référentiel général d'amélioration de l'accessibilité success criteria across content, code, and editorial workflow.

Kai Schmidt · IAAP CPACC · Document accessibility specialist (PDF/UA-1)3 min readPublished · Updated

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.

Webflow accessibility — what you are starting with

Webflow has invested heavily in accessibility tooling — built-in audit panel, semantic tags, focus styling controls. Failures are typically the designer treating Webflow as a pure visual tool and ignoring semantic structure.

RGAA setup checklist for Webflow

1. Run Webflow's built-in Audit panel: Webflow ships an accessibility audit panel (Audit tab in the Designer). Resolve all critical and serious issues.

2. Use semantic tags: Convert Div Blocks to header/nav/main/footer where appropriate. Set heading levels via the H1–H6 controls, not visual styling.

3. Test custom interactions: Webflow Interactions are JS-driven; verify they work via keyboard and announce state changes to AT.

Common RGAA failures on Webflow

• Visual-first design ignoring heading hierarchy

• Custom interactions without keyboard fallback

• Inaccessible CMS Collections renderers

• Modal trigger components without focus-trap

• Inaccessible form messages

Putting it together

Combine RGAA's Level AA requirements with Webflow'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 Webflow RGAA-compliant out of the box?

    Webflow produces semantically correct HTML if the designer uses semantic tags. The platform provides the controls; the designer is responsible for using them.

  • What is the easiest path to RGAA compliance on Webflow?

    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 Webflow accessible by default?

    Webflow produces semantically correct HTML if the designer uses semantic tags. The platform provides the controls; the designer is responsible for using them.

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