11/06/2025

European Accessibility Act 

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Digital Accessibility

Everything You Need to Know

Digital accessibility is about ensuring that everyone, including people with disabilities, can use digital products and services without barriers. According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, accessibility is a fundamental human right. Despite this, many digital solutions today are inaccessible, creating obstacles for a significant part of the population.

To change this, starting on June 28, 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) will take effect – meaning many businesses and organizations must meet new accessibility requirements to sell their products and services within the EU. 

What Does EAA Mean – and Who Is Affected? 

The EAA aims to harmonize digital accessibility requirements across the EU and applies to products and services in the following areas: 

  • E-commerce: Online stores and digital marketplaces must be fully accessible to users with disabilities, including support for screen readers, keyboard navigation, and clear interaction elements. 
  • Banking services: Online banking platforms and ATMs must offer accessible interfaces and features such as screen reader support, alternative authentication methods, and high contrast for visually impaired users. 
  • Electronic communication: Services such as email and customer portals must be designed to be usable by everyone, including individuals with motor and cognitive impairments. 
  • E-books: E-book platforms and readers must support alternative text, customizable fonts, and compatibility with text-to-speech programs. 
  • Transportation services: Digital booking systems for public transport, flights, trains, and buses must be accessible to individuals with mobility or cognitive impairments. 
  • Audiovisual media services: TV and streaming services must include support for subtitles, audio descriptions, and sign language interpretation. 

Other categories are also included, such as computers and operating systems, smartphones and other communication devices, as well as calls to the emergency number 112.

Laptop on coffee table

Products and services in these areas must comply with accessibility requirements according to EN 301 549, which is based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA. In some cases, WCAG 2.2 AA may also be relevant. These requirements include:

  • Alternative text for images and media
  • Clear contrast between text and background
  • The ability to navigate and interact using only a keyboard
  • Customizable text sizes and spacing
  • Clear language and structured content

If an organization fails to meet the requirements, it may face legal consequences. These can include fines imposed by national regulatory authorities, a market ban on offering non-compliant products and services within the EU market, and potential legal action from end users who can report accessibility issues and seek improvements or compensation.

Key Requirements – What Must You Do?

To ensure compliance, businesses and organizations should do the following steps:

Conduct a comprehensive accessibility audit to identify gaps in existing digital solutions. Automated tools such as axe DevTools, WAVE, and Lighthouse are useful for detecting technical issues, but they do not capture everything. Complement them with manual reviews and user testing to ensure real accessibility.

Implement measures based on WCAG 2.1 AA – The POUR principles should be followed:

  • Perceivable: Information must be accessible to everyone, regardless of sensory limitations. Example: Alternative text, clear contrast, customizable fonts.
  • Operable: Navigation and interaction must work with assistive technologies. Example: Keyboard navigation, predictable interactions.
  • Understandable: Information must be easy to read and use. Example: Plain language, consistent design
  • Robust: Content must be compatible with different technical solutions, including screen readers and AI-based assistants.

Train employees in digital accessibility. This means to ensure that designers, developers, and content creators have the necessary knowledge to create accessible content.

Ensure that subcontractors comply with the rules. When procuring services, accessibility requirements must be included in contracts.

Don’t skip to document and report. Organizations must establish routines to meet the requirements and conduct regular audits. Accessibility statements should be published on websites and updated regularly.

An inclusive digital experience isn’t just about legal compliance. It can increase business value by reaching more users, enhancing customer experience, and strengthening brand credibility.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Implementing digital accessibility can be challenging, and many organizations encounter similar obstacles. Here are the most common pitfalls and how to avoid them.

Understanding the Exact Requirements

Many businesses underestimate the complexity of accessibility requirements and assume that meeting basic WCAG levels is enough. The issue is that guidelines are not always easy to interpret and implement. The solution is to train your team and consult experts. Automated tools provide a good overview, but manual testing with real users is essential to identify practical barriers.

Implementing Changes on Time

One of the biggest mistakes is postponing accessibility work until the deadline approaches, leading to costly last-minute fixes. Plan actions early and prioritize key changes that have the greatest impact on usability. Integrating accessibility into the regular development process reduces the risk of late and expensive adjustments.

Testing with Real Users

Even if a website technically meets WCAG requirements, it does not necessarily mean it functions well for people with disabilities. User testing with individuals who have different needs is crucial for identifying real problems. Without this, you risk creating solutions that look good on paper but are difficult to use in reality.

Training the Entire Organization

Accessibility is not a one-time task for developers – it requires a long-term strategy where everyone in the organization, from designers and content creators to management and support staff, understands its importance. Regular training and clear internal guidelines ensure that knowledge remains up to date and applied at all levels.

Overcoming Internal Resistance and Resource Constraints

A common misconception is that accessibility work is time-consuming and expensive. In reality, inaccessible solutions often become more costly in the long run due to legal risks, customer losses, and negative publicity. Highlight the business benefits and ensure that management views accessibility as an investment rather than a cost.

Getting Started – A Practical Checklist

To succeed with digital accessibility, having a structured plan is crucial. Here is a practical checklist to ensure your organization is ready:

  1. Conduct an accessibility audit: Identify gaps in digital solutions using automated tools and manual testing.
  2. Train developers, designers, and content creators: Ensure they understand WCAG 2.1 AA and best practices for accessibility.
  3. Update websites and digital services: Implement improvements to meet accessibility requirements. Prioritize changes with the most significant impact.
  4. Test with real users: Involve people with different disabilities to ensure practical usability.
  5. Train staff and management: Educate everyone involved, from developers to decision-makers, to secure internal support.
  6. Ensure subcontractors comply: If you use external systems or services, confirm they meet accessibility standards.
  7. Document and report: Establish a long-term accessibility plan and publish an accessibility statement.

By following this checklist, you will create a more inclusive digital environment, minimize legal risks, and strengthen your market competitiveness.

Accessibility improves the user experience for everyone – not just those with disabilities. Businesses that implement accessible solutions often see positive effects on SEO, customer loyalty, and conversion rates. Additionally, legal risks and potential costs for later adaptations are reduced. 

And keep in mind: True accessibility doesn’t happen at the end of a project, it begins with how you build your digital products. HiQ’s agile software development services can help. Start now –July 2025 is just around the corner.

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