European Accessibility Act: how to be ready for the digital future

There are 135 million people with disabilities in Europe. The European Accessibility Act is for them - but not only for them - and it's a must for digital businesses. Here's how you can prepare.

What is the European Accessibility Act?

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) was formally adopted by the European Union in 2019: member states had until June 28, 2022 to develop a concrete strategy for incorporating the Act into their national laws, and will have to implement these requirements by July 28, 2025.

It is a legislative initiative of the European Union aimed at making the digital world increasingly accessible to the entire population. It is based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and is inspired by the four principles of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

These stipulate that content must be:

• Perceivable: available in different forms and easily distinguishable for everyone (text alternatives for images or audio, regulation of text size and contrast...).
• Operable: all users must be able to interact with the interface and navigate through the content without problems (e.g. keyboard navigation).
• Understandable: the language must be clear and simple, the information architecture logical and supportive, so that users understand how to use the content effectively.
• Robust: Content must be reliably interpreted by various assistive technologies (such as screen readers and speech recognition software)

Companies must therefore enable all users to use their platforms, browse content, and request products and services, improving the user experience by applying a number of guidelines, including those established by WCAG 2.1*.

*The WCAG 2.2 version, which is not explicitly required by EAA 2025 but is useful to provide additional opportunities for users with disabilities, has also been published.

Affected products and services

The European Accessibility Act has a broad scope that aims to make all products and services used by people with disabilities accessible, from everyday products to entertainment and shopping. In detail, it regulates:

• Digital services: websites and mobile applications, both in the public and private sector
• E-commerce: online shopping platforms for purchasing goods and services
• Electronic devices: smartphones, computers and televisions
• Banking services: ATMs, banking applications and other financial services
• Transport: tickets, check-in systems and information for transport services
• Media: audio-visual services, including television broadcasting
• Publishing: e-books and electronic reading devices

Most digital products will therefore be affected by the EAA. The only ones who can apply for an exemption from the EAA on the grounds of excessive burden are small businesses with fewer than 10 employees or an annual turnover of less than two million euros.

But are we sure that it is not worthwhile for everyone to improve the accessibility of their platform? Let's see what the benefits of working on accessibility are for businesses!

The benefits for businesses

Accessibility is an ethical challenge, but it is also a great market opportunity for businesses. Just think about the number you read in the opening lines of the article: 135 million users you could acquire by making your platform more accessible.

Add to that the elderly population, who are often penalized by content that is unreadable, unintelligible and difficult to navigate because it is unclear and not designed according to the best UX standards.

In addition, we need to keep in mind that making content more accessible improves the experience for all users, including those without specific disabilities or issues. Also, the issue of inclusion is now part of the social consciousness of the population and is therefore something that is taken into account by consumers.

The benefits for businesses are therefore many and varied:

• Access to a wider audience
• Increased satisfaction for all users
• Improved brand image

Companies that do not comply with EAA requirements also risk legal sanctions, fines and, inevitably, damage to their reputation.

How to prepare for 2025

To be ready for the European Accessibility Act, you need to start working on your platform now: you need a timely assessment and strategic action plan. And someone to help you along the way.

The first step will be to analyze your digital product to understand how far you are from the standards set by the EAA: from there, you will be able to list and prioritize improvement actions so that you will be compliant in a year.

What can you do today?

• Request a consultation with experts: Contact professionals who can analyze your platform and identify improvement actions to take.
• Plan a dedicated budget: Plan for adequate resources to make necessary upgrades.
• Train your team: Train your team as well, with a focus on accessibility best practices, so they are fully aware of and compliant with the new regulatory landscape.
• Activate a monitoring plan: Actively monitor your platform and stay abreast of regulatory changes to anticipate necessary adjustments.

The European Accessibility Act represents an opportunity to build a more inclusive digital future. Companies that decide to be prepared for the 2025 deadline will meet the legal requirements and provide a better user experience for all their customers.

At 20tab, we have always designed software solutions starting with the users, including those with disabilities. Recently we worked with the 🟢Django Software Foundation to analyze the community platform and identify improvements to be applied to facilitate all users.

Rely on us to assess your platform's accessibility and bring it up to the standards set by the EAA.