The European Accessibility Act (EAA): Everything Your Business Needs to Know Ahead of the June 2025 Deadline
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is coming into place on June 28th, 2025 and it’s time to make digital assets accessible and compliant. Whether it’s your website, mobile apps, or other digital services, ensuring they are accessible to people with disabilities is not only the right thing to do but will soon be a legal requirement.
Preparing for compliance with these regulations might seem like a daunting task, but with the right strategy and tools, you can get ahead of the curve. Let’s take a look at what the EAA entails and how you can start laying the groundwork for a more accessible digital future.
Understanding the European Accessibility Act
The European Accessibility Act is designed to create consistent, unified accessibility standards across the EU. The act applies to a wide range of products and services, including:
- Websites and mobile apps
- Computers, operating systems, and smartphones
- Self-service devices (e.g., ATMs, ticket machines)
- E-commerce platforms
Rather than dictating specific technical solutions, the EAA focuses on meeting established accessibility standards, most notably the EN 301 549, which incorporates the WCAG 2.1 Level A and AA requirements.
Why Web Accessibility Matters
An estimated 100 million people in the EU live with some form of disability. Ensuring your digital assets are accessible not only widens your potential customer base but also demonstrates your commitment to inclusivity. People with disabilities are a vital consumer group that no business can afford to ignore.
The Road to Compliance
- Assess Your Current Accessibility: Start by evaluating your digital assets. An accessibility audit can help identify key issues that need to be addressed, such as non-compliant forms, navigation items, image settings, or inadequate colour contrast.
- Build a Strategy: Based on the audit, create a clear list to address the most critical issues first. Involve all stakeholders, from content creators to your agency or internal development team, to ensure accessibility becomes part of your company’s culture.
- Training & Tools: Equip your team with the knowledge and tools they need to create accessible content. Training staff and using accessibility monitoring tools will ensure compliance is maintained throughout your digital transformation.
- Test and Monitor: Conduct regular testing, both automated and manual, to ensure that updates and new features continue to meet accessibility standards. Don’t forget to include people with disabilities in user testing for a comprehensive review.
Why Acting on the EAA Now Is Critical
The penalties for non-compliance can be significant, ranging from fines to legal action. But the risks of inaction go beyond penalties. By not addressing accessibility, you risk alienating a large segment of your potential audience and damaging your brand’s reputation.
Investing in accessibility now can pay dividends later. Not only does it make your digital assets more inclusive, but it also opens your business up to a wider audience and reduces the cost of future retrofits as accessibility standards evolve.
What you can do ahead of the EAA coming into place
The path to EAA compliance may seem challenging, but with a well-thought-out strategy, you can ensure your business meets the June 2025 deadline. By embracing digital accessibility, you’re not just adhering to the law – you’re positioning your brand as a leader in inclusivity.
Take the first step today by instructing Wish to conduct an accessibility audit and then build a strategy that incorporates the best practices for digital inclusion on all existing digital assets, but also setting the foundations for future digital tools.
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