June 28, 2025. That’s the day the European Accessibility Act (EAA) officially kicks in across the EU. For organizations offering digital products or services in the European market, this represents a significant regulatory milestone requiring preparation and adaptation.
Accessibility requirements aren’t new, but the EAA introduces a unified directive that makes digital accessibility legally binding. Websites, mobile apps, e-commerce platforms, and digital documents must be accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. Non-compliance carries potential consequences ranging from financial penalties to market restrictions. Let’s break it all down without the legalese.
What Is the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?
The Purpose of the EAA
The EAA aims to level the digital playing field by ensuring people with disabilities can use everyday technology—websites, ATMs, mobile apps, online stores—without barriers. But there’s more to it. By standardizing accessibility rules across member states, the EAA also helps businesses. No more juggling different regulations in different countries. One rulebook, one direction. That’s a win for users and companies.
Who Needs to Comply?
If you’re offering a digital service or product that’s available to consumers in the EU, you’re in scope. It doesn’t matter if your company is based in Canada, the U.S., or anywhere else. If Europeans can access it, the EAA applies.
Only micro-enterprises (fewer than 10 employees and less than €2 million in annual revenue) are exempt. All other organizations must achieve compliance.
What’s Covered – Products and Services in Scope
Here’s the short list that’s actually not so short:
– Websites and mobile apps
– E-commerce platforms
– E-books and e-readers
– Online banking and ATMs
– Transport ticketing systems
– Streaming platforms and digital TV
– Self-service terminals like check-in kiosks
If it’s digital and public-facing, odds are, it’s covered.
The Key Date: June 28, 2025
Enforcement begins on this date. Services already on the market before then have extended compliance periods (until 2030 in some cases), but new or updated digital offerings need to meet compliance from day one. After the deadline, monitoring mechanisms activate, complaints can be filed, and audits occur.
Understanding the EAA’s Digital Accessibility Requirements
Core Accessibility Principles
The EAA isn’t prescribing how to build things—it’s saying what the result should be: digital experiences that are perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. Basically, your users should be able to see it, use it, make sense of it, and rely on it to work consistently across technologies.
Harmonized Standards: WCAG 2.1 / EN 301 549
Most teams will follow WCAG 2.1 Level AA to check those boxes. It’s the same set of standards that web professionals around the globe use. If you’re already aiming for WCAG compliance, you’re halfway there.
In the EU, the go-to technical spec is EN 301 549. It builds on WCAG and adds layers specific to mobile apps, documents, software, and hardware. WCAG provides the foundation, while EN 301 549 offers a comprehensive compliance checklist.
Documentation, Accessibility Statements, and Ongoing Responsibility
Meeting standards isn’t sufficient; organizations must document compliance. This includes maintaining updated accessibility statements explaining how products comply, what exceptions exist, and where users can seek assistance.
Accessibility Readiness Checklist for Digital Platforms
Websites and Web Applications
– Semantic HTML structure (headings, landmarks, lists)
– Alt text for all informative images
– Keyboard navigability throughout
– Visible focus indicators
– Accessible forms with labels and clear error messaging
– Colour contrast that meets WCAG ratios
– Logical tab order and descriptive links
Mobile Apps
– Screen reader support (VoiceOver, TalkBack)
– Accessible labels for icons and buttons
– Keyboard support and logical focus order
– Responsive to user settings like text size or dark mode
– Alternatives for complex gestures
– High-contrast UI elements
E-commerce and Online Services
– Product descriptions and images with proper alt text
– Accessible filters, sliders, and dropdown menus
– Checkout flow that works with screen readers and keyboards
– ARIA roles for dynamic content
– Clear error handling on forms
– Accessible support/contact options
Digital Documents (PDFs, Word, etc.)
– Tagged PDFs with headings and reading order
– Alt text for all images and charts
– Accessible tables with headers
– Bookmarks for navigation
– Descriptive link text
– Available in alternate formats when requested
Common Accessibility Issues and How to Fix Them
Missing Alt Text
This is still one of the most overlooked issues. If an image carries meaning and there’s no alt text, a screen reader user is left in the dark. It’s like describing a movie with the sound off.
Poor Colour Contrast
While design trends may favour muted tones, accessibility requires clarity. Text that blends into backgrounds becomes unusable for people with low vision. Think of contrast like volume—if it’s too low, people won’t hear your message.
Broken Keyboard Navigation
A flashy dropdown menu that can’t be accessed with a keyboard? That’s a hard stop for many users. If you can’t tab through it, it’s broken.
Inaccessible Forms
Unlabeled form fields, unclear error messages, or CAPTCHAs without audio alternatives create unnecessary friction in the user experience.
Vague Link Text
“Click here” doesn’t tell you anything. Especially if you’re hearing the links out of context. Be specific. Be descriptive.
PDFs That Can’t Be Read
Scanned images of documents? Totally invisible to screen readers. Accessible documents need structure, tags, and text that can be navigated.
Steps to Get Your Organization EAA-Ready
Run an Accessibility Audit
Before remediation, identifying existing issues is essential. Effective audits combine automated tools with human testing for comprehensive evaluation.
Fix Existing Issues and Prioritize Compliance
Not all accessibility issues carry equal weight. Prioritizing barriers that completely block users—navigation, forms, media, and key flows like checkout—creates a practical remediation roadmap.
Train Teams and Build Accessibility into Your Process
Accessibility is most effective when distributed across teams rather than siloed with a single individual. Designers, developers, marketers, and QA all play critical roles in maintaining accessible experiences.
Continuously Test and Monitor
Accessibility requires ongoing vigilance. New content, redesigns, and updates all necessitate accessibility checks to maintain compliance over time.
Finalize Your Accessibility Statement and Conformity Docs
Accessibility statements are more than documentation—they signal a commitment to users. Effective statements are honest, clear, and regularly updated.
Stakeholders: Who Needs to Be Involved?
Designers and Developers
These roles shape the foundational experience. Building accessibility into components from the start prevents retrofitting issues later.
Content Creators
Content teams control what users read and hear. From alt text to readable language, they shape understanding.
QA and Testers
Quality assurance catches what others miss. Keyboard traps, focus management issues, and missing labels are often identified during thorough testing.
Legal and Compliance Teams
These departments understand regulatory requirements and associated risks. They provide guidance on standards and declarations.
Customer Support and Product Managers
Front-line teams interact with users and often hear accessibility complaints first. Their preparation for addressing accessibility-related issues is crucial.
Business Leaders and Executives
Leadership controls budgets and priorities. When executives prioritize accessibility, organizational efforts gain momentum; without their support, initiatives stall.
Final Thoughts: Compliance Is a Commitment, Not a Checkbox
Accessibility is about showing up for every user, every time. The European Accessibility Act drives progress toward digital experiences that work for everyone, creating better products for all users regardless of ability.
Need a hand getting there? Trew Knowledge helps organizations build accessible, scalable, and beautifully crafted digital platforms. Whether you’re launching a new site or remediating an existing one, we’ll help you meet the moment—and the mandate. Let’s make your digital platform work for everyone.
