The European Accessibility Act (EAA) goes into effect on June 28, 2025, requiring businesses across the EU to ensure their websites, mobile apps, e-commerce platforms, banking services, and other digital products are accessible to people with disabilities.
This is about more than compliance—it’s about inclusion. Accessibility isn’t just a checklist; it’s a way to create better experiences for everyone.
Why This Matters
Right now, millions of people face challenges when using digital technology. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) follows EN 301 549, the EU's standard for making digital products and services accessible. This standard includes rules from WCAG, which help make websites and apps easier to use for people with disabilities. The current version of EN 301 549 (v3.2.1, released in 2021) requires websites and mobile apps to follow WCAG 2.1 Level AA. In the future, updates may require WCAG 2.2.
The EAA sets general accessibility rules, but each EU country decides how to enforce them and may add stricter requirements, setting clear expectations for accessibility in industries like:
E-commerce – Making shopping accessible for all.
Banking – Ensuring everyone can manage their finances independently.
Travel & Hospitality – Booking and planning should be seamless for everyone.
Telecom & Media – Communication and entertainment must be inclusive.
What’s at Stake?
Companies that fail to comply risk:
Fines & penalties
Legal complaints & lawsuits
Loss of market access in the EU
Damage to brand reputation
But let’s shift the focus-because accessibility isn’t just a legal obligation. It’s a business advantage.
Accessibility is an Opportunity
When we design with accessibility in mind, we create better, more usable products for everyone. Accessible design leads to:
More customers – A broader audience, including millions with disabilities.
Better SEO & engagement – Search engines favor accessible sites.
Stronger brand trust – Consumers prefer inclusive companies.
More innovation – Thinking inclusively sparks creativity.
What Can You Do Today?
Audit your digital platforms – Identify accessibility barriers.
Fix accessibility issues – Implement WCAG-compliant design and code.
Train your teams – Developers, designers, content creators—everyone plays a role.
Test with real users – Involve people with disabilities in usability testing.
Embed accessibility into your process – Make it part of how you build.
June 28, 2025, is approaching fast. But this isn’t just about meeting a deadline. It’s about building a world where everyone can engage fully and independently. Let’s not wait until the last minute-let’s design for inclusion now.
#Accessibility #EAA2025 #InclusiveDesign #DigitalInclusion #WCAG #UX #A11y #DesignForAll
