Is Your Website Ready for the European Accessibility Act?

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is an EU directive requiring businesses to make their products and services accessible to people with disabilities. Starting in June 2025, these regulations will apply to e-commerce websites, banks, mobile apps, e-books, and companies offering services to consumers.

Indications on how to design websites and mobile applications in accordance with the EAA are presented in The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). They include 4 principles, the implementation of which may require many activities (source: gov.pl):

1. Make it possible for users to use the website or application using the senses available to them. How?

• Equip images and photos with alt texts, so that blind people can find out what they represent.
• Prepare transcripts of audio and video materials, and provide subtitles and audio description for films.
• Use headings, lists, etc., so that the text has a logical, clear structure.
• Introduce highlights that are not based only on color.
• When choosing text colors, choose ones that will be easy to distinguish from the background.
• Make sure that after enlarging the text by 200 or even 400%, the content and functions are still visible and easily accessible. Make sure it is responsive, meaning that the screen view automatically adjusts to the screen width of the device.

2. Make sure that users can find and use content and functions regardless of how they navigate. This primarily includes enabling the site to be operated using both the mouse and the keyboard alone, but also:

• the ability to stop and turn off moving content, eliminating flashing elements;
• placing links that allow you to quickly go to specific content;
• ensuring that page titles and text headers are consistent with their content and understandable;
• properly describing links so that it is clear where they lead;
• in the case of forms—labels that clearly indicate what should be entered in a given field;
• avoiding complex gestures on touch screens, replacing them with simpler ones;
• the ability to turn off and change keyboard shortcuts.

Make sure that users understand the content and how the site or application works. This is where the principles of plain language come into play. According to this rule, you should also:

• explain any abbreviations used;
• define in the code of the page/application what is the content’s language;
• ensure that elements work consistently on all subpages and have a similar appearance;
• ensure that forms are understandable—in addition to the visible and understandable labels we mentioned in the previous point, also make sure error messages and tips on how to correct them are clear.

4. Make sure that the content and functions work correctly in many different user programs (not only in web browsers, but also, for example, in readers for the blind). This rule refers to strictly technical issues, such as code compliance with the HTML web standard.

Failure to comply with the EAA could result in financial penalties, loss of customers, and damage to your brand’s reputation. As digital accessibility becomes a priority, businesses that meet these requirements will gain a competitive advantage.

• Avoid fines and ensure legal compliance.
• Increase website traffic and improve SEO.
• Enhance brand reputation by showing commitment to inclusivity and corporate responsibility.
• Improve accessibility for all users, including seniors and people with disabilities.

• Accessibility audit – We identify areas that need improvement.
• Content adjustments – Simplifying language, adding ALT text and captions for videos.
• Comprehensive support – We ensure compliance in multiple European languages.