According to the <a href="https://webaim.org/projects/million/" aria-label=”webaim million report external”>WebAIM Million report (a review of 1,000,000 home pages), 94.8% of home pages had detected WCAG 2 failures. This is an incredibly high number if we think that 1 in 4 people worldwide experience a type of disability. Statistics like this are the starting point to understand the importance of the EAA and its development throughout the years.
The digital accessibility journey in Europe began with the introduction of the Web Accessibility Directive (2016), which focused on ensuring that public sector websites and apps improve their accessibility standards. However, as digital services evolved and the needs of people with disabilities became increasingly recognised, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) was introduced in 2019 to improve digital accessibility in the private sector. As mentioned before, the EAA enforcement date is 28th June 2025, which will extend accessibility requirements, previously demanded only by the public sector, to private companies as well, making compliance essential for businesses offering digital products and services across the EU.
If your organisation offers services or information online, it is more than time to think about digital accessibility and inclusive user experiences. This guideline will help businesses operating in sectors such as e-commerce, SaaS, and online digital services.
We have mentioned, and you have probably read in other content, that the European Accessibility Act was created to eliminate barriers for people with disabilities, making digital products and services accessible to all audiences. For example, users who rely on screen reader support, like people with blindness or low vision, accessing pages with poorly structured headings and buttons can be challenging or impossible.
Ultimately, what the EAA requires is that all businesses operating within the EU (even companies that are not based in Europe) that offer a mobile app, e-book, e-commerce platform, or simply provide information online, must meet accessibility standards.
The Annex 1 of the Directive highlights - "The demand for accessible products and services is high, and the number of persons with disabilities is projected to increase significantly. An environment where products and services are more accessible allows for a more inclusive society and facilitates independent living for persons with disabilities."
This section of the Annex makes it clear that the Act represents an important step in creating a more inclusive society, enabling individuals of all abilities to live independently — especially considering that in today’s digital world, a major part of our everyday lives is online and it is only fair that everyone has equal access.
Another essential part to remember is that businesses must be compliant to avoid potential risks and legal penalties. Further, we will explore some of the key benefits of being compliant with the EAA.
If your business is providing digital products and services within the EU, the EAA probably applies to your company. The regulation specifies that the Act will affect businesses in the following area:
The Act applies to B2B and B2C organisations, with different implications for each. In both cases, ensuring digital accessibility is crucial to meet consumer demands and legal obligations, and it can also become a competitive advantage.
The European Accessibility Act applies to most SMEs and larger organisations but leaves small businesses exempt from its terms. That means that microenterprises (businesses with fewer than 10 employees or an annual turnover below €2 million) are exempt from the EAA.. Despite this, investing in accessibility and inclusion is the just right thing to do and has many other associated benefits.
Companies from the UK may be confused about whether they should comply with the EAA post-Brexit. And the answer to that is simple and applies to all countries outside of the European Union as well as just the UK.
The European Accessibility Act mandates that businesses that operate within the EU must be compliant with its terms. That means that businesses that provide services or products in any European country must follow all the requirements determined by the Act, despite whether or not the company is based in the EU itself.
To meet the EAA compliance, websites and digital services must be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust (often referred to as the POUR framework) for users with disabilities. This is achieved by adhering to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1 Level AA) and EN 301 549 standards, which serve as the technical baseline for accessibility.
The requirements were designed to eliminate barriers that are faced daily by many users with disabilities. According to the WHO, “An estimated 1.3 billion people – about 16% of the global population – currently experience significant disability. This number is increasing due in part to population ageing and an increase in the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases.”
Let's take a person with hearing loss as an example. If part of your communication involves videos and they are presented with no subtitles, this person will not have the possibility to properly consume your web content, unless they ask for assistance from another person.
We can use the same video example to specify a barrier encountered by people with low vision or blindness. Without an audio description (that describes visual elements and actions) or maybe a descriptive transcript (a text version that includes dialogue, sounds, and visual descriptions), they will have difficulty effectively understanding this content.
Some key EAA requirements include:
For people who are blind, it's important that digital content can be understood without relying on sight. Here’s how to help make that happen:
Not everyone sees clearly, even with correction. To support users with limited vision:
Some people can’t distinguish certain colours, so using colour alone can be a barrier. A more inclusive approach is to:
For users who are Deaf or have profound hearing loss, audio content needs to be supported in visual ways. You can help by:
Many people have partial hearing or use assistive devices. To make content accessible to them:
Motor challenges can make some interactions difficult or even impossible. To support users with limited mobility or strength:
Cognitive and learning differences can affect how someone processes information. To make content easier to understand:
Flashing content can be challenging for some users. To keep everyone safe:
In 2019, the European Parliament formally adopted the European Accessibility Act (EAA), aiming to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities across the EU.
By June 28, 2022, all EU Member States were required to incorporate the EAA into their own national laws. This was a critical step to ensure that each member country aligned with the European Union's accessibility requirements.
From June 28, 2025, the enforcement of the EAA will officially begin. At this point, businesses must meet accessibility requirements for digital products and services.
The EAA regulations are the same for all European countries, but the penalties are different per country as each country determines their own level of penalties. Each EU member state is responsible for transposing the EAA directive into its national legal framework. This can involve creating new laws, amending existing ones, or adopting regulations. For example, the EAA has been transposed into Irish law in the form of EU (Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Sector Bodies) Regulations 2020 and S.I. No. 636/2023. Both now provide guidance for Irish businesses in relation to upcoming accessibility obligations, helping companies in Ireland to prepare well ahead of the compliance deadline.
The EAA regulations are consistent across all European countries, but penalties vary, as each country determines its own enforcement levels. Businesses should stay informed about local variations to ensure compliance and avoid risks. Stay tuned to the Nexus blog where we will be discussing risks of non-compliance with EAA across different EU member states over the coming weeks and months.
Complying with the EAA offers a range of benefits. And we know that the financial and reputational impact is valuable when we talk about business success. With that in mind, here are some of the key benefits:
But the real benefit of EAA compliance will be reflected in users routinely. Although this list is strong and relevant, adhering to this regulation represents more than just compliance, it can change lives.
“Technology has enabled me to live independently and overcome many obstacles in my life. The EAA is an extension of that and will allow people of all abilities to live independently in our digital world.” Kyran O’Mahoney, Founder at Nexus Inclusion.
Being compliant with the European Accessibility Act has many benefits, but failure to adhere to it can result in a range of serious consequences that impact both the financial and reputational standing of a business. Including:
Ignoring the European Accessibility Act (EAA) can lead to real consequences, like fines or mandatory changes to your services. The penalty often depends on how serious the issue is and how big the business is. Either way, non-compliance can affect both your budget and how smoothly things run.
Customers, clients, and partners are paying attention, and if they see a lack of inclusion, trust can quickly decrease, and negative press can follow. Falling short can hurt your brand’s reputation.
When digital experiences exclude people with disabilities, you're essentially turning away potential customers. That means fewer sales, missed partnerships, and a shrinking share of a growing market that’s actively seeking accessible solutions.
Compliance with the EAA is essential to avoid facing additional regulatory demands that can disrupt operations. That can mean unexpected demands, added costs, and operational headaches down the line.
In the United States, where the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has been in effect since 1990, several notable lawsuits have highlighted the importance of digital accessibility. Here are two important cases:
With a comprehensive understanding of the Act, the next step is learning how to prepare for EAA compliance. Before moving to the list, businesses should know that this is a continuous effort that involves monitoring as its core. To start, here are some of the key steps to build a structured roadmap:
The first step is thoroughly reviewing websites, mobile apps, and digital services to assess alignment with WCAG 2.1 AA and EN 301 549 standards. When you detect accessibility gaps early, the company can prioritise and resolve barriers before it becomes a legal issue.
A good start, especially talking on the foundation of your design and development structure, is to work around the POUR principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust. These principles will guide the team when thinking of accessible digital experiences.
Accessibility tools are big helpers to detect and resolve issues quickly. Platforms such as Nexus Inclusion can do automated audits, monitor accessibility performance, and generate actionable insights.
Training on accessibility standards and inclusive design is another good way to implement digital accessibility and, more importantly, to maintain it. Nexus Inclusion’s Learning & Certification programmes build internal expertise and support continuous improvement.
A clear, public-facing accessibility statement demonstrates your commitment and outlines your compliance efforts. It also communicates how users can request assistance or report barriers. Another important fact is that it is a requirement based on the EAA regulations.
Establish channels for users to share accessibility feedback and ensure there's a process for acting on it. Engaging directly with users can highlight real-world challenges and opportunities for improvement.
Achieving compliance is important, but maintaining it is also valuable. Set up ongoing monitoring to catch new issues introduced by updates, content changes, or third-party integrations. Regular checks help maintain compliance over time.
The EAA Compliance audit should be the first step for any company. It will show all the points that require an accessibility update just so teams can work on the priorities and develop their Accessibility Statement, which is a requirement. Some key elements to check include:
To ensure alignment with the EAA requirements download our EAA Compliance Checklist. It includes step-by-step tasks and a clear summary of relevant WCAG criteria, helping ensure your website is accessible and usable for all.
While self-assessments can offer important insights, they can be time-consuming and susceptible to errors. A third-party audit brings intelligent tools, professional expertise and guidance on how to resolve issues. With a professional accessibility audit, the company can have an accurate evaluation, avoid costly mistakes, save time, and be in alignment with accessibility standards, reducing the risk of non-compliance penalties.
Nexus Inclusion offers comprehensive, automated audits that efficiently detect and analyse common accessibility issues. The audits are performed in minutes, providing a comprehensive report of issues and actionable insights. Our tool was designed to help organisations enhance digital accessibility and align with regulatory requirements such as the EAA.
At Nexus Inclusion, we are passionate about bridging the digital divide. If your immediate concern is to ensure that your digital products meet the requirements of the European Accessibility Act, then our platform will help you to do so. But we can also help you to go above and beyond web accessibility compliance to ensure that your products are genuinely inclusive. We offer:
Through a combination of automation and expert-backed methodologies, Nexus Inclusion provides the clarity and structure needed to address accessibility challenges at scale. From websites to digital products and media content, our solutions adapt to your organisation's unique requirements.
By offering a clear overview of accessibility gaps and guiding remediation efforts, we help reduce compliance risks while improving the overall user experience. The platform also supports collaboration across teams—ensuring design, development, marketing, and content management all align with inclusive digital practices.
With Nexus Inclusion, businesses can confidently move towards EAA compliance while fostering digital environments that are inclusive and user-friendly.
At Nexus Inclusion, we believe that accessibility alone is not enough. Our mission is to prioritise inclusion as a core element of every digital experience, ensuring that people of all abilities are not just accommodated, but fully engaged in the digital world. By combining human insight with advanced technology, we help organisations of all sizes meet the requirements of the European Accessibility Act and create truly inclusive digital products.
Founded by Kyran O'Mahoney, Nexus Inclusion is backed by a dedicated team of accessibility experts who are passionate about building a more inclusive online environment. With extensive experience and a clear purpose, the team is here to support businesses at every step of their journey.
"We need to move beyond Digital Accessibility, which is about making accommodations for people with different abilities. As someone who has grown up with limited vision, I don't want to be accommodated. I want to be included in every aspect of life," Kyran O’Mahoney, Founder
Our AI-driven platform plays a vital role in scaling accessibility efforts, offering efficient, reliable tools for assessment, remediation, and ongoing compliance.
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