The EAA aims to improve the accessibility of products and services throughout the EU. This includes online commerce (e.g. online shops, appointment booking, contact forms, etc.), but also personal devices such as computers and smartphones, public services such as ATMs, ticket machines, public transport and banking services. 

Who does the EAA apply to? 

Within the EU, the EAA applies to all companies that offer products or services. Depending on the member state, there are exceptions for small companies with less than ten employees and an annual turnover below two million euros. However, the regulations are different in each country.  

The EAA also applies to companies outside the EU that provide services or sell products in the EU. For example, an online shop operated in Switzerland that also delivers to people in the EU must fulfil the accessibility requirements of the EAA. 

What are the consequences of not complying with the EAA? 

Digital accessibility is no longer just a nice-to-have feature but a legal obligation. Companies that do not comply with the EAA are exposed to different risks depending on the country. For example, fines of up to 100,000 euros or other sanctions are possible. In some countries, companies are excluded from procurement processes if their products and services are not accessible.

Although the affected individuals will be able to take legal action against companies once the European Accessibility Act comes into force, only time will tell how willing users will be to sue. In any case, affected individuals will tell those around them about inaccessible offers and services. In addition to the legal and economic damage, non-compliance can lead to an enormous loss of image.

Scaremongering or genuine need for action?

Many companies are now concerned that they will not have enough time until 2025 to fulfil all the requirements of the EAA. But the EAA was already adopted in 2019, and anyone who has endeavoured to achieve accessibility in recent years can look forward to this ‘new’ directive with confidence. For our customers, this means: You’re well prepared! Our audits and reviews are based on WCAG 2.1, which is also referenced by the EAA, and anyone who has endeavoured to achieve WCAG compliance in the past is on the safe side. However, for companies that have had little to do with accessibility in the past, it is high time to address this issue.

Accessibility as an opportunity 

Of course, the EAA will initially require adjustments. In the long term, however, it opens up new opportunities:

• Tapping into new markets: Accessible digital services reach a broader target group, including the growing group of older internet users.
• Improving the user experience: Accessible websites are often structured more clearly and are more user-friendly for all users, not just people with disabilities. 
• Strengthening brand perception: Companies that are committed to accessibility are perceived as socially responsible.
• Promoting innovation: Addressing accessibility can lead to creative solutions and innovations that benefit all users.
• Legal security: By implementing the EAA, companies are well equipped for future legal requirements. 

What should you do now? 

As a first step, we recommend that you get an overview: Have your website, applications and digital offerings tested by an independent organisation. ‘Access for all’ offers various solutions to support you in this process: In a review, we create an initial inventory of digital accessibility. In an audit, we check conformity with WCAG 2.1 at level AA. After an audit and the elimination of all barriers identified in the audit, final certification is also possible. 

We sensitise your employees to the topic of accessibility in public courses or customised in-house courses. We impart knowledge on the implementation of accessibility and promote understanding for the various user groups. This enables you to embed the topic in various areas of your company and ensure accessibility in the long term – because accessibility is a marathon, not a sprint.

We recommend publishing an accessibility statement on your website after an audit. In this declaration, you record what you have done to improve accessibility, what further measures you will take and who people can contact if they encounter barriers.

What should you not do? 

If you have never dealt with digital accessibility before, you may feel overwhelmed. Quick solutions and offers from agencies or software providers can then sound very tempting.

We would therefore like to emphasise once again that there are no quick fixes: As already mentioned, implementing accessibility is not a sprint, but a marathon. 

If you would like to commission an agency or other service provider to check your offer for accessibility or to remove existing barriers, we recommend that you obtain references. Only engage agencies with proven experience so that there are no unpleasant surprises resulting in additional work and costs.

There are numerous tools on the market for automatically testing accessibility. These tools can help to get an initial overview. However, they are no substitute for manual testing by people with in-depth WCAG knowledge. 

So-called accessibility overlays also promise a quick solution: with the addition of a single line of code, all accessibility problems are supposed to be automatically resolved. We strongly advise against using such overlays, as experience has shown that they do not improve accessibility, but rather worsen it. These solutions promise a false sense of security.

Conclusion: Accessibility is a continuous process

The EAA calls for digital services to be inclusive and accessible for all people. With our support, you can master this challenge and benefit from the many advantages of digital accessibility at the same time. Let’s work together to make your digital services future-proof and accessible for everyone.

translated by Jacoba Denker