Why digital accessibility is now law: Introducing the EAA

Our lives are increasingly taking place online. We shop for clothes, order food, manage our finances, and even deal with government matters via apps. This is incredibly convenient for most, but it can be a major obstacle for people with a disability or cognitive impairment. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) aims to change this.

While exact figures vary, it is estimated that around 25% of the population has a functional limitation, such as a visual, auditory, or cognitive impairment. In the Netherlands, this represents a significant group for whom participating online is often not straightforward.

Nevertheless, many digital services—such as websites, apps, and self-service kiosks—are still not properly accessible, or accessible enough. Governments are increasingly trying to take this into account, but, like many businesses, they often lag behind. This is usually because of a lack of knowledge or a failure to see the necessity, even though a great many people depend on good digital accessibility in their daily lives.

European regulation: The EAA

An international guideline has existed since 1999: the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). However, the WCAG is non-binding. That is why the European Union is now introducing new legislation that mandates accessibility, marking a major step towards greater digital inclusion. The European Union views equal access to digital products and services as a fundamental requirement for full participation in society and has placed digital accessibility high on the European agenda.

With the new law, the EU has removed the voluntary nature and made digital accessibility compulsory. Since 28 June 2025, a new directive applies: the European Accessibility Act (EAA).

Everyone must be able to participate

With this legislation, the EU aims to ensure that people with disabilities or low literacy are no longer excluded, but can handle digital matters independently, just like everyone else, meaning without assistance from others. And this is sorely needed: an estimated 80 million people with disabilities live in Europe, and thanks to the EAA, they will gain better access to websites, apps, and digital services.

Who is the EAA intended for?

The EAA exists to give all consumers with a disability the same access to digital products and services as everyone else. This concerns people with:

• Visual impairments (blind or partially sighted)

• Auditory impairments (hard of hearing or deaf)

• Motor impairments (difficulty with movement or operation)

• Cognitive impairments (dyslexia, memory, or concentration problems)

• Low literacy or limited digital skills

Digital services covered by the EAA:

• Websites

• Software, apps, and operating systems

• Digital self-service terminals (such as cash machines or vending machines)

EAA compliance and scope

When does the law take effect?

The European Accessibility Act came into force on 28 June 2025. From this date, affected digital products and services must meet the EAA’s accessibility criteria. For businesses, this means their websites, apps, and other digital services must comply with WCAG 2.2, level AA, and the EN 301 549 standard. Organisations that fail to comply risk fines and enforcement measures. The exact level of fines varies by EU Member State but can be significant for larger organisations.

Who does the EAA apply to?

The law applies mainly to governments and service providers offering digital products or services to consumers. Small enterprises (with fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover under €2 million) and companies operating exclusively business-to-business are exempt from the EAA but are still encouraged to follow the digital accessibility standards.

Typical sectors covered by the EAA:

• Government agencies and the public sector

• E-commerce and online shops

• Banks and financial services

• Telecom and internet providers

• Public transport ticketing systems

What must an EAA-compliant website meet?

A digitally accessible website or app must be easy to find, use, and understand, including for the 1 in 4 adults in Europe who have a disability. Therefore, the EAA mandates that digital content meets the WCAG 2.2 Level AA standards. This is based on four simple core principles:

• Perceivable: All important information must be visible or audible to users. Think of descriptive alt-text for images, subtitles for videos, and good colour contrast for text.

• Operable: Everything must be usable via a keyboard, without time pressure or sensory overload. Websites and apps must not contain elements that are dangerous or disruptive, such as rapidly flashing images, bright flashes, or extremely busy animations.

• Understandable: The content must have a logical structure and be written in plain language.

• Robust (Compatible): The content must be accessible with different browsers and assistive technologies (such as screen readers, braille displays, voice control, and magnification software).

What are the benefits of digital accessibility?

It might sound like extra work, but improved digital accessibility also offers many advantages: your website becomes more user-friendly, your customers are more satisfied, and you increase your reach. You also project an inclusive and forward-thinking image. And another bonus: Google is a fan of accessible websites, which is good for your SEO and online visibility.

In short, digital accessibility offers many benefits:

• Your organisation complies with the European Accessibility Act

• You position yourself as socially responsible and inclusive

• The user experience is improved for all visitors

• You achieve higher customer satisfaction and loyalty

• You reach a larger target group

• Your website gets a higher ranking in search engines and AI rankings

Must all content be accessible?

The European Accessibility Act already applies to all new content as of 28 June 2025. A five-year transition period applies to existing content. Nevertheless, from a user-friendliness perspective, it is sensible to make existing content accessible as quickly as possible.

How can Eye-Able help?

Since a website often contains a lot of existing content (which you'd rather not manually adjust) and it's difficult to find all the issues yourself, we have developed useful tools to comply with European legislation.

• With Eye-Able Report, you can analyse all your current content rapidly. The clear dashboard then shows you at a glance where the problems lie and provides suggestions and solutions to make your digital content more accessible.

• Eye-Able Audit is a front-end testing tool that allows you to see immediately in your browser which issues are present on your website. This way, you not only receive a report, but you also see practically how users experience your website. Elements that do not meet WCAG standards are visually marked so you know exactly what needs to be adjusted. The tool immediately suggests solutions, including the corresponding code and step-by-step instructions.

Structural Support

Eye-Able supports organisations in the Netherlands, Europe, and beyond. To assist with compliance with the European Accessibility Act, we offer services that ensure your organisation structurally meets WCAG 2.2 and EN 301 549. This way, you combine our practical tools with expert guidance and customised solutions:

• Technical audits

• Accessibility statements

• Consultancy & implementation support

• Training, workshops, and monitoring

• AI-supported solutions such as plain language and multilingual accessibility