The European Accessibility Act (EAA)

Helping businesses prepare for the new accessibility requirements.

At We Create Digital, our mission has always been to create inclusive, user-friendly digital experiences for everyone—no matter their abilities or location. With the European Accessibility Act (EAA) on the horizon, we have put together a concise guide covering what this new legislation is, who it affects, and what you need to do to ensure compliance.

The European Accessibility Act, formally known as Directive (EU) 2019/882 (source: EUR-Lex, published by the European Union), is legislation that sets out common accessibility requirements for a range of products and services in the European Union.

Its aim is to ensure people with disabilities have improved access to digital products, websites, mobile apps, e-books and more.

• Businesses selling into the EU
• Digital service providers (for example, e-commerce platforms, banking services, and ticketing systems)
  Manufacturers and distributors of physical products with digital interfaces

Even if you are a UK-based organisation, you may still need to comply if you serve EU customers.

1. Review current offerings
   Evaluate your websites, apps and other digital assets to determine whether they meet recognised accessibility guidelines, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
2. Implement accessibility measures
   Provide alternative text for images, logical navigation structures for screen reader use, captions or transcripts for multimedia, and strong colour contrast to aid visibility.
3. Plan for ongoing compliance
   Accessibility is an ongoing effort. Regular audits, updates and training will help ensure your digital channels remain inclusive over time.

Businesses must meet these requirements by 28 June 2025 (source: European Commission). Starting early will make it easier to identify and fix any issues, helping you avoid rushed (and potentially costly) changes.

At We Create Digital, we are dedicated to guiding businesses through every step of accessibility compliance. From detailed audits to full redesigns, our team will identify gaps, recommend practical solutions and help ensure your digital experiences meet—or exceed—legal requirements.

References:

• European Commission – European Accessibility Act
• EUR-Lex – Directive (EU) 2019/882
• W3C – WCAG 2.1 Guidelines

We Create Digital is a UK-based website design and web development company committed to making digital experiences accessible for all users.