2025 - that sounds like a distant vision of the future in which we are travelling in flying cars. But in the fast-moving digital world, 2025 is practically just around the corner. This year marks a turning point for companies in the digital sector. The European Accessibility Act will become a reality, paving the way for a more inclusive online world.
Imagine the internet as a huge, bustling city where every area, from the glitzy shopping centres to the cosy little cafés, is accessible to all, regardless of physical or sensory limitations. That is the promise of the EAA. For businesses, this means recognising and addressing not only the structural challenges of this digital city, but also the huge opportunities that arise from a more inclusive approach.
In this article, we take you through the streets and alleyways of the EAA, showing you the signs to look out for and the views on offer.
History and development of the EAA
The European Accessibility Act has its origins in the 2006 UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which was ratified by the EU in 2010. This convention emphasises accessibility as an inalienable right for people with disabilities. With a rapidly evolving digital landscape and around 80 million people with disabilities in the EU alone, it quickly became clear how urgently a common legal framework for accessibility was needed.
In 2015, the European Commission put its proposal for the EAA on the table. The aim: to standardise the many different accessibility requirements in the member states and thus strengthen the single market. With its official adoption in 2019, the EAA will become binding throughout the EU on 28 June 2025. This means that many companies and digital services will have to adapt their offerings to these standards from this date. This is an important step that will not only improve the quality of life of millions of people, but also drive forward the digital single market.
EAA in the DACH countries: Legal compliance and differences
The EAA may seem like a general EU regulation, but it has significant implications for companies in the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland). For companies operating in the digital space - be it through the development of websites, apps or other digital services - the EAA represents a binding framework that cannot be ignored. While compliance with the EAA is mandatory in Germany and Austria as EU members, Switzerland - although not formally bound by the EAA - follows comparable accessibility guidelines in many areas. This means that the spirit of the EAA remains alive outside EU borders and companies everywhere are encouraged to offer more inclusive digital solutions.
Who is affected by the European Accessibility Act?
You might think that the EAA only affects the big tech giants - far from it! Whether you're wandering the streets of a virtual webshop, doing your banking online or learning on educational platforms, the EAA is everywhere. From public administrations digitising the trip to the office to innovative start-ups developing the next big app: the EAA needs to be on everyone's radar. Because in today's digital world, it's not just about avoiding legal trouble. It's about enabling access for everyone and thus creating an inclusive digital environment.
People at the centre: The EAA wants to open doors for more than 87 million people with disabilities, including senior citizens and people with temporary disabilities. The vision: Easy access to public transport, banking services, computers, televisions, e-books, online shops and much more.
For companies, the EAA means a level playing field in terms of accessibility within the EU. This ensures cost efficiency, promotes cross-border trade and creates greater market opportunities. Whether computers, ATMs, ticket machines, smartphones or e-books - if your company operates in Europe, you should be aware of the EAA and take it to heart.
WCAG 2.1: The centrepiece of accessibility
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 are an internationally recognised standard to which the EAA refers in its technical requirements. They serve to make web content accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. The WCAG 2.1 guidelines are based on four principles:
Perceivability: Information must be presented in a clear and recognisable way.
Usability: Navigation and interaction must be usable for everyone.
Comprehensibility: Content and user interface must be intuitive and understandable.
Robustness: Content should be able to be reliably interpreted by a variety of technologies, including assistive technologies.
With the publication of WCAG 2.1 in June 2018, additional criteria were included that take particular account of mobile accessibility, people with visual or learning disabilities and new technologies such as touchscreens.
For companies, especially in the DACH region, this means that they must not only comply with the EAA in legal terms, but also with the practical and technical aspects of WCAG 2.1 in order to provide truly inclusive digital offerings.
Requirements for companies: Concrete steps towards accessibility
The EAA calls on companies to establish clear accessibility standards for their offerings. From websites to physical products, here are some guidelines to keep in mind:
Provide information in multiple meanings: Information about a product should be easily accessible and understandable across multiple sensory channels to appeal to a wide audience.
Websites and e-commerce: These should be designed to be accessible to all. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) at AA level play an important role here. Consider how you can make navigation and content more inclusive.
Physical products: Think about devices such as ATMs or smartphones. These should be designed in such a way that they can be used by people with disabilities without any problems.
Services: Accessibility is the key word here too. Whether banking services or digital television, access should be possible for everyone.
Note that the EAA gives you the freedom to develop innovative solutions to achieve accessibility. You have until 28 June 2025 to implement all requirements.
Special requirements for websites
If you operate a website, the EAA and WCAG 2.1 impose specific requirements on you. Here are some examples that can help you make your website accessible:
- Contrast and colours: ensure that text has sufficient contrast with the background and that information is not conveyed by colour alone.
- Text size and customisability: Allow users to enlarge the text without losing information.
- Keyboard operability: All functions should also be operable with the keyboard, an important detail for people with motor impairments.
- Multimedia content: Offer subtitles or transcriptions as well as audio descriptions to reach people who are deaf or blind.
- Accessible forms: These should be designed to be easy to use with assistive technologies.
- Consistent navigation: Consistent navigation helps users to easily find their way around your website.
Avoid flickering and movement: Moving content can be problematic and should be avoided or controlled.
Screen reader support: Your content should be easily interpreted by screen readers.
Error handling: Inform users about errors and provide guidance on how to fix them.
Scalability: Your website should work on different devices and screen sizes.
Please note that this is only an excerpt from the extensive WCAG 2.1 guidelines. The focus is on creating an inclusive web environment that is accessible to all.
Legal consequences of non-compliance: what companies should know
Accessibility is not just a question of decency or inclusion, but also has legal implications. Companies that do not comply with WCAG 2.1 expose themselves to considerable risks:
- Legal sanctions: In the European Union, the EAA makes it clear that digital offerings, including websites, must comply with the WCAG guidelines. If these standards are not adhered to, companies face severe fines of up to 100,000 euros.
- Legal disputes: Another risk is legal disputes. Individuals or groups who feel disadvantaged due to a lack of accessibility could take legal action.
- Reputational damage: However, it's not just about direct legal consequences. A company that is perceived as being non-inclusive or even discriminatory risks immense damage to its reputation. At a time when customers and partners value social responsibility, this can have serious consequences.
So not only is it in a company's legal interest to follow the WCAG 2.1 guidelines, but it's also a smart move in terms of social responsibility and brand reinforcement.
Economic added value through accessibility: it's worth it!
Accessibility goes far beyond ethical considerations and legal necessities and also brings tangible economic benefits. Let's take a closer look:
- Extended target group: People with disabilities are a part of our society that should not be neglected. If your digital offering is also accessible to them, you will tap into a much larger market.
- Better usability: Accessibility often goes hand in hand with user-friendliness. Everyone benefits from this - whether with or without a disability. And we know that: Satisfied users remain loyal.
- Strengthening brand loyalty: A positive experience on your platform promotes loyalty. Satisfied customers come back and recommend you to others.
- Save costs: By avoiding legal disputes that can arise due to a lack of accessibility, you not only save nerves, but also money.
The future of accessibility: practical applications of new technologies
The rapid pace of technological development offers fascinating opportunities to take accessibility to a new level. For companies operating in the B2B sector, there are some exciting developments to keep an eye on:
- Artificial intelligence (AI): imagine your website or app automatically recognising when a user has a visual impairment and instantly adapting content - in real time. Example: A visually impaired B2B customer visits an online shop; AI tools could automatically read out product descriptions or provide detailed descriptions of image content.
- Speech recognition: Instead of filling out complex forms manually, B2B customers could simply dictate orders or enquiries. Ideal for people who have difficulties with standard web forms.
- Virtual reality (VR): Think of training courses or product demos. With special VR interfaces, people with limited mobility can experience products in a virtual space as if they were physically present.
- Augmented reality (AR): A sales representative with impaired hearing could use AR glasses to receive visual cues and instructions directly in their field of vision while working on a machine or visiting a customer.
The technology landscape is constantly changing. For B2B companies, this means not only keeping up, but actively utilising these technologies to create truly inclusive experiences.
Conclusion: Together towards an inclusive digital future
We have worked intensively on the paths and crossroads of the European Accessibility Act. This "digital map" clearly shows that the path to accessibility is challenging but indispensable. This is not just about legal requirements, but about the participation of all people in the digital world.
At TOWA, we are committed to making this vision a reality. And that's exactly why we keep you up to date. Together, we can ensure that the requirements of the EAA are not only met, but exceeded. Because in an inclusive digital world, everyone benefits in the end - whether as a provider or user. The future is not only digital but also inclusive - let's prepare for it.
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